Broken Vows (Domestic Discipline Romance) Read Free Page A

security badge check-in logs," Josh exploded. "This has been my project from the beginning. Yeah, I am only a contractor, and no, you did not officially announce I was the lead, but I have done the job of the lead. I have complained to you about Tristen's lack of work since the beginning. If you think for one minute I will turn over my work to an incompetent like Tristen Connors, you can think again!"
    "My decision is final," Mr. Pugh said. "You will turn over the documentation for the project along with the final designs. We will have a dry-run of the presentation this afternoon and then Tristen assumes the lead."
    "No," Josh said decisively. "Any documentation belonging to the company is already on the server in the project files. You will also find a detailed record of design changes requested by Mr. Whiting and the paper trail outlining my requests for work to be completed by Tristen Connors, most of which has not been done. What is not on the company server is the work I completed on my own time.
    "Frankly, Mr. Pugh, your research databases are phenomenal, but your programs for the actual drawing of the designs are four upgrades behind. That was one of the reasons I used my current programs at home. There is also a paper trail of my requests for those software upgrades and your refusals. My designs, my drawings, the presentation and everything else, belong to me."
    "Those designs are company property," Mr. Pugh barked.
    "No, they are not, Mr. Pugh," Josh countered firmly. "According to my contract, a supervisor, and a first-line management head must sign off and pay for designs before they become company property to be used or presented to a client. I have no supervisor and you are the only first-line manager in the firm. I called and emailed you repeatedly to schedule meetings to obtain those sign-offs and final approvals. You have put me off for the last several weeks."
    "If the work was produced during working hours, it belongs to the firm," Mr. Pugh blustered.
    "You are not listening. What work I completed at the office is on the server. However, this job required a team of at least five men. Instead, you only assigned Tristen and me. Tristen did not pull his weight and you have a long string of complaints filed by me stating those facts.
    "You can check your IT logs. I have not signed into company licensed design software since this project began. I created the designs on my time, in my home, on my computers. Those designs belong to me, as does the presentation and the mock-up model. My time, my tools, my property. You are the one who failed to sign-off, approve, and pay for those designs."
    "You can't walk out in the middle of this project and withhold those plans," Mr. Pugh bellowed, his face turning red. "This is unacceptable behavior. My lawyers will be contacting you!" He reached for his phone. "Darla, send for security!"
    "Your company lawyers wrote the contracts, Mr. Pugh," Josh reminded him, realizing he was surprisingly calm. "In nearly every clause, it is written in favor of the company. You are the one who makes all the profits from the contractor's work."
    "Don't do this, Josh," Tristen interjected. "Your reputation will be ruined."
    Josh shook his head. "I don't think so. I have been stifled for two years under this company's lousy work policies and barely legal work ethics. It's the equivalent of working in a cage. No more, I am done.
    There was a knock on the door and Mr. Pugh's secretary opened the door to admit a security officer.
    "You will hear from my lawyers," Mr. Pugh said, getting to his feet and glaring at Josh. He turned his attention to the security guard, "Escort Mr. Grayson to his office. Make sure he does not remove any company property. Call the IT department and tell them to lock down his computer. He is to take only personal property with him. Search his car before he leaves. If there is a model in it, remove it, it belongs to the company."
    "I can't do that, Mr. Pugh. You need a