Page 33 of Office Affairs

I winced at the request, hiding the frown with a sip of coffee. “I have some work stuff to take care of. Then we’ll talk about it.” I’d called in to work the last two days. The absence would do a number on my bank account. Unless Chase decided to pay me for them. I hesitated to ask. I was a new employee. Surely, I didn’t have vacation or sick time yet. Picking up my phone, I tried again to access Dad’s bank information. I’d always had access to the password, but the last two times I’d tried, it kicked me out. Fine. We’d do this the old-fashioned way. I moved away from the table, ruffling Keith’s hair in passing, and retreated to the patio as I dialed the bank’s number.

A perky female voice answered. “Wilson and Rogers Community Bank, how may I direct your call?”

“I need to transfer money between accounts.” My nails bit into my palms. My phone rang, but I ignored it. Whoever wanted to talk to me could wait. A sense of foreboding squeezed my heart. I hadn’t believed Bailey when she said my access was revoked. I’d thought it was another one of her stupid, narcissistic plots to get a rise out of me.

“I need the account numbers and your name. Along with the last four digits of your social.”

I rattled off the information and held my breath. Keys clacked, then silence.

“Can you repeat those numbers for me?”

Shit. My stomach dropped to my toes. I repeated the information, but I already knew what she’d say.

“I’m sorry, but you do not have access to Mr. Adams’s account. Is there another number you’d like to try? If you need to make a transfer, have Mr. or Mrs. Adams call.”

Yeah, right. I choked out a “no thanks” and hung up the phone. Shit. Shit. Double shit. The small transfers between Dad’s account and mine had helped pad my expenses. I put everything into raising Keith. How could I take him to the zoo knowing I wouldn’t have enough money for anything else we might need before my next paycheck?

I swiped across the screen to access my voicemail, my heart seizing at the sight of Bailey’s name on my missed calls. The trepidation I’d felt earlier increased tenfold. I pressed play and closed my eyes, gritting my teeth as my stepmother’s voice screeched over the line. “Sabrina, I noticed you haven’t gone to work this week. No doubt you’ve already quit or been fired.” She huffed noisily and tittered. “Well, nothing I can do about that except give you a well-meaning nudge. You have two weeks to find a new apartment. Two. Weeks. I’ve already called a locksmith to come out and change all the locks. And don’t think you can stay in the apartment while he does it. Be out before he arrives, or I’ll call the police and you’ll be considered a trespasser.”

She couldn’t do that. Could she? Cold sweat ran down my body and my stomach twisted until I dry heaved. Bailey would find a way. She’d wanted me off the property for years. Now she had a chance to make it happen. Fucking bitch. Yes, I’d wanted independence, but I hadn’t expected it to bite me in the ass. “Two weeks isn’t enough time, you insensitive whore.” I deleted the message, considered playing dumb like I’d never received it at all. I knew better. Bailey would keep pushing until she got what she wanted. “I don’t even like living here,” I reminded myself.

Bailey spent most of her time spying on me. How else would she know I hadn’t gone to work? It only proved my point of why I never brought anyone here. For all I knew, Bailey had rigged the apartment with cameras and microphones. She was messed up enough to do it. The woman thrived on control, and I was the outlier who never listened or obeyed her.

Keith knocked on the glass door and held up his empty plate when I turned around.

I made my way back into the house. “Good job. How do you feel?”

“Good. Can we go out?”

How was I supposed to say no? We hardly had time together anymore, and I was loathe to pass up this chance. “Sure. Get dressed.” Maybe I could squeeze in a few minutes to browse apartments while we were out. I chewed my lip, tapping my phone against my chin. Miranda might know of a place. I tapped her contact in waited for her casual, “What’s up, girl?” before I launched into my request. “I need a new apartment. You know of anything?”

“What did Bailey do?” Consternation filled her voice.

“Nothing yet. But she will soon. I have two weeks.”

“Damn.” Miranda whistled. “Two weeks is fast. I don’t have anything.” She hesitated. “But Russell might.”

“Russell?” His name stirred my senses, awakening me after days of languid unease.

I listened to Miranda chat with someone, her voice muffled. When she returned, she spoke fast. “Call Russell. He rents property as a side job. He should be able to help. I have to go.” She hung up without a goodbye.

Fuck me sideways. Was I really going to let myself be more beholden to the powerful man who made me want things I’d never been able to have before.

Keith bounded outside. “Ready.”

My heart melted. Yes. For Keith, I’d swallow my pride and call Russell.

An hour later, Keith and I pulled up to the location Russell had sent me. He’d been way too enthusiastic when I called, and now my stomach tied itself in knots when I spotted him leaning casually against a porch post with his arms crossed.

I turned to look at Keith in the backseat. “Okay. We’re going to meet a work friend of mine and look at this house.” House. The word felt weird in my mouth. I couldn’t afford a house. Not even the small one behind Russell. I’d looked at enough for rent ads to know that realty was at an all-time high. I didn’t stand a chance.

“Can I play in the house?” Keith’s eyes shot wide when he unbuckled and popped open the door. “I like the yellow door.”

So did I. I followed Keith up the concrete sidewalk and into the shadowed nook where the porch cut off the sun. A single rocking chair was tucked in the corner, a colorful cushion begging me to sit and enjoy the quiet atmosphere.

“You must be Keith.” Russell stuck out his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Russell.”

Not really, but I appreciated the sentiment and his obvious attempt to connect with my son. I hoped Keith didn’t slip and tell Russell something that would give me away. I wasn’t ready to have my time with Russel and the others cut short, not when I felt closer than ever before to finding the truth.

---