Page 25 of Smitten with the Single Dad

“What is it?” Gabrielle asked. “Is it not from the company?”

“I-it is,” Vica stammered as she struggled to find the words in English in her head to convey how she felt at the moment. Utter devastation didn’t even begin to describe things.

Gabrielle snatched Vica’s phone from her and quickly scanned the email, Myla hung over her shoulder and read it too. Myla’s eyes went wide while Gabrielle’s narrowed into thinner and thinner slits.

“They’ve decided not to hire her because of what happened,” Myla said, directing her words to Justine and Brooke, who still stood there curious.

“What?” Brooke blurted out. “They fired you?”

“I cannot be fired if I never started working for them,” Vica murmured, still in shock.

“Let me deal with this too,” Gabrielle said.

“I … I’ll be deported,” Vica said, crestfallen as her heart hammered her ribcage. “Either sent back to Italy—where I have nobody—or sent to prison here.” She had nobody here either, but at least she felt the promise of having someone here. Italy just held too many sad memories for her now. Memories of her family, of her brother, and even though his friends tried to stay in touch with her after Lorenzo’s death, it was too hard for Vica to see them.

Maybe she needed to apply for a job in Canada?

But something told her that it wouldn’t really matter where she went, this incident would follow her to the ends of the earth and beyond. The internet was immortal and now that her name was associated with “killer” she would never be able to escape that.

“Who’s getting deported?” Wyatt’s voice had all five women turning around as he descended the stairs.

“I am,” Vica said.

His brows pinched. “Why?”

“Because the company I was supposed to start working for in New York just rescinded their offer.”

“Over what happened last night?” he asked, dumbfounded.

“Of course.”

“They see you as a liability to the status quo,” Gabrielle said. “You’d come in and shake things up. You wouldn’t put up with misogyny or misconduct. They’re afraid of you. That’s all there is to it. It’s written between the lines in their email. ‘We at N-ER-G Solartek International pride ourselves on an amicable, safe working environment and we do not believe that your values align with ours.’ Which means, ‘W like the way things are right now, with women too scared to come forward, and with you on the team, that could change. You’re not afraid to stand up for yourself and defend yourself and we prefer to intimidate and railroad women.’” She leveled her amber gaze at Wyatt.

“Why are you looking at me?” he asked. “I didn’t send the email.”

“No, but you’re part of the patriarchy. You’re part of the problem.”

He sought help from the other women, but he wasn’t getting any. Finally, he exhaled in defeat. “They can’t do that, can they? Didn’t she sign—” he glanced at Vica, “you signed a contract. Right?”

“I signed something. I believe it was an agreement that upon the completion and acceptance of the visa, we would then sign the legally binding contract.”

“I’ll need you to find me that preliminary contract,” Gabrielle said. “I’d like to see how they worded things.”

Vica nodded. “I think there was a three-month probationary period anyway though. Where I could have been terminated, even with the visa. So maybe they are using that?”

“It’s possible,” Gabrielle said. “But I’ll do some research, make some calls. I’mnot super knowledgeable about contract law, but I have some former colleagues who are, and I’ll reach out to them.”

“How did they find out about last night?” Wyatt asked. “I mean, it hasn’t even been twelve hours.”

“Well, Starsky and Hutch were at Booch and Bagels telling anyone who would listen that Vica is guilty,” Brooke said. “So we have an idea how it got out.”

It was as if an angry, red cloud descended over Wyatt’s head. His fists bunched at his sides and his nostrils flared. “You’re kidding. Right?”

“I wish we were,” Justine said. “Small towns spread gossip and news like wildfire. I mean half the island knew about the flood in Cabin Five within a few hours. And then everyone knew I was living with Bennett and his girls within two days.”

“But what does this mean for Vica staying in the States?” Wyatt asked. He turned to Vica. “They’re not going to deport you. Are they? They can’t do that.”

“They can, and they will,” she said, her heart heavy. “Without a visa, I cannot stay. I will have to go back to Italy and apply again. Or … I don’t know.”

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