Page 412 of Savage Bosses

"Julia, I..." Tatianna struggled to find the right words as a wave of sympathy washed over her.

"Don't say anything. Just listen, please. Before I go, I need to clear my conscience. I did something, and I can't take it to the grave with me. When we worked together at Southern Heat, I did something terrible, and it's haunted me ever since."

"Julia, what are you talking about?" Tatianna replied, heart pounding in anticipation as she listened intently.

"Promise me that you'll hear me out," Julia pleaded, the sound of tears evident in her voice. "It's important to me that you know the truth."

"Of course," Tatianna assured her, bracing herself for whatever revelation was about to follow. "I'm listening."

As the confession unraveled over the phone, Tatianna's world tilted on its axis. Her hands trembled, the phone threatening to slip from her grasp. Julia's revelation was more devastating than she could have imagined.

"I was approached by someone I went to junior high with. Her family is rich, and she never even talked to me in school. So, I was surprised when she suddenly approached me, remembering my name and everything. When she began talking to me in detail, I realized she'd done a background check on me. She knew about my family's situation and how my husband had scammed a bunch of people and was in jail. We were on the verge of losing our house. I couldn't afford my car note. I was working as a waitress, living off minimum wage and tips. I was losing my mind."

Tati hadn't realized Julia had been going through all of that. She hadn’t even known the woman was married. Whenever they’d talked, Julia always had a smile on her face and a pep in her step. Julia was proof that sometimes the saddest stories hid behind the brightest smiles.

"I was in desperate need of money, and she was willing to give me a lot of it to do something for her. Her name is Melinda Farrina."

"Melinda?" Tati yelled, leaning forward in her seat as if that could bring her closer to Julia.

"Yes, Melinda Farrina. She paid me to give her your work schedule back then. I didn't know why she wanted it, but I was desperate for money," Julia confessed, her voice cracking with guilt. "And it didn't seem like a big deal. So, I took a screenshot of our work schedule and sent it to her."

Tatianna's jaw clenched, and a cold fury surged through her veins. "Why would she want my schedule?"

"Tati, there's more. Melinda didn't just want your schedule – she had a plan. She paid Marco to attack you on that night," Julia revealed, her voice trembling as she recounted the chilling details.

"She did what?" Tatianna whispered, her hands shaking uncontrollably.

The memory of that terrifying night surged to the forefront of her mind, the pain and fear as fresh as if it had happened yesterday. Though it had happened years ago, she still jumped sometimes when someone touched her shoulder from behind.

And whenever she was walking alone, she grew nervous, looking over her shoulder, wondering if it would happen again. Was Melinda really behind what happened to her? Had Marco, Julia, and Melinda conspired against her together? Tati had felt rage before, but it was nothing compared to what she was feeling right now.

“Continue,” Tati whispered, voice low, cold, frightening…Monstrous.

Chapter Two

Tatianna

T

atianna was seething with anger as she continued listening to Julia.

"After sending her your schedule, she transferred the money to my bank account, and I was able to settle my debts. But two days later, while outside on a smoke break, I overheard a conversation between her and Marco. I knew he was on the phone with her because I heard him tell her that Bryceson would never leave you for her. And that her family was close to the Cattaneos. If Bryceson liked her, he would've already dated her. Then he said something about how she'd already promised him that the Farrina family and the Cattaneos would force Bryce to marry her. He'd been waiting for that to happen as she'd promised, but it never had. Then, he went silent for a long time. When he spoke again, he asked her if she were sure that would work. Then he said he would have to take some time off from work to get the material he'd need. Then he told her that he'd need lots of money to skip town. She must've asked him what happened to his money because he confessed to having a gambling problem. He rattled off a large sum, and she must've agreed to it because he told her he'd be ready in a few days. I didn't know what to do, and honestly, I was afraid to get involved. However, after your attack, I knew it was him and her behind it. I confronted her after the attack. But of course, I was the one who’d given her your schedule, so she said I was an accomplice. I’d just gotten my life back on track. I hadn’t wanted to do anything to ruin that.”

But you were okay with me being ruined?Tati thought as Julia continued.

“As Melinda continued ranting to me, I heard the crazy in her voice. Turns out, Melinda was obsessed with getting Bryce all to herself, and she thought that by having you kidnapped and having Marco leave the country with you, Bryce would turn to her for comfort, and her family would be able to persuade him to marry her," Julia continued, her words tumbling out like a dam breaking.

The entire scheme sounded like something Tati had once watched in a television soap opera. Then again, shit like this happened more often than people thought. She just never expected to be caught up in this type of drama.

"I'm so sorry, Tati. I never knew it would go this far."

Tatianna's mind raced, trying to reconcile the horrifying truth. Melinda had orchestrated the entire incident, going to such lengths just to steal Bryce from her. And worse, Julia – someone she'd once considered a friend – had played a part in it. Rage bubbled inside her, threatening to erupt.

"Did anyone else know about this?" Tatianna hissed, her voice low and dangerous.

"No, just me, Melinda, and Marco. I swear," Julia sobbed, clearly distraught. "I wish I could take it all back."

Tati didn't say anything. She couldn't. She was too pissed off. All she could think about was Bryceson and how Melinda's jealousy and obsession had driven him to do something he'd never wanted to do. It wasn't Tati's fault. It was Melinda’s.

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