Page 123 of Invisible String
The hate my father has for Max is disgusting. He sees him as someone below him.
Finally, after twenty minutes in traffic, I park at Max’s building in a carport that reads:Employees Only. Too fucking bad because I’m parking here. Max can tow me if he wants.
I growl, stomping my foot childlike. The damn elevator won’t open. Oh, tits up, open already.
Beep. Beep.A herd of people comes out.
“This day has gone tits up,” I say to no one.
“The day isn’t over,” an older woman answers me.
I guess someone was listening to me.
I’m in such a shitty mood, yet I give the woman a smile that probably looks like Chuckie’s Bride. We both hop into the elevator. She tucks into the corner while I’m on the other side. The elevator dings, and she gets off. Yeah. I’m sure I scared her. I take a deep breath and get off on the next floor.
Leo sitsat his desk typing on the computer. His head jolts when he sees me. I give him the friendliest smile I can muster. The poor guy has had to deal with Max’s outbursts and mine. “Hi, Rainey, how are you doing?”
“Hi, Leo, I’m doing good. How’s work going?”
“It’s okay. I’m grateful I have a job. Max took me in when I was homeless and unemployed. He helped me out a lot.”
My rapid heartbeat comes to a standstill. I melt.
“That’s sweet of him.”
He shrugs. “He is. He just looks like a grizzly bear who woke up from hibernation.”
I snort. “That he does. I’ll be in Max’s office.”
He jumps out of his seat. “Hold on. So, how’s the bakery going?”
I hesitate. “Good.” I raise a brow at him.
“Max is lucky he gets to eat all your amazing food. Your breakfast croissants are so good. What’s the recipe?”
My fists go to my hips, and I tilt my head at him. “Are you keeping me from Max’s office?”
He rears back. “No, he’s just?—”
My blood is boiling. Is someone in his office? That skanky bitch. What’s her name? Roxy? My polka-dot Skechers stomp down the long hallway. Jealousy aches at the thought of him with someone else. What if he has her on his vast desk?
“Rainey.” Leo jogs after me.
I don’t knock. I shove the door open, and it slams against the wall. The woman next to his desk jumps up, and Max peers at me over a stack of papers.
“Hey, Rainey.” His gruff tone deflates my heart.
How long has he been in here with this woman? He was cold with me on the phone earlier today, and then all this with Andrew. There is no smile, like I’m the last person he wants to see—no hint of the warmth he has given me the last few weeks.
“Is that all?” she asks him, rearranging her breasts in front of him. Roxy sounds like a stripper’s name.
“Yeah,” he answers, not looking at her, but at me.
Did they have sex?
“I hope you enjoy the lunch I made for you. Leo said you have been eating my food for the last couple of weeks. We can’t let the star boxer go hungry. You need your protein.”
I clench my fists as I think about the past weeks. He’s been sleeping in my bed, and I’ve been cooking for him and even doing his laundry. Yet, he has another woman taking care of him as well?
