Page 14 of Save Room for Us

“Okay, perfect. We will be in touch, Miss Chase.” She smiled softly.

“Thank you.” I stood. “Nice to meet you.” I reached to shake her hand, and she hesitated for some reason before obliging.

Leaving the room, I took a deep breath and exhaled heavily before locating the bathroom a few doors down. I went in, relieved myself, then washed my hands before exiting. As I bypassed the interview room, I heard the hiring manager’s voice as she spoke to someone else.

“Are you sure it was her?” they asked, speaking quite loudly, and I guess because they assumed I was gone by now.

“Yes. It says Anastazia Chase, and that’s the woman’s name.”

“Can you imagine if we hired her?” The woman laughed.

“Oh God no. People would be coming here just to look at her and not shop,” the hiring manager replied before they broke out into laughter.

“True. Plus, I don’t believe her story. This man abused you, but you didn’t just leave? You had to shoot him?”

“I said the same thing. I believe his family that she probably took out some policy on him and thought she and her side boo could run off with the money once he was dead. But joke’s on her.” The hiring manager tittered.

“Isn’t it?” The woman laughed. “Nobody but God kept that man alive. I hope he wakes up out of that coma and tells us the tea.”

Unable to help myself, I burst off into the room, startling the two old bitches.

“You know, you hos should be grateful you weren’t in my position, instead of sitting up gossiping about shit you have no idea about. I didn’t wanna work at this knock off TJ Maxx any-fucking-way.” I slammed the door and switched off, chanting inside my head that I had better not cry over them bitches I didn’t even know.

This wasn’t the first time I’d run across people who were team Cedric, and it was all thanks to his father, stepmother, and sister on every news outlet and interview available, maiming my character. I didn’t expect it, due to the fact that me and Cedric’s family had always gotten along. The other part of me did expect this shit because while they were cool for the most part, his father, in particular, enabled his behavior.

I’d confided in him once that Cedric had hit me. This was in the beginning stages before Cedric fully released the monster living inside of him. At that point, he’d only slapped me twice over the course of a year, and I stupidly felt like he was still a good man; he just had a temper.

I felt like because Cedric respected his father so much that if he talked to him about his hand problem, he’d fix it. I was very wrong, though, when Mr. Pete told me he was sure Cedric didn’t mean it and to just give him another chance. When I tried to explain that he needed help, Mr. Pete went on further to say Cedric was his own man, and there was nothing he could do. At the time, I figured he was right, but after meeting the Comptons, I realized how untrue that was.

While the boys weren’t exactly afraid Prime would put them over his knee—because get real—I knew Mr. St. Thomas would never just go on about his business if one of his daughters-in-law came to him with such an accusation.

To make matters worse, Mr. Petetoldhis son that I had come to him, and it resulted in him hitting me in the ribs and stomach several times with a closed fist. By saying that, it was difficult to see his family call me a liar on national television, especially Cedric’s father.

I could barely focus the whole drive home and ended up passing by the exit to get to my mother’s home, heading toward my own. Turning around, I finally made it to her house fifteen minutes later than intended.

“Mommy!” Sophie beamed, clueless to all that had shattered within our family.

“Hi, baby.” I quickly used some hand sanitizer my mother had on the coffee table, knowing Sophie would give me no time to wash my hands like I wanted. “What have you been doing all day?” I quizzed, and Sophie ran on, babbling for the some parts, but most of it was very clear.

“She’s been sweet as usual.” My mama entered the living room, and I rolled my eyes playfully.

“She could punch someone and you’d say that, Ma.” I giggled, removing my jacket and shoes before sitting on the floor with Sophie to join her coloring session.

“How did it go?” My mom descended onto the couch, clutching a cup of tea.

“Same as it’s been going. They act like they will call me, but as soon as I leave, they throw my application in the trash.”

“How are you the villain and he’s not?” She frowned, obviously perturbed by all that was going on.

“I guess I would’ve had to allow him to kill me for me to be the victim. I just wish I could be a damn nurse or anything in my field. I don’t even want these jobs I’ve been interviewing for, but I wanna keep myself afloat. My savings will only last me about a year, and I don’t know how long it will be until this trial is over. And who knows if I will get my license back at the end? Shit, I may not even be free.”

“You will be free. Bashar is gonna make sure of it. He’s the best you could get.” She beamed, bragging on her son-in-law.

I scoffed playfully, though I knew what my mother was saying was true. Bashar had a 98 percent success rate, making sense as to why he got a lot of hate in the public for defending criminals. What they didn’t know, though, was that the man did have some morals, so he wouldn’t just defend anyone, no matter how much money they had. If he felt like they weren’t goodpeople or were serial killers, pedophiles, or rapists, he would decline. My sister told me so.

If only I could pay the man, but he wouldn’t let me. He’d explained that I’d paid enough, having to deal with Cedric, and he wouldn’t feel right taking my money. He also let me know keeping me out of jail would make his wife happy, and for her happiness, he would do just about anything.

I would surely pay him back for my bail, though, because that was just too much.

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