“Liar, you don’t even have her number.” He smirked proudly, stupidly thinking that he saw through me.
I never imagined how awesome it’d feel triumphing over my boss who had been treating me like a slave all these years. “Actually I do. You brought her to the company dinner last year, remember? I met your wife there—very sweet lady. Never hurts to have more contacts.”
Horror wiped that smug expression off his face. My inner mischief squealed at itself with glee. “No!” he yelled, trying to reach for the phone over his table, but before he could, I tapped on the green ‘send’ button.
“Too late.” I waved the screen at him, showing him that the deed had been done.
Happiest that I’ve been since appearing on the news, I turned around and strutted to the exit.
“You f**king whore!” my ex-boss screamed.
He reached for my shoulder and forcefully spun me around.
I was halfway thinking about a smartass comment when I saw his fist flying toward my face.
***
I was definitely going to press charges on that bastard. He dared punch my beautiful face. People have told me that this face of mine deserved to be on billboards, though I wasn’t sure how much I could believe those people since they were my parents.
“Oh, it’s not that bad,” Kristie said, touching up my eye with her makeup set.
This was the most pathetic point of my life. I was hunched over at the lobby of my office building with a black eye, a box of my belongings in my arms, and the paparazzi camping at the entrance. I couldn’t possibly walk out like this.
Think of what they’d sensationalize tomorrow’s article into? ‘Crawford Brothers’ New Mystery Girl Found! Incompetent and Bruised!’
“You think they’ll get bored and go home?” I asked.
“I don’t know. You can catch a ride in my car if you wait for me till six.”
It was still one in the afternoon; Kristie had taken a lunch break to accompany me.
I shrugged. “Sure, why not? It’s not like I have anywhere else to go.”
“Honestly, I didn’t think that our boss was such a brute. I’m not sure if I want to be in this company anymore, with you not around and his violent tendencies.”
I smiled. “We knew how he was since years ago.” Kristie could talk big but she didn’t have a choice to leave the company. With the economy still recovering and job positions on the low, no one would take the risk and quit.
I had enough saved up to last me two months. If I lived on a tighter budget, I could probably stretch it out to three months. Within three months, I had to get a job. After that, I wasn’t sure if I could afford rent and I doubted that my pride would let me crawl back to my parents and ask for help.
Kristie had to go back up after twenty minutes since we didn’t have a long lunch break. I fiddled with silly apps while waiting. After my phone went flat, I spent most of the afternoon wandering around like an aimless soul. My company card was revoked, which limited me to the first floor since I needed the card to use elevator.
I found myself a quiet spot to take a nap when the boredom became unbearable. My lack of sleep last weekend caught up to me and I sunk into a deep slumber. When I woke up, Kristie was in front of me eating from a bag of chips.
I stretched my arms out. “What time is it?”
“Six-thirty. You were sleeping like a cute little bunny, so I didn’t want to wake you up.”
Could anybody have a sweeter colleague?
“Besides,” she said, “I had them to keep me company.”
Them? I rubbed my eyes and turned my gaze to the left. The twins were leaning against the wall. Did I mention sweet? I actually meant stupid.
The sight of them made my blood seethe. “What the f—“
“Oh, you’re awake. I thought we asked you to meet us at the doorstep at six?”
“How did you two even get in? Security won’t let you in without a card.”
Ryan gave me a look of disbelief. “We’re the Crawford brothers; we can do whatever we want.”
“And they’re so hot, too,” Kristie pitched in. “You said that you weren’t meeting them again. You naughty little liar.” She giggled.
“Shut up, Kristie. You should’ve protected me from these two idiots.”
“Excuse me?” Riley said.
Kristie swished my comment aside. “You don’t need any protecting from these two. I’m sure they’ll take good care of you.” She stole a side wink at them, and they winked back. What nonsense did the twins fill her head with when I was sleeping?
Riley came closer and bent down to examine my swollen eye. “How is it? Kristie told us what happened.”