CEO Made Her Nephew Lead Mechanic Over a Single Dad—Then the Whole Crew Walked Out
Chapter 3
Emma had a scraped knee.
Nothing serious.
Still, Mason couldn’t stop himself from worrying.
“You scared me,” he told her.
She smiled.
“I was just running.”
“Running is dangerous.”
“Daddy, you run when you’re late.”
“That is different.”
“How?”
“I know what I’m doing.”
Emma laughed.
That evening, Mason cooked dinner.
Pasta.
Garlic bread.
The usual.
Emma sat at the table doing homework.
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Who’s the new boss at your work?”
“My friend’s nephew.”
“Is he nice?”
Mason paused.
“Sometimes.”
Emma looked up.
“You don’t like him.”
“He’s learning.”
“That means no.”
Mason smiled.
“Eat your food.”
The next morning, Mason arrived at the garage before everyone else.
He found Tyler standing beside his bay.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m checking your work.”
Mason frowned.
“Why?”
“Because I’m responsible now.”
Tyler pointed at an engine rebuild.
“You missed a hose clamp.”
Mason looked.
The clamp was there.
“It’s on the underside.”
Tyler smiled.
“I know.”
Mason understood.
This wasn’t inspection.
It was intimidation.
He said nothing.
Then Tyler noticed a toolbox beside the lift.
“What’s this?”
“Mines.”
“New policy. Personal equipment stays in lockers.”
“My tools are worth more than the locker.”
Tyler smirked.
“Then maybe you should take them home.”
Mason looked at him.
“Are you trying to push me out?”
Tyler didn’t answer.
Claire walked in.
“What’s happening?”
Tyler immediately changed his expression.
“Just setting standards.”
Mason closed his toolbox.
“Everything’s fine.”
Claire looked between them.
“Good.”
She walked away.
Tyler waited until she was gone.
“You see?”
Mason stared at him.
“What?”
“You think she values you.”
Mason didn’t respond.
Tyler leaned closer.
“She doesn’t.”
Then he walked away.
Mason watched him.
He wanted to believe the man was simply insecure.
But something else was happening.
Tyler wasn’t just trying to become lead mechanic.
He was trying to remove Mason.
Why?
That question followed him all day.
At lunch, a customer arrived.
A woman named Hannah Brooks.
She was furious.
Her car had been serviced two weeks earlier.
Now the engine light had returned.
She wanted a manager.
Tyler stepped forward.
“What seems to be the problem?”
She handed him the service receipt.
“Your mechanic missed something.”
Tyler glanced at it.
“Who worked on it?”
“Mason Cole.”
Tyler smiled.
“Then we’ll have him correct it.”
Mason came over.
He scanned the system.
“This wasn’t the same problem.”
Hannah frowned.
“What?”
“Your oxygen sensor is failing.”
“But it was replaced.”
“I know.”
He opened the hood.
The new sensor was still there.
Then he noticed the wiring.
Someone had switched the connector.
Mason looked at Tyler.
Tyler stared back.
“What?”
“This was connected wrong.”
Tyler’s expression hardened.
“I didn’t touch it.”
Mason said nothing.
The wiring had been intentionally moved.
He knew because the retaining clip had been snapped.
The repair wasn’t careless.
It looked deliberate.
Claire arrived.
“What happened?”
Mason explained.
Tyler interrupted.
“He made the repair mistake.”
Mason turned.
“No.”
Claire looked at the wiring.
“Can you prove it?”
“Yes.”
He showed her the diagnostic data.
The original repair had been correct.
Someone had changed it afterward.
Claire frowned.
“Who had access?”
Mason looked around the garage.
Everyone.
Tyler crossed his arms.
“You’re making accusations.”
“I’m not.”
“Sounds like it.”
Mason stepped away.
“I’ll finish the repair.”
After the customer left, Claire called him into the office.
“Did you think Tyler sabotaged the car?”
Mason shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
“Do you distrust him?”
“Yes.”
Claire looked disappointed.
“Why?”
“Because he keeps creating situations where the crew has to clean up after him.”
She sighed.
“He’s family.”
Mason nodded.
“I know.”
“Then give him time.”
“I will.”
He turned to leave.
Claire stopped him.
“Mason.”
“Yes?”
“I don’t want you to leave.”
He looked at her.
“That isn’t up to me.”
“It might become my decision.”
He held her gaze.
“Then make the right one.”
She watched him leave.
For the first time, Claire began to understand something.
The problem wasn’t Mason’s attitude.
The problem was that everyone trusted him.
And Tyler couldn’t stand it.
