Page 18 of Scorch

He narrowed his eyes.“Did he fire you?”

I shook my head.“No, I quit.He thinks I spilled it and accused me of being jealous and causing drama.I can’t do this.I don’t want to do this.I’d rather forget it and go get a job elsewhere.”

“Did you tell him she lied?”Leo asked, looking furious.

“There was no reason to.He didn’t ask me what happened.He believed her and accused me.That’s not something I want to deal with.”

Felix looked angry as he listened to me.“I wish you’d tell him.See who he believes,” he said.

Leo nodded his head in agreement.

“I don’t want to.I’m not a kid in school who has to defend herself to a teacher.He can believe whatever he wants.Anyway, thanks for being my friends.You two made working in this place easier.”

Leo reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone, then handed it to me.“Put your number in there.We’ll go have drinks or coffee or something.”

I took his phone and added my number into his Contacts, then texted myself so I could save his number in my phone.After I handed it back to him, I said my goodbyes to both of them and made my way out of the door with my self-respect intact.

The dressing room was empty as I took off the shoes and dress, then changed into the sundress I’d worn here.I went to get my purse from the locked cabinet under my dressing table, only to find it empty.Panicking, I looked around the room, trying to remember if I had put it in here.Had I forgotten and left it lying around somewhere?I rushed into the shower room and checked the places I had been.It wasn’t anywhere.I thought I’d put it in my cabinet.It was always the first thing I did when I arrived.

No one knew my code to get my purse out.Silas knew, of course, but no one else would know it.I couldn’t imagine Silas taking my purse.My heart was racing as I walked back into the dressing room and began looking under everything.My keys, my wallet, my phone, a hundred dollars in cash.I felt tears stinging my eyes as I opened all the drawers in the dressing tables.I had to find it.

The door to the dressing room opened, and I spun around, ready to question whoever it was, when I was met with Garrett Hughes.I wiped at the tears now rolling down my face, hating that he was seeing me cry.He had already accused me of needing to grow up and act my age.Crying wasn’t going to help his opinion of me.Not that I cared what his opinion was—or at least, I didn’t want to care.

“You were going to leave and not tell me what happened with Eliana,” he said in an accusatory tone I was not in the mood for.

I sniffled and straightened my back.“You didn’t ask me what happened,” I replied and went back to looking for my purse.

“You’re right, and I’m sorry.”

I froze.Had he just said he was sorry?I slowly turned back around to look at him.Garrett Hughes did not seem like the sort of man who apologized.Ever.

“I should have asked you.I didn’t.That was unfair.”

I managed to nod my head, but I was too shocked to speak.Garrett Hughes apologizing was the last thing I’d expected to happen tonight.

“Eliana has been dealt with, and she will be coming in here to gather her belongings and leave once you’re not in here.There is no need for you to be subjected to her any longer.Both Felix and Leo have informed me of not only this incident, but also her behavior toward you since you started here.I’d like for you to reconsider and stay.”

He had fired Eliana?For me?Did this mean he was going to replace her with me?As in make me his favorite server who served him things … things I wasn’t willing to do?

“I’m not sure I would be a good replacement for her,” I replied honestly.

He tilted his head to the side.“And what makes you say that?”

There was no way I was telling him what I’d learned.Scrambling for another answer, I managed to come up with one I hoped would work.

“I’m older, less attractive, and the way I talk is barely tolerable,” I replied.I threw the things he’d said about me to her back in his face.I wanted to see his reaction.

He gave me an incredulous smile.“You’re serious.”It wasn’t a question.Just a statement.

He didn’t seem to recognize the words as something that had come out of his own mouth.

I nodded.Had Leo and Felix been right?Had Eliana lied about that?

He took a step in my direction.“Please, stay.”

I sighed heavily.“Let me go home and think about it.This has been more drama than I anticipated.Silas did warn me before I started, and I assumed I could handle it.Turns out, I’d rather work on a garbage truck than deal with this.Tonight, I just want to go home.”I looked around helplessly.“But something has happened to my purse, and I can’t find it so that I can leave.”

“Did you lock it up?”he asked me.

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