Page 15 of Bully's Second Chance
She turned her back to me. “See you in the morning, Jax.”
“See you bright and early, Miss DeMarcus.”
And as she stormed out of my office, satisfaction washed over me in waves. I’d get to see her again tomorrow. And the day after that. And even the day after that as well.
A thought that both elated me and filled me with an excited sort of terror.
6
Lily
“So, what do you think?”
After leaving Jax’s office, I headed straight for Yuslan and Guadalupe’s place. They welcomed me with open arms like they always did, then we all sat down at a table packed with food and fresh tea right from the leaves Guadalupe grew in her little garden out back.
And the second my ass hit that seat, I couldn’t do anything but rant and spew about this new job and how exactly I had come across it.
“What doyouthink?” Yuslan asked.
I sighed as I leaned heavily against the kitchen chair. “I honestly don’t know. On the one hand, it’s more money than I stand to make even if I started my own business. But, on the other hand—”
“Your boss sounds like an asshole,” Guadalupe said.
I giggled. “Something along those lines, yes.”
“And you told him about your parents?” Yuslan asked.
I shrugged. “A little bit? Just an overview. None of the details. I’m not ready for that conversation with him.”
“How did he react?” Guadalupe asked.
I snickered. “Honestly? He looked shocked, which sort of pissed me off even more. I mean, it’s not like I tried to hide what was happening to me as a child. I didn’t do a lot to cover up the bruises. I was angry from morning until night. I took on every extracurricular I could just so I didn’t have to go home. Hell, even the guidance counselor would come up with reasons as to why I needed to stay behind at school for a while.”
“Yet, he still didn’t know,” Yuslan said.
Guadalupe took my hand. “That really upsets you, doesn’t it?”
I blinked back tears. “I don’t even know why it upsets me. It just… does.”
Yuslan scooted his chair closer to mine. “Maybe because the interactions you’ve had with your new boss reminds you of the things you endured with your father.”
I shook my head. “Maybe? I don’t know.”
Guadalupe squeezed my hand. “Are you going to be okay with a job like this? Working for someone who contributed to your hurt for all of those years?”
I scoffed. “Call me crazy, but something in the back of my mind is telling me that he really isn’t the same person. I don’t know all of the details, but I know his childhood wasn’t any easier. It was well-known in our community that his parents were workaholics. Barely home. And his nanny was regularly negligent, at best.”
“Aye, dios mio,” Yuslan murmured.
Guadalupe leaned into me a little bit. “You can’t let the anger you have toward your father hold you back in your life any longer. You’re too smart, too kind, and too beautiful for that.”
“I know, I know,” I whispered.
She released my hand and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I know you’re tired, and I know you’re drained. But, this job could bring about a lot of good things if you stick it out long enough.”
My head fell back. “I’m just so exhausted, and it’s only been one day. Maybe I should quit.”
“Did I teach you to quit?” Yuslan asked abruptly.
