Page 20 of A Lie so Dangerous and Fragile

“Are you for real right now?”

He shrugged.

“You’re insane,” I told him and wore my dirty tennis shoes. I needed to get new ones when I went shopping for Kayden.

“It’s up to you, Chloe. Give me some money, or I’ll tell your friend your secrets. And let’s not forget the father. I’m sure he’ll be happy to find out about his son.”

My breath ceased, and he smirked, seeing the look on my face.

“I told you, Brie told me everything.”

I dug my nails into my palm, trying to control my anger, but I was scared at the same time. I brought out my purse. I took out a hundred-dollar bill and threw it at him.

“Add one more hundred,” he said when I turned to leave.

I wanted to argue, but he gave me thatyou know what happens if you refuselook.

I took out another hundred-dollar bill and threw it on the floor, glaring at him.

“Good girl.”

***

I was in a rage when I got to the hotel. I avoided my friends and went straight to start cleaning the rooms assigned to me. The second room I was cleaning was a dumpster. Clothes, empty pizza boxes, empty cans, and red disposable cups had been thrown on the floor. I could smell marijuana and weed lingering in the air. I almost threw up at the used condoms next to the trash can.

I spent almost an hour in the room. I got frustrated when the vacuum cleaner stopped working. I kicked it and groaned. I wanted to kick it again, but my leg got hooked to the laptop cable. When I tried to pull my leg free, the laptop fell into the bucket filled with the water I used to mop the bathroom.

“Shit!”

I brought out the laptop. I stared at the water that dripped down from the laptop.

“What are you doing?”

I turned around and met a very angry face. The huge guy strode to where I was and snatched the damaged laptop from me.

“Oh my God, what did you do? I have important files on this laptop.”

“I’m so sorry. It was an accident,” I almost stuttered.

The next thing I knew, I was standing in front of a very pissed Mrs. Carter.

“I have given you countless opportunities, Chloe, but you keep making me regret it.”

“It was an accident.”

“I’m sick of hearing that!” she snapped. “Let me go straight to the point. I have spoken to Mr. Finn, and he also agrees that it’s best to let you go.”

“Are you firing me?”

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

***

Mrs. Porter made me a sweet lemonade juice after I told her about my job at the hotel. She kept apologizing when I told her about Ryan. She offered to speak to him, and I told her I wasn’t interested in having a pretend husband anymore. My plan was to avoid Tristan in any way possible.

“I have known Ryan since he was a kid. He will come around. Give him some time. You can’t avoid Tristan forever. If you don’t go on with this plan, he will find out and take Kayden away from you,” she said, taking my hand and looking me in the eyes. “I don’t want you to get hurt. You are like a daughter to me. Ryan is probably scared about this. I will knock some sense into him. Relax. I will handle it.” She gave me a warm smile when she was done talking.

She’d never do anything to hurt me, and I knew she had me and my baby’s best interests in her heart.

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