Page 22 of The Reluctant Hero

He considers it as Asher calls us back to the mats. I can hear Amanda’s groan of dismay as she trudges back.

“If it gets her away from these rancid whores I’ll agree,” Jake relents without much tone to his voice.

I nod, getting ready to take her ego out in one sentence. Sadly, I don’t think it will take much. If these women have been working on her for long enough, she’s ready to break. Especially with how physically exhausted she is.

We can meet up with her and build her confidence back up. Far away from her so-called friends. She needs to cut them out of her life for her own safety.

I brush the pang of guilt at my manipulation plans aside before it finishes rising. I can always apologize later.

8

Master of Puppets

Amanda

The newest letter has my mood in the dumps. The whole situation does really. The only thing that hasn’t changed is my job.

Ms. Matthias was bought out by her brother a month ago. The investment business continues with very few differences.

The new owner, Gabriel Matthias, works on the top floor. People whisper about him like he’s the boogie man. I have yet to see him, and I hope I never do. I bet he’s an egotistical pig.

The files have changed a little. More obscure places are getting bought up instead of fancy ones. It’s like the Matthias family is trying to buy the whole town and fighting over who gets what.

The bad news is that everything I worked on when I started has to be pulled and relocated, and the new files have to be put in place. At least the new ones are neatly organized into boxes instead of spread all over the single desk here. There isn’t any point in asking Sarah for help. She always gives me a nasty side-eye and tells me it’s my job to file, not hers.

This entire town is overflowing with jackasses. I wish I had the receptionist job next to Harriette. I’m already planning on saving up for twenty cats and a ghostly house that will scare away any intruders. Harriette seems like the type to help with something like that.

The day passes like molasses pouring from a jar. I finish one box and pick up the next one, ready to move it to the tablewhen Sarah comes barreling in and knocks the box out of my hands.

“What the hell?” I ask in dismay as pages spread everywhere.

“Watch where you’re going,” Sarah snaps back, shuffling through a cabinet to pull a file and walk away.

“While I’m standing in one spot. Yeah, totally my fault,” I glare. She ignores me and closes the door.

I’m ready to rage quit. Instead, I take a few deep breaths and remind myself that I like hot dogs more than I like ramen.

It doesn’t stop my running mumbled commentary about stupid pretend bosses who do nothing all day and then ram into innocent employees. Next time, I’m going to trip her on her way out. Maybe kick her while she’s down.

I’m going strong with my angry rant when something catches my eye on a sheet of paper.

Justin Blake.

Ugh. I feel my gag reflex working just seeing it. I should scratch it out and write in Loser. My eyes skip down and snag on another name.

Elliot Bernard?

The name is familiar. I’ve got a feeling of doom that comes up and fades quickly. Enough to make me shudder and knock my memory into shape.

This is a name from one of the letters.

That’s weird.

I gather up all of the sheets and set them on the table, slowly putting them back in order. This is proof of title on a property. It says Loser bought it, but I was never told anything about it. The weirdness continues.

Judge Gloria Fullerton is also on the page. It’s not really a surprise because this is some legal paperwork. Is this a listof properties Matthias LLC has recently purchased and their histories?

Her name pops up several times through the scattered pages. I’m less looking at information and more hunting for names like a relaxing word search. Two more catch my notice. Darla Santos. I remember that one because it sounds like a pop star name. And Carter Smash. Who has that as a last name? Of course, I remember it. I’m not so sure about the Carter part, though.

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