Page 5 of Sassy Love
My arms fail. The gym machine whines, then the plates crash down, and the guy on the leg machine to my left slides an annoyed look my way.
Yeah, me and you both, bud.
Fuck today.
Six ways to fucking Sunday, as my brothers would say.
“Let’s finish up, hey,” I say to Miles. He wipes his brow and neck, tossing his towel onto his shoulder.
“I just hope Lamont opens and responds to the email I sent her.” I sigh, wiping the sweat from my face. I’m not worried about Carlson pinning me for holding him and his gutter tactics accountable. I can find another job if I have to. Hell, I’ve had more than my share of fresh starts in this city that never sleeps. From wanting to escape questionable bosses to needing a pay raise to keep my apartment. I can adapt to almost anything. A trait I share with my father.
“She’ll be fine, I’m sure. Anyone who can earn the corner office in Carlson’s world can handle themselves.” Milo gives me the ‘you know I’m right’ look.
“Guess so.”
I do three more reps and wipe down the machine in the small gym before walking out into the night air, two blocks from my apartment. Miles falls in beside me, looking around, always aware of his surroundings. Should have been a cop.
“Grabbing takeout tonight? The game’s on, if you’re up for it?” I ask.
“Nah, up early. Shift tomorrow.”
One of his twenty-four-hour shifts. Don’t know how they do that shit.
“All good, bud. Catch you on the flip side.” I raise a fist, and he smashes his to mine.
“Night, Laws.” His wide smile brightens his face, as it always does. “Don’t stress over it, hey? It’ll work itself out.”
Always the optimist, my best friend. Of the three guys that make up my circle, Miles is always the one to lift us up when things go sideways. It’s no small wonder he’s FDNY’s bravest.
Me, I’ll be at war with my version of injustice into the middle of the night, no doubt.
If the position wasn’t keeping me in my apartment and I didn’t have barely a month in this job under my belt, I’d move on.
Then someone else could ignore the rules, bend the business institutional codes for Carlson’s wicked ways. I’m sure their bottom line would be better off without me.
Because the second Lamont opens that email, she’ll have all she needs to hand the old man his own ass on a silver platter on the grounds of blatant sexism, unfair dismissal, inequality, not to mention the loss of her assistant.
That was a curveball not even I saw coming.
That office has always had an executive assistant, if the company records are correct. And Carlson had no grounds to terminate her position, either.
Ageism.
Oh, and the list keeps getting longer . . .
I hope she makes use of the legal recommendations I made. For women everywhere, she should.
I make my building and push through the door after entering the code. Traipsing up the three flights of stairs to my apartment, I am lost in my head when the squeals reach my ears. Gripping my gym bag, I look up just as wild brown eyes and blonde hair fly at me. Then, a megawatt smile topped with the prettiest damn freckles and curly brown hair falls in beside her, and I’m smothered by two of my favorite people in the whole world.
Exactly what I need right now.
“Laws!” Ruby hugs me so damn tight, I choke out a laugh as Addy dots a kiss to my cheek.
But someone’s missing . . .
“Where’s Gracie?”
“Mack wouldn’t let her drive with us. Apparently, her condition means she flies in style. I’ll pop over and pick her up in a few hours.” Ruby holds me at arm’s length. Her brows fall.
