Page 6 of Stuck with My Billionaire Protector

After closing the door behind me, I turn around to face the inside of my cozy studio apartment. I make my way to the kitchen, placing the box of pizza on the counter as I pull out a plate and some napkins. Carefully, I slice two pieces of my favorite mushroom and pepperoni pizza and top off my wine glass before making my way to the small dining nook in the corner.

As I settle into my chair, I savor the delicious taste of the pizza in my mouth. The warmth and comfort of the food calm me as I think back over the events of the day.

First, I had been fired from my job, leaving me feeling lost and uncertain. Then after I left the office, I got into a car accident which led me to collide with the rude man whose car I had hit.

It has been a difficult day for sure, but as I take another bite of my pizza, savoring the simple pleasure of the food, I feel a sense of determination. I might have been knocked down, but I wasn’t down for the count. I would pick myself up, dust myself off, and keep moving forward no matter what obstacles are ahead. With that thought in mind, I open my laptop and start to update my resume. I then start combing the job sites, ready to face whatever challenges tomorrow might bring.

As I reach for a third slice of pizza, knowing I would regret it at the gym tomorrow, my phone rings. Checking the caller ID, I see that it’s my brother calling again.

“Hey,” I answer, trying to sound casual.

“What happened?” He sounds very concerned.

I know he’s referring to the way I abruptly ended our earlier call. I don’t even know where to start or what to tell him. Should I mention the fact that I had been fired from my job earlier today? Or the fact that I had gotten into a car accident and the other driver had been incredibly rude about it?

“I don’t know where to start,” I say honestly, taking a deep breath. “It’s been a tough day.”

“Start from the beginning.”

I sigh and toy with the idea of making up something less bad than what had actually happened but in the end, I tell him.

“Okay,” I say, my voice heavy with resignation. “I got fired from my job today.”

There’s a moment of stunned silence on the other end of the line. “What? Why?” he asks, sounding incredulous.

“It’s a long story.” I feel my frustration and anger rising again. “But basically, one of my team members made a mistake and I didn’t catch it before we went to print.”

“That’s bullshit. You’ve worked your ass off for that company. How could they let you go over one mistake?”

I hadn’t told my brother about Donald’s harassment. Frankly, I hadn’t wanted to worry him and I preferred to handle it on my own.

“I know,” I say, feeling a surge of gratitude at his words. “It’s not fair, but it is what it is.”

There’s another moment of silence as my brother absorbs this information. “Well, you know what they say… when one door closes, another one opens.”

I can’t help but smile at his optimism. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” I feel a glimmer of hope stir within me.

“So, what are you going to do now?” he asks.

“I don’t know yet,” I admit. “I’ll figure something out. Maybe it’s time for a change, you know?”

“Absolutely,” he replies, his voice full of encouragement. “You’re smart, talented, and capable of anything. You’ll find something better. I’m sure of it.”

I feel a warm sense of pride at his words. I am grateful for the support and confidence that he has in me. Despite everything that has happened, I know that I’m not alone in this. With that thought in mind, I take another bite of my pizza, feeling a sense of comfort in the simple pleasures of life. For the first time all day, I feel like maybe, justmaybe, everything is going to be okay.

“You know, if you want, you can always come down to Florida and stay with me at the beach house for a while. Take some time off to regroup,” Mark continues.

“Thanks for the offer, Mark, but I really do need to focus on finding a job as soon as possible. I appreciate your concern, but I’m determined to figure things out on my own.”

I know exactly where Mark is going with his suggestion. He has always been the overprotective big brother, despite being only two years older than me. Our bond is unbreakable. We share everything with each other, and I love him for that.

“You know me, Mark. I always have a plan. I’m already in the process of searching and applying for jobs. With my skills, I’m confident that something will turn up soon,” I reassure him.

I can hear the relief in his voice as he lets out a sigh.

“So, you were telling me about your next-door neighbor earlier.” I smile, hoping to lighten the mood by changing the subject.

Mark chuckles, happy to move on from the conversation about my job hunt.

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