Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 115186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
When she reached his office, the door was shut so she tentatively rapped on it with a single knuckle.
“It’s open,” she heard barked through the door.
Great. He already sounded cranky.
She pulled in a deep breath, opened the door and quickly stepping through.
“Shut it behind you.”
She did, then turned to face the man sitting behind the desk in his big office like he was sitting on a throne. All he needed was a crown and scepter to complete the pompous look.
Good lord, she detested this man with her whole heart and soul.
As she went to settle in one of the chairs across the desk from him, Roger stopped her with, “Don’t bother sitting. You won’t be in here long.”
Her heart was thumping so hard, she was damn sure Roger could both see and hear it. Unfortunately, he’d probably be pleased with how nervous she was since the man thrived off fear and misery. He enjoyed making his employees jump and squirm. As well as apologize and grovel for things they supposedly did.
She clasped her hands together to prevent rubbing her sweaty palms on her khakis, and waited.
Roger only had a single folder sitting next to his oversized monitor. In his hand was a pen—one of those expensive fountain pens—that he was tapping the end on the desk.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
“You wanted to see me?” she asked.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Every tap set her teeth on edge, but she supposed that was why he was doing it.
“I didn’t want to, but you left me no choice.”
What the hell did that mean?
“Your friend visited me last night.”
Her friend?
“More like cornered and confronted me.”
She frowned. “Who?” It couldn’t be Shade since her stepfather had no idea what was happening to her at work. She planned to keep it that way.
Wait. Romeo had better not have tipped Shade off—
“Marvin Carter. The one who faked an injury and wasted my therapist’s time.”
Oh shit. What did Romeo do now?
Of course she knew what he did. Stuck his nose where she didn’t want it. Now she was in the hot seat because of something he did.
Son of a bitch!
Maybe she could save herself. “He’s not my friend.”
Roger cocked a single eyebrow. “Really. He called you his girl.”
Her mouth fell open. He did what? “I’m not his girl. Are you sure he was talking about me?”
“You’re the only one who works for me with the lofty dreams of working for a professional sports team.”
Her heart seized. He mentioned that? To Roger? Why?
“He demanded I put in a good word for you.”
Oh no. She bit back a groan.
“I will put in a word but not a good one. I can promise you, after that violent attack last night, you’ll never work around here again.”
For a violent attack, Roger sure looked fine.
“I’ll make sure every door is slammed in your face before you even have a chance to open them. And your dream of working for a Pittsburgh team?” Roger huffed out a breath. “Not a chance. You blew it.”
Her oatmeal was slowly and dangerously bubbling up her throat. She swallowed, trying to keep it contained. Though, Roger deserved a whole bowl of regurgitated oatmeal spewed over his perfectly neat desk.
Her boss jabbed a finger in her direction. “You’re fired. You will not be getting any kind of severance package, nor will you be getting your last paycheck. You have five minutes to collect your personal belongings and leave. If you dally, I’ll have the police escort you out.”
“But—”
Roger gave her “the palm,” shook his head, pulled a piece of paper from the folder, and slid it across his desk. “I listed all the reasons why you’ve been terminated. Don’t even bother to file for unemployment. I made sure it’ll be denied.”
The blood drained from her face. She wouldn’t be able to get unemployment compensation?
This man was beyond cruel.
She couldn’t survive without any kind of income coming in. In a week or two, she’d be homeless, starving and living under a damn bridge in a cardboard box.
Holy shit, what was she going to do?
Roger tapped his Rolex. “Five minutes. That starts now.”
She swiped her termination memo off his desk and the second she ripped open the door to leave, she heard behind her, “And, Mad… Don’t take anything that doesn’t belong to you.”
Like she wanted anything of his.
Fuck him. Fuck this place.
And, dammit, fuck Romeo for causing this.
She stepped out but she had one more thing to say… Turning, she crumpled up her pink slip, tossed it toward the desk, flipped him the double bird and added a, “Fuck you,” before slamming the door shut.
She had nothing in this place she wanted to take with her.
Not a damn thing.
Not even memories.
Twenty minutes later, she sat in her vehicle in Dirty Dick’s parking lot, staring at the bar, and gripping the steering wheel so tightly, she was wishing it was Romeo’s neck instead.