Page 47 of The Only Time

“That’s not necessary,” Eric interjects. “I have surveillance all over the house. I will be monitoring it while I’m away. I’ll make sure she’s safe.”

“Monitoring it?” I interject. “Like spying on me? Where are these cameras? They aren’t in my room, are they?”

His eyes dance with mischief. “Why? Doing anything in there you don’t want me to see?”

“Eeww! Gross. Get out of here,” Layla cringes.

Eric looks amused as he walks away from us. He still didn’t answer my question. Where are all of these cameras? And why does he still care so much about my safety if he only wants us to be platonic with each other?

Chapter Eighteen

Eric

“Nice to have you back,” Jeremy says to me as he walks into my office. “How’s the arm doing?”

I move it around like I need to check before I respond. “It’s good. Still have some minor pain as I move it, but nothing I can’t deal with.”

He takes a seat in the chair in front of my desk. “I heard the acquisition is moving along nicely.”

“Yeah, I managed to keep it afloat somehow while I was out.”

“Word around the office is that you slacked off a bit on your week at home,” he says as he scratches his chin.

I sit up straight in my chair, not sure I heard him correctly. “Excuse me? Who the fuck said that?”

He shrugs his shoulders. “I don’t know. Just word around the office. Apparently, they said you should’ve been pulling twelve hour days at home to accelerate the process.”

I don’t know who is talking like that, but I’m not at all surprised. It’s a cutthroat business. Every man for himself. If there’s a way to make someone else look bad to get ahead, you take it. Only, I’ve never felt the need to play it that way.

“Whatever. Let them talk. They’re going to anyway,” I grit through clenched teeth.

“What did you do with your time off? Got some rest in hopefully. That text you showed me of the stitches was brutal. Almost passed out when I saw it.”

That makes me laugh. “You’re such a wuss.”

“Dude, that cut was fucking deep. You’re gonna have a nasty scar once it heals. Were you home alone when it happened? I probably would’ve fainted and bled out.”

“You’re quite the drama queen. No, I wasn’t alone. My sister’s friend was there. She drove me to the emergency room.”

“I guess there was a silver lining to her staying with you after all.” Voices outside my office break his attention. “I should get back to work before I’m tagged as the guy who talks and never works. Lunch today?”

“I think I’m gonna have to work through lunch. Apparently, I’m slacking.”

He rolls his eyes. “Ignore the comments. I shouldn’t have said anything. We’ll catch up soon.”

By Wednesday, I’m exhausted. I’ve spent all of my time at the office trying to get this acquisition ahead of schedule. I know I shouldn’t let someone else’s words get to me like this, but I can’t help it.

To make matters worse, I discovered there are going to be more layoffs than I had initially anticipated once we acquire the company. It’s not because I want to be a dick, but the companyoverstaffed in every department. No wonder they are struggling so much.

When I start to look at the amount of people I have to fire, I slam my laptop shut. This is the worst part of my job. I loathe it. I’ve been told to get over it, that it’s part of the job. Or that these people will just go out and find another job and it’s not that big of a deal, but they’re wrong.

Some of these people have worked at the company for more than fifteen years. They’ve accumulated a lot of raises in those years for their commitment to the company. Starting over somewhere else at their age could be the difference between being able to send their kids to college or retire on time.

Unfortunately, my coworkers don’t think about things like that. They’re only worried about making more money to maximize they’re bonuses at the end of the fiscal year. But once upon a time, my family was that broke family. I was the boy with the old hand me down clothing from my brother and not the one with the latest Nike’s.

I had always told myself I would never be in that position again. One where I struggled financially. But sometimes the thought crosses my mind that I was happier back then.

By the time I get home, the stress has mounted, and I need a drink. A strong one.

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