Our Turn

“This doesn’t look good, Nicci. You really need to be more careful who you associate with.”

My mouth gapes, my mind racing, and I talk without thinking. “Mrs. Morrison has dementia.”

“I’m well aware of that.”

“For all we know, she might be thinking of someone completely different.”

I’m not sure if I’m trying to convince him or myself, but if it’s myself, then it’s not working. There’s no way Mrs. Morrison is wrong about this. Everything fits.

The reluctance to tell me what he does for a living, the marks on his knuckles, the house that probably cost more than some countries make in a year, even the guy at the bar who looked so scared and made the empty pockets gesture. Geo even said he was a currency trader and I was too dumb to realize what he meant.

And if she’s right about that, then she’s also right about him being an alcoholic.

I’m such an idiot.

“I don’t think so. There’s also this.” Wesley swivels his computer screen to face me, and I read what’s on the screen.

It’s a news report from a year ago; charges dropped against Geo Klement after he was accused of killing a man who owed him money. “It says the charges were dropped,” I say out loud, barely recognizing the sound of my own voice.

“Sure. You think someone like him can’t make sure something like that goes away? Are you willing to take that chance? I have a friend who’s a cop, he sent me this.” He hands me a stack of papers. “It’s his record. There’s a lot there. From what my friend told me, seems he used to work for a few different crime families as well. He runs his own business now, has for a long time from what that record looks like. He’s definitely doing well for himself. But then, maybe that’s what you like? A bit of a bad boy? I thought you weren’t like that.”

I shake my head. None of this makes sense; it doesn’t fit with the man I know. I thumb through the pages, my eyes flitting on words like aggravated assault, bodily harm, drunk driving, public intoxication…I throw the papers onto the desk. I don’t need more. I don’t need to know more about him.

The man I love.

“I’m not like that,” I mutter, trying to convince myself but I already know in my heart my fairy tale is over.

“So, as you can understand, this puts us in a difficult position. You are associating with a known criminal, when you’re around very vulnerable adults all the time. I’ve already made a call to have his association with Mrs. Morrison looked into, he might well be preying on her. And these other seniors sometimes get into difficulty managing their money. I wouldn’t like any suggestion that one of our employees helped a known felon to find victims.”

“I wouldn’t…I’m not…” I babble, my head spinning.

I can’t believe what he’s saying. What is he saying? Is this where he tells me I’m fired? I love this job.

“I can’t lose this job, it’s all I have.” I meet his eyes, pleading the truth of my words more clear than ever. “There must be something…”

Wesley takes a deep breath through his nose, then scrunches his mouth, deep in thought. “I like you, Nicci, you know I do, but things being like this…you can understand my position” He raises his eyebrows, then a smile spreads slowly over his lips. “Well, maybe we can come to something of an arrangement. You’ll have to end your association with Mr. Klement, of course.”

I nod, not speaking, still trying to process everything. But one thing I’m sure of is, I never want to see Geo again.

“Good. Now, you just need to sweeten the pot.”

He grins, and I don’t like the way he’s looking at me. My heart is thundering, even though I’m not sure what’s going on. “What do you mean?”

Instead of answering, he reaches over and touches the top of my head, putting pressure there while his other hand goes to the front of his pants. It takes me a moment to realize what he’s doing, and I hear the rasp of his zipper before it hits me.

A second later, I’m up on my feet, and I’ve slapped him hard across the face. My nails have found their mark, leaving welts that are starting to pool with blood.

“What the fuck?” he snarls as I back away, his hand going to his face and coming away red. “You’ve just blown your only chance, Nicci. Fuck you, you crazy bitch, how am I going to explain this?”

“Leave me alone!” I scream as I turn, not looking back as I flee from his office and the job I love.

TEARS ARE STILL FLOWING down my face as the taxi approaches my apartment building. I can’t believe what’s happened to me.