Page 12 of Echoes of Desire

I hear my phone buzz, but I don’t have time to deal with those two insane men right now.

By the time I get to O’Neal’s I’m already fifteen minutes late.

“Where have you been? Rob has been on a warpath for five minutes.”

Short stature, messy brown hair, green eyes, and smells like cotton candy. This is Eric.

“My car wouldn’t start last night,” I answer. “I overslept and then had to walk here. I don’t understand why we had to have this meeting so early.”

“I know, right,” he says, walking with me to the staff room. “As soon as we’re finished, we’re all leaving, only to return in three hours. Stupid.”

“Let’s get this over with,” I sigh.

“Bassett, you’re late.”

Tall, broad shoulders, shaved head, glasses, and anger in his voice.

That would be Rob. My boss.

Eric once told me that Rob is quite handsome in the looks department. I nodded my agreement, but in all honesty, I can’t really tell if someone is good-looking or not. Not even the men from last night. They could be the vilest-looking men on the face of the planet, and I would never know.

I doubt they are, though.

“I’m sorry, sir,” I say. “I couldn’t get my car to start after my last shift, so I had to walk here.”

“Don’t care. That makes three times now. You’re fired.”

“What?” I say. “I’m never late. Actually, I’m always here before you.”

“According to your file, you’ve been late three times,” he says nonchalantly, shoving a piece of paper on the table. “You know the rules. Three times, and you’re out.”

Grabbing the paper, I read it over in shocked silence.

“This says I’ve only been late three times,” I say. “Ever.”

“You know the rules,” Rob repeats.

“Ever,” I repeat. “As in, since I started working here six years ago.”

“Don’t question me, woman,” he snarls. “I said you’re fired. Now, get out.”

I stand frozen, the weight of Rob’s words crashing over me like a tidal wave. Fired? Just like that? After six years of dedication and bending over backward for this place, I’m thrown out without a proper explanation.

Eric shifts uncomfortably beside me, his eyes darting between Rob and me. “Uh, Rob—”

“Not now, Eric,” Rob snaps, cutting him off without even sparing him a glance.

I open my mouth to argue, to defend myself, but the look in Rob’s eyes stops me. It’s not just anger. It’s satisfaction. He wants this. He’s enjoying it.

Fine. If he’s looking for a reaction, he’s not going to get one.

“Okay,” I say quietly, folding the paper and slipping it into my pocket.

Rob’s smug expression falters as if he were expecting more of a fight. “That’s it? You’re not going to argue?”

I square my shoulders, meeting his gaze with as much calm as I can muster. “There’s no point. You’ve clearly made up your mind.”

I turn on my heel and walk out of the staff room, Eric hurrying after me.

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