Page 14 of Forever Mine

“I didn’t have any closings, my assistant handled all incoming calls, and I did not have any meetings scheduled. I’ve had two family emergencies in the past four days that required my attention,” I tell her.

“What kind of family emergencies?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“I’m your boss, Monica. It’s all my business.”

“If you can show me the part of my employment contract with Keller Wiliams that shows where you’re allowed to ask me these questions, then I’ll tell you all about my family emergencies. Otherwise, you can shut the hell up,” I snarl.

“Excuse me?” Stephanie gasps.

“You heard me, you vapid uncouth miscreant. I’m so fucking sick of your attitude and behavior. How dare you call me and treat me like this! You are complete trash. Do you know that, Stephanie?Trash!” I shout.

“You are so fucking fired. Fired! I’m gonna make sure you never sell another house in this state again!” she retorts, and I hear her slam her office phone down.

I don’t even care.

I don’t want to stay here. I need to get out of Oklahoma. Anywhere but here.

Two months later

“Would you like just the sandwich or the meal?” I ask the teenager standing in front of me.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

Stephanie wasn’t joking. She banned me from the Keller Williams office and reported me to the state of Oklahoma for inappropriate conduct. While they investigate, I’m suspended from any real estate work. Currently, I’m working two part-time jobs: I work nights at Braums, a southern plains fast-food hamburger place, and during the day, I work at a small office answering phones. While neither job is rewarding, I’m too busy to think about anything, like the general shit show that is my life.

When Nana died, she took some secrets with her. Like how she had amassed over ten thousand dollars in credit card debt. That debt is now mine, thanks to her putting me as an authorized user on the cards without telling me. I’m assuming that’s how she got the cards in the first place. How a senior citizen with no income can get a credit card is beyond me.

I had hoped to move to Colorado already, but the landlord of my studio apartment threatened to sue me for breach of contract if I tried to get out of the lease early. That, added to the credit card debt and the cost of the cremation and funeral service, has me stuck here.

I haven’t really told Em about the reasons I’m still here. She’s blissfully locked into her new life after marrying Nathan a few weeks ago. I don’t want to be a downer with Christmas only a week away. Liam knows about the real estate investigation, but I haven’t told him about the money. He’s told me he’s got a good amount of cash and knowing him, he’d swoop in here on his white horse and try to solve all the problems for me. Seems like those Colorado guys are all for fixing shit and asking questions later.

As I stare at the teenager, waiting for him to make up his damn mind, I can feel my blood pressure rising. But, seriously, dude, it’s not this hard. Sandwich or meal. Just pick one.

“Um, I guess the meal,” he murmurs as he clearly stares at my chest. I snap my fingers in front of his nose before pointing upward.

“Eyes up here, jailbait,” I warn.

“Sorry,” he mutters.

“What side do you want with your meal?” I ask.

“Oh, fuck.”

I sigh and roll my eyes.

“You want the french fries. Just trust me. Let’s make this easy because there’s a line. Kay?” I say sweetly. “Cash or card?”

“Uh…” he trails off.

Lord almighty.

Maybe I will call Liam and ask him for money.

CHAPTER SIX

Gabriel

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