Page 1 of Sutton's CEO

Prologue

Sutton

Before Mama got sick, she would often tell me that there were two kinds of people in this world.

“The first ones are like you and me,” she’d say. “Good, hardworking folks that are just trying to get by. Then there is the second type. Those are the ones you really need to worry about, Sutton.”

Then Mama would lean in real close like she was imparting the secrets of the world. I always knew what she was about to say, but I’d get caught up in the drama of it all and listen with bated breath. I can remember the rasp of her voice and the smell of liquor wafting into my nose.

“Those cheeky bastards have money,” she’d whisper with an intensity that I couldn’t understand. “Don’t fall for it, Sutton. Money is the root of all evil, and don’t you forget it. Everything bad that’s ever happened to us happened because of money.”

Tears would fill her eyes, and it was in those moments that I would have done anything to take away her pain. But I guess that Mama was already one step ahead of me. Because unbeknown to me, Mama was already trying anything and everything to forget the things that plagued her mind. All I knew was that she would take another drink or pill that would cause the light in her eyes to blur until the pain of her reality was far behind her. Eventually she would fall asleep or pass out.

It wasn’t until I was in grade school that I learned that Mama was quoting the bible with her talk of evil and money. I didn’t grow up knowing the bible or the good Lord. Father Montgomery never was nice to Mama. Even as a kid, I knew it. He would call her the town bicycle when he ran across us on the street. Mama would then call him some rather inventive things that would cause his ugly old face to turn a rotten shade of puce. As angry as she would be, I secretly loved to see her fighting back. It was in those moments that I felt like my mama was fierce and strong.

Even later when my rose-colored glasses fell off, and I finally saw Mama for who she was rather than who I wanted her to be, I still held out hope that maybe someday she would stop the drinking, drugs, and whoring. That maybe she would see that despite the hand that life had dealt her, that I was worth staying sober for. That we could be a family. I loved my mama with everything that was in me, but Mama, I’m not sure what she loved best. All I know is that it certainly wasn’t me.

Chapter One

Sutton

“You’re late, Sutton.”

I winced internally as I listened to my boss chastise me for being late. Flinging my bag under the dingy counter at Abberly’s bar, I looked up from my crouched position to see Gabriel Reece glaring at me.

Rather than answer him, I yanked my apron out of my bag and went to work tying it on. Sadly, the next time I glanced over at him it was just in time to see his nasty ass staring at the way my t-shirt pulled tight across my chest as I tried on my apron.

Perve.

“We have a start time for a reason, Sutton” he stated in that lofty tone of his.

Seriously, who was the man kidding? There wasn’t another soul in town who would put up with his shit and we both knew it.

“I’m sorry,” I grit out between clenched teeth. I knew better than to give an excuse, even if it was a valid one. Gabe didn’t care if I had an excuse, he just liked riding my ass. It started in Kindergarten and he hadn’t got bored of it yet.

“Look, this is getting to be a problem,” he began, scratching his chest. I didn’t even want to know what the stains were that currently decorated his shirt. There had been a time when Gabe was somewhat attractive. That time was long gone.

“I’m never late,” I started, but he cut me off with a raised hand.

“Sutton, Sutton, Sutton.”

I hated the way he said my name. It was as if he were speaking of dog poop or erectile dysfunction.

“Yes, Gabriel?” I answered frostily.

I could swear that there was a glint of smugness that entered into his cold eyes as he continued to stare me down. Finally, he spoke, “You are late—again. I told you the next time you came in here late I would be taking it off your wages.”

I hated the stupid son of a bitch. I hadn’t been late in over two years.I was so tempted to tell him what he could do with this job, and the stick lodged in his ass. But the familiar grumbling of my stomach forced me to hold my tongue. I needed the money that this terrible job provided. It was the reason, the only reason, I agreed to work for the asshole in the first place.

Glancing at the clock before turning back to glare at him, I answered smartly, “It’s three minutes after the hour, Gabe. What are you going to deduct, fifteen cents?”

Okay, so I hadn’t done the math. But at a waitressing hourly wage, I wasn’t bringing home the big bucks. I could see by his reaction that I wasn’t far off the mark. Gabe looked ready to wring my bare neck. Well, good, I wouldn’t mind wringing his either.

“Sutton, we pay you to be here at three, not three minutes after three. This isn’t a difficult concept, so even you should understand it. If you are unable to be on time for your shift, you can find somewhere else to work.”

Oh, I bet he would love that.Gabe hadn’t always been the owner of Abberly’s. His mama, God rest her soul, had always been good to me. Ruth Ann treated me like gold. Which was saying something in this town, where I not only came from the wrong side of the tracks, but the wrong side of the blanket.

Pushing my way past Gabe, I took in the current customers. I smiled when I saw two of my favorite older ladies glancing surreptitiously over their menus, clearly trying to eavesdrop. As my eyes continued to scan the room, I saw a few of the other tables were taken. Nothing too stressful. This would be an easy-peasy kind of day.

---