Page 34 of His Claim

He grabbed my shoulders and looked into my eyes. “I hear you, Tatum, and I promise everything will be okay. Until we get Brandt, I will take care of you. You need new clothes? I will buy them for you. You need anything at all? I got you.”

“That doesn’t help with my problems later,” I cried. “I’m going to have no job and no place to live.”

Murphy thinned his lips, and his nostrils flared. He dropped his hands and pulled his phone out. “Where do you work?” he asked.

“A bookstore.”

He looked up from his phone. “I need the name of the bookstore, Tatum. Is it the one across town from your apartment?”

“Uh, yeah,” I mumbled. “Happily Ever After.”

He looked back down at his phone. “Boss’s name?”

“Why?”

He shook his head. “Never mind. I’ll figure it out.” He swiped on his phone a few times and then put it to his ear. “How many days of work did you miss?”

“Eh, uh, well,” I sputtered. “Who are you calling?” I demanded.

“How many days did you miss?” he asked again.

“Today. Just today. I had off yesterday.”

Murphy nodded and paced in front of the door. “Hi, could I please speak to your manager?”

Oh my god! “What are you doing?” I hissed.

He put his hand over the speaker. “Fixing your problem.” He walked out the door and headed to the living room.

“You’re insane,” I whisper shouted at his retreating back. I followed behind him while he waited. “Hang up right now, and I won’t punch you in the nuts,” I called.

Murphy glared at me over his shoulder. “I would like to see you try, baby girl.”

He would definitely see it if he didn’t hang up the phone right now. “Hang it up,” I hissed louder.

“Hi, yes. I’m Murphy Banks. Who am I speaking to?” he asked.

I closed my eyes and prayed that Jada was in a good mood today. She was always nice and sweet to me, but she didn’t deal well with customers who brought attitude her way.

“Jada, the owner,” Murphy repeated. “Well, it is great to talk to you. I was calling about Tatum. She’s a friend of mine and is going through some things that will require her to miss work for an undetermined amount of time.”

Murphy listened, and I could only imagine what Jada was saying.

“Yes. She’s with me right now. She’s very concerned about losing her job with her unplanned absence.” Murphy glanced at me and winked. Winked! The man was insane. I was worried I would lose my job before, and now it was going to be guaranteed.

“Hang up,” I whispered. If he hung up right now, I could maybe salvage this. I could call Jada back and tell her it was an April Fool's joke... in September. Oh god.

“Honestly, Jada. I wish I could tell you when she’ll be back. I’m trying to take care of some business, and it’s best if she stays with me until it’s taken care of.”

Lordy, Murphy was smooth. He didn’t know it, but he was playing into Jada’s love for caring but domineering men. She was probably fanning her face and filing away Murphy’s smooth, deep voice for later.

“Yes, I can certainly put her on the phone.” Murphy moved the phone from his ear and turned on the speakerphone. “She’s right here,” Murphy called.

“Tatum?” Jada called. “Are you okay, girl?”

I rolled my eyes and stepped toward Murphy. “Yes, I’m fine.”

“Please tell me Murphy is as good-looking as his voice sounds.”

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