There was something about her tone that suggested she was adding that I wouldn’t be a good mom.
I nodded. Maybe it was too much to ask for her support. It hurt, because I’d been there for her when she learned she was pregnant. I helped as much as I could with getting her life organized so she could finish school and raise a baby. I’d babysat a lot when she was at her study group. And even more recently when Wyatt came back, I’d been there as she navigated her relationship with him. Hell, if I hadn’t suggested their fake marriage to save the farmers in Salvation, they might not be living in happily wedded bliss right now.
But I also knew blood was thicker than water. Of course, she’d be on Ryder’s side. I needed to accept that. There was a part of me that wanted to tell her all that, and yet, it felt like it would be a waste of time. Plus, I didn’t have the energy.
I stood. “Sorry I bothered you.”
“Trina, don’t be a martyr.”
Anger boiled up inside me. “I wasn’t, but now that you mention it, I remember being there for you when you were scared shitless about being pregnant—”
“I was eighteen.”
I couldn’t stop the tears. “Right. I’m too old to be scared.” I turned away, feeling utterly alone.
“Trina, wait.”
I stopped but didn’t turn. She came to me. “I’m sorry. That was unfair. You were there for me. You helped me a great deal. What do you need from me?”
I thought I’d been clear about that but apparently not. I shook my head. “Nothing.” I tried to smile so she didn’t think I was being a martyr again. “You’re right. I’ve got this.”
Then I left her office, hurrying to my desk and hoping she didn’t follow me. Fortunately, I heard her phone ring and her picking it up. Saved by the bell.
I got to my desk and searched for work I was still assigned to do. I was pulling up the mayor’s calendar when his door opened. He looked toward my desk, and when he saw me, he came striding toward me.
Mayor Maurice “Mo” Valentine was a diplomatic, even-keeled man, but the anger in his eyes suggested he wasn’t feeling very calm at the moment. The fact that his anger was directed toward me meant only one thing; Brooke had tattled.
“What is your probl
em with Ms. Campbell?” he demanded, leaning over my desk.
“My problem is that she’s doing my job. I don’t appreciate having my duties reassigned without consulting me.”
“I don’t need your permission to assign jobs. I’m the fucking mayor.”
I flinched at the venom in his tone.
“I know your friend will likely be mayor after me, but right now, I have the authority to delegate tasks as I see fit. I also have the right to be pissed that one of my staff is creating a hostile workplace for other staff.”
I could feel tears coming but I bit them back. “Of course you can reassign work. But I’d appreciate knowing when you do it; otherwise, you’re paying two people to do the same work. The taxpayers probably wouldn’t like that.”
His nostrils flared in anger, and I was sure he was going to fire me right then and there.
Since I’d gone this far, I thought I’d finish my thought. “All I’m asking for is the respect to be told when you give a job I have dutifully and skillfully done for you over the last several years.” It hurt me that I had to ask him to recognize the work I’d done or to at least have the respect to give me a heads up. “If you want to give your girlfriend my job, just do it, because this…how you’re secretly handing it over to her, is insulting.” I wondered how long it would be before I found a new job. Surely there was something out there besides working for Stark. Then again, maybe no one would want me. I doubted the mayor was going to give me a rave recommendation.
He straightened and for a moment seemed to think about what I’d said. “I apologize for not being more transparent in the reassigning of tasks. That isn’t a reflection on the quality of your work. But your attitude needs a great deal of work, Ms. Lados. If you have a problem, come to me.”
I bit my tongue to say I had tried to talk to him and Sinclair, both of whom discounted or dismissed my efforts.
“Next time I hear about your mistreatment of anyone here, I’ll take corrective action.”
“Yes, sir.”
He stared at me one last moment and then stormed back to his office.
I blew out a breath and sagged into my chair. The mayor hated me. Sinclair was mad at me. Ryder didn’t care about me. God, even I wasn’t sure I liked me. My life right now was one big pity party. The problem was, I seemed to have dug myself into a hole that I couldn’t get out of on my own, and I didn’t have anyone to help me out.
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