Tough Shit (Rejects Paradise 1)

Charles looks speechless for a moment and I watch as he gathers his thoughts. “I admire that,” he says, shocking me. “That’s one of the many reasons why I set you up with such a prestigious school. Having graduated from Bellevue Springs Academy on your resume will help open doors for you. Have you considered college?”

“College?” I laugh in shock. That’s certainly not a question I’ve been asked before. “No, college isn’t exactly something kids like me are taught to aspire to. Most of us are just hoping we can make it to the end of high school without being shot in a gang war, getting pregnant, or jumped in. All I want to do is save up some money so when that uncertainty after graduation comes, I’ll be able to land on my feet and have a little something there to keep me going until I can find a home and a job where I won’t have to sell either myself or drugs.”

“I see,” he says, his eyes narrowing in thought. “So, why come to me? Surely you must realize by now that Harrison is head of my staff. He deals with employment applications.”

“With all due respect, Sir, Harrison is a dick and would laugh me off before I even got a sentence out. Besides, this is your home and you hold the power. Why speak to Harrison when I could go straight to the top?”

A sparkle hits his eyes and I realize that I’ve said the magical words. Charles considers me a moment before finally nodding. “Alright, you may work weekends and after school once your homework is complete. You’ll need to report to Maryne and she will tell you where she needs you. However, Harrison is still your superior and you will show him respect.”

I nod. “Yes, sir.”

“Right,” he says, looking down at his watch. “It’s too late to return for the rest of your school day so you might as well get changed out of your uniform and get started.”

I nod again. “Thank you,” I say graciously, feeling ease settle over me knowing that I now have a shot at making it out of here. “I won’t let you down.”

“Good, now unless you’d like to start explaining why this couldn’t wait until you had finished your schooling for the day, I suggest you run along.”

My eyes bug out at the thought of having to explain to Colton’s father that I slept with Charlie on one of his many couches and then was humiliated because I rocked his world so greatly that every fucked-up student at school was passionately demanding a slice of heaven too. No thanks, I’ll pass on that one.

I get up from the desk chair and silently thank Charles once again before scurrying away so he doesn’t get a chance to change his mind. I thought for sure he was going to tell me no or he’d make me work a little harder for it but it all came together and now I actually have a shot at survival after graduating.

Elation fills me as I skip around the house, heading for the back door. I make my way into the pool house and just as Charles had requested, I get out of my school uniform and find the comfiest sweatpants and tank that I own. My sweatpants aren’t actually mine, they’re Nic’s that I stole and refused to give back so I have to roll them at the hips a few times just to keep them up. My white tank also isn’t mine. I’m pretty sure Kairo gave me this after he found it in his room. It’s tight and cropped and I absolutely love it, you know, after I washed it a million times. It’s the benefit of having a bunch of guy friends. After they sleep with a chick and kick her out the next morning, they usually leave something behind and that something is always given to me. I’d like to claim it as a token of their affection but the reality is that they don’t want to give the girl a reason to come back.

Knowing that Maryne is going to make me earn every cent, I grab Nic’s red bandana and tie it around my hair to keep it off my face. The last thing I need is my hair falling into the toilet or accidentally getting sucked into a vacuum cleaner. God knows my dark locks have already suffered through hell.

Ready for my first day on the job, I make my way into the staff quarters and report for duty. Maryne is busy rushing around as usual but she finds the time to stop and help me out. “Alright,” she starts giving me a cheesy grin. “I heard that you’re my new protege.”

“News travels quickly,” I laugh, having only walked out of Charles’ office less than five minutes ago.