Page 65 of The Reluctant Hero

Her eyes dart to Amanda and back to me, a surge of pity in her eyes and anger in her tightening lips.

“She’s trying to find a lawyer for a divorce. She keeps getting denied due to some law she doesn’t understand. Shecouldn’t explain it to me well. I think she’s looking for a loophole to get around it.”

“Hmm,” my brows furrow thoughtfully.

She was very clear that she hadn’t gotten a lawyer. It was assumed she had faked her urgency. This proves otherwise.

She could have easily looked this up on her phone. Was the library a show for me? Has she been aware of me this entire time?

“I don’t think I know enough about laws to help her then,” I sigh in defeat and then thank her for her help.

“Better luck next time,” she offers begrudgingly.

“Thanks,” I give her a wry grin and then catch up to monitor Amanda again.

15

Walk

Amanda

My mood is even worse today. That’s the only reason I can come up with for the amount of bitchiness ready to spill out.

The hours I spent in the library moved me to tears. Even the librarian couldn’t help me with a way to go around Loser’s manipulations. The further out I go for a lawyer, the more expensive it is. Ridiculously expensive and nausea-inducing. I don’t see Mr. Matthias agreeing to that type of money being shelled out for my divorce. Maybe I should get on the whole taking an ad out in the paper for sexy times thing and force his hand.

And the not-so-subtle threat of being evicted is looming. When I left this morning, I saw a red letter on my door. I didn’t see one on any other doors, so I’m wondering if this is a scare tactic or if everyone is getting evicted soon. How can I find out if Loser really purchased the building? He could just be paying the landlord to harass me. It would be cheaper.

The only thing I have to look forward to today is my campaign to harass my boss. It will be a great distraction.

When I walk into the office, Ellen and Harriette stare at me with open mouths. They’re both on the phone already and the building doesn’t open for another thirty minutes.

Harriette shakes her head sharply and mutters, “I don’t want to know. This card is for you.”

She slides a key card across the desk to me like she doesn’t want to touch me. Coward.

“Thanks,” I paste on a fake smile and take myself to the elevators. I’m a little too conspicuous to go to Sarah’s desk today, so I just go straight up.

When I step off, the front desk is empty, but the big guard is there, waiting for me with crossed arms. He looks stunned to see me and blinks several times.

“Good morning, guard whose name I still don’t know,” I tell him with a bright grin. This first reaction is beautiful.

“It’s Mikael,” he takes his time looking at my horrible outfit, his lips twitching. I can’t tell if he’s trying not to laugh or suppressing a gag. It is a pretty bad clash of clothes. I worked hard on it.

The wide-brimmed floppy hat with fluffy feathers sticking out everywhere is shocking pink. The loud Hawaiian shirt is unbuttoned, revealing my long-sleeved camo shirt under it. The cheapest pants I could find at the thrift shop are noisy exercise pants that swish when I walk and are baby blue. I made sure that my knee-high socks are showing. They’re rainbow-striped. The only normal thing I’m wearing is my shoes.

None of it fits properly, but I spent fifteen bucks and it’s easy ammo for this situation.

“Well, good morning, Mikael,” I try to pronounce it the way he does and mess it up a bit. He’s too dazed to notice. “Let’s get in there and have a great day!”

My enthusiastic life coach voice makes his eyes widen even more.

I pass him with a bounce in my step and open the double doors dramatically.

Matthias glances up with a slight frown and freezes in place. Ace’s jaw drops before he starts laughing so hard he bends at the waist.

“Good morning everyone!” I clap my hands loudly to really sell the excitement.

I take the hat off and fling it towards the couches, refusing to look at the reactions from the popcorn gallery.

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