Page 43 of Catfish

She picks at the napkin in front of her. “Why not ask her?”

“Because you’re his type. He loves blondes, has them special ordered from his escort service.”

She shakes her head violently. “I’m not going to sleep with him.”

I clear my throat and take one last sip of my coffee before standing from my chair. Having a conversation with a woman who clearly isn’t comprehending the English language is going to be useless to me.

“Thank you for your time today,” I voice, pulling out my wallet from inside my jacket. “Go ahead and buy yourself a coffee and—”

“What’s in it for me?” she asks too quickly.

Just like I thought. Girls like her want to belong in place they have no reason being. And at the first opportunity, she jumps.

I can half respect it.

Reaching back inside my suit pocket, I pull out a folded piece of paper and toss it in front of her. "Your family is having a hard time paying their bills. They've received turn-off notices, and if they can't catch up on their mortgage, they'll lose the house in three months. If it forecloses, they'll be forced to go live in some dump of an apartment along with your two brothers."

Her eyes quickly scan the paper, clutching onto it for dear life as she reads the report I had pulled of her parent’s hardships.

"They never told me," she mutters, eyes still scouring the page. "I knew they were having trouble, but...that's why I started working for Mr. Montgomery. He pays well and—"

"I pay better," I allude. "If you can do this for me, I'll take care of all your parents' bills. I'll pay them off through an untraceable account. They'll be puzzled by it, but it'll save your family from financial ruin and living in a shithole."

"So, if I do this, you promise to do this for my family?"

"I will, and since the mayor will be removed from office, you will come work for me as further payment for your services with compensation for the trouble."

Her glistening gaze brims with tears as she swallows. "I'm—I'm not sure if I'm cunning enough to do this, Mr. Lockwood."

“Watch a few movies, Mila. You’ll do just fine. And just think, if you succeed, you’ll be working for the potential future president of the United States. You can’t get any higher than that.”

Mila bows her chin into her chest, clutching the paper in her hands for dear life. “Done...Mr. Lockwood.”

? Way Away —Yellowcard ?

“My baby!” Mama exclaims, jumping off the front porch before I can put my car in park.

I smile. “Mama.”

She rounds my car door, yanks it open, and pulls me into a bear hug. "I missed you so much." She gives me an added squeeze for extra clarity, making me close my eyes at being back around her.

My safe haven.

My calm.

"Looks like you got your strength back," I tell her as she breaks away from me. She smiles, big and bright. Her skin tone is still pale, but her spirit seems bright and hopeful.

I wish I could feel that way, except I can't help but fear that her cancer is going to come back a third time.

It never fails that once she gets and looks better, something comes back to bite her in the ass.

Inhaling through my nose, I chide myself for going to a negative mindset.

I’m here. Home.

“I feel good, hunny. I feel amazing.”

I force my lips to smile as confidently and radiantly as she does. “I’m so glad. Let’s get inside, hold my purse, will you?”

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