Page 5 of Bounty

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and I feel him standing behind me. I keep my breathing even. Sharks like him can smell fear.

“Willa, I told you to call me Tim…” he says in a low voice. He’s trying to sound sexy, but his nasally pitch is the furthest thing from it.

“I’ll drop these off at your desk so they’re ready for the staff meeting tomorrow.” Hopefully he gets the hint and leaves me alone.

Of course, he doesn’t. He never does.

He moves closer to me. “Willa, when are you going to wise up and let me take you to dinner after work? I’m a nice guy who owns a home, has a dog, and can take care of you. You don’t want to be a spinster forever do you?” he asks.

I go ramrod straight as goosebumps prick my skin. I don’t like him being this close to me, especially when no one else is around at the end of the day.And seriously, a spinster?Does this man not know we’re in the twenty-first century?

Universe, please give me a Christmas miracle and make this asshole get stuck in a chimney.

“You don’t want to live in a run down house on the outskirts of town for the rest of your life, do you? That place is busted up so bad it should be condemned. So unbecoming for a beautiful young woman like you,” he continues, completely uncaring ofhow stalkery and creepy it is that he knows what my home looks like. “You’re twenty-four—should be married already with a child on the way. I can give you the life you deserve.”

He grabs my arm, and alarms go off in my head. He’s never blatantly touched me before, just an occasional brush here and there. I try to keep my breathing even, to stay calm.

“Mr. Johnson, please stop touching me. I’m not interested in you and your repeated advances make me uncomfortable. You’re being inappropriate.”

He spins me around and I accidentally throw the papers. They float down around us like the snow raging outside. Pulling me against him, he wrenches my head back by my hair.

“Youtrollop,” he hisses at me, his spittle flying into my face. Bile climbs up my throat as his erection digs into my thigh. “You think I don’t notice you flouncing around the office in your tight skirts and flimsy blouses—that I don’t see those perky tits and that fat ass bouncing every time you move. You had to know there would be consequences.”

He digs his grubby fingers into my cleavage and I go into fight mode. My knee slams into him. Before I know what happened, he’s in the fetal position on the floor, screaming at me.

“Dumb bitch, you broke my nuts!” He rolls over, pulling his cell phone from his pocket. “You’re fired! Get out before I call the cops!”

Fuck. I can’t lose my job. Panicking isn’t going to do me any good right now.Focus, what do I do?I have to keep control of the situation somehow. Now is not the time to spiral.

“I asked you not to touch me Mr. Johnson. You didn’t listen, and I was forced to use self-defense. I’m going to Human Resources and reporting you.” I try to sound strong, but his derisive laughter breaks my thin semblance of bravery.

“You’re a stupid whore, you know that? HR isn’t going to believe you. They didn’t believe the last three girls who ran crying to them, either. They’ll fire you on the spot. Get the fuck out and don’t come back tomorrow, or you’ll be arrested for assault,” he yells.

I rush to grab my purse as tears flood my eyes.I lost my job.How the hell will I keep a roof over my head? Or afford food? My rent is due at the end of the month, and I can’t pay it or the $150 left over from last month without this week’s check.

How will I get another job, especially without a good reference from this one?I’m so screwed.

My tears are a river. The winter wind lashes my face as I push out of the lobby doors and snow clouds my vision, making it difficult to find my car in the parking lot. Christmas used to be such a happy time in my life when I lived on Harvest Farm with my family—before everything changed. Now the holiday season is so lonely and depressing.

Memories of Aunt Norma and I eating our Christmas meal warm my heart for a split-second, before a sharp longing cuts through it.I miss her.We may not have had much, and our Christmas dinner may not have been the feasts we had back at the farm, but we at least had each other.

We’ll always have each other, love.That’s what she always told me after Mom died.

Now I’m alone.

More than anything, I wish I could go back to Harvest Farm and be with my family. With my boys, even if they don’t want me anymore. I understand why we had to leave—it wasn’t safe anymore—but ever since Aunt Norma and I left, I’ve been a heartbroken wanderer who’s been trying to find a new home and never fits in anywhere.

Five Years & Ten Months Ago

“Little flower, you’ll never belong anywhere more than you do here, with us. Why can’t you stay?” Colin begs, grabbing my hand and refusing to let me go.

“I don’t have a choice.” I hate crying in front of them, but fat, wet tears roll down my cheeks.

“You can’t leave me,” Cain says with a distraught expression. “I’ll miss you too much.”

“I’m going to miss you both so much. You’re my best friends.”

They both wrap their arms around me in a bone-crushing hug, which isn’t hard because they’re larger than life. Even though I’m eighteen now, they’re still so much bigger than I am.

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