Page 30 of Of Mercury and Mist

Whiplash—that’s what it’d felt like, I decided. Too keyed up to go back to sleep, I read for a while before I called it a night. It was hard to concentrate as my mind kept straying back to the dream. When clearly, I’d been there for hours, it was only moments, here. How did that work? Dreams were funny things.

The man, Samuel, had an excellent point though—why wasn’t I making the most of my life? I should be doing what I wanted. If Micha was going to take things further—which I highly doubted at this point—he would’ve done so already. Obviously, I was still alive and kicking. Or punching and kissing, if I included my reaction to Micha’s caveman ways.

The phone rang and rang but finally, Della picked up.

“What time is it there? Why are you up? Are you okay?” My best friend’s questions tumbled one over the other, giving me no chance to answer.

When I got my chance, I yelled at her, “What the hell Della, why don’t you ever answer your phone? I’m dying over here.”

“What do you mean? What happened?”

I huffed out a breath. “Micha, that’s what happened.”

“What did he do?”

“You knew he was a jerk to me, remember? He’s labeled ‘asshole’ in my phone.”

“Okay? So, what happened? I can’t help you if you don’t tell me,” Della said, softly.

Where did I start? The wisdom in telling her everything was questionable, considering who she was with. “He’s very demanding,” I muttered.

She laughed. “Not surprised, Josiah is too. Take some vacation days or something, I can get Josiah to approve it if he won’t.”

An idea struck me. My hand started shaking as my nerves went haywire. Della’s position protected me; Micha couldn’t do a thing about it.

No sooner had the thought settled than I shook my head. I was being crazy. Neither of the men would do anything to actually injure me or cause any lasting damage. They headed up a huge, successful company; they wouldn’t risk it. I was acting like they were serial killers or movie villains or something.

Sure, Micha was a piece of shit and treated me like crap but even if I brought the police in, I couldn’t say I hadn’t enjoyed being forced to suck his dick or being ravished in his bathroom. What that said about me, I didn’t want to examine too deeply. I would’ve done it even if he hadn’t shoved me under his desk.

A wave of embarrassment washed over me and I took a deep breath. It’d take a team of psychologists to figure out why I was terrified of him and yet still longed for his touch. I had some sick fascination with the man I didn’t understand. I loved the way he looked at me, as if I were the only thing to exist in the universe—even if I was the one thing he hated the most. His focus was all-consuming and passionate. No one had ever paid me that much attention, made me the center of their universe.

“Can I talk to Josiah about it? Is he there?” Even if Micha wouldn’t really hurt me, I had to go. I couldn’t take the pressure or the stress. It wasn’t healthy and would end badly.

Della sighed. “He’s right here, hang on.”

Muffled voices came though the connection making me think Della covered the microphone before handing it off.

“Ashley,” Josiah greeted me, his tone guarded.

“Hi Josiah, thank you for speaking with me.”

“You’re welcome. What is your request?”

He was so formal it was intimidating. “Um, I’m having some personal problems at work, and I’d like to turn in my resignation.”

He laughed, low and dark before replying, “May I suggest you reread your employment agreement?”

“I’ve read it, and I know I broke a few rules. I just can’t handle the job anymore, it's too much for me.” Uncertain how much he knew about recent events; I didn’t want to give away anything I didn’t have to.

“Ashley, there is no resignation from Ipomoea for you considering certain liberties you’ve taken. The only reason you’re still breathing is Micha’s temporary mercy toward you. The only way out, in your shoes, is termination.”

I gasped, and my vision narrowed, my blood pressure climbing to what had to have been dangerous levels. “I...I...” Stammering, I lowered the phone from my ear while trying to draw in oxygen.

“You stole from me, Ashley,” his voice rumbled through the phone low and deadly. “You do understand the consequences of your actions, don’t you?”

“Don’t listen to him!” I heard Della yell in the background, furious. Static sounded in my ear and then a thump, a scratching noise, and next I heard muffled arguing.

“She’s my best friend,” I heard Della screech. A voice I didn’t recognize muttered something I couldn’t pick out in the background and then all the noise stopped making me think I’d been hung up on.

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