Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
I seethed all the way home, and Mom saw my expression the moment I walked in the door.
“What happened?”
“Sperm Donor wants to set me up with a man old enough to be my grandfather. But don’t worry, Mom. I’d be set for life, which would probably be short considering the man’s been widowed four times already. All by women less than half his age.”
Her expression darkened.
“The man who fathered me doesn’t offer benefits, Mom. He’s self-serving to the bone and can go fu—”
She surprised me with a hard hug.
“I’m sorry it was awful. I wish I could give you a better dad.”
I hugged her back. “You did. His name is Jay. He’s been the best dad to me. He doesn’t get up in my business. Never scolds me. Always protects me, and would be the person I call to bring a shovel in the middle of the night, who would show up with no questions asked.”
She pulled back and cupped my face.
“You know I would do that too, right?”
I shook my head. “Nah, you’re too smart not to ask questions. Uncle Jay’s more gullible.”
She laughed and gave me an extra hug.
“I love you, Soph. You’re the best thing in my life.”
“Ditto.” I remembered the check from last night and withdrew from her hug. “Oh, I almost forgot. I got paid last night and mobile deposited the check. If you give me your banking info, I can transfer it to you so you can make another payment.”
Her expression shifted enough to carry a hint of concern.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t keep things from me, Mom. Please. What happened?”
She looked away for a second. “The bank won’t give us an extension. I either catch up or lose the house.”
“Really? We have a solid plan. Did you tell them your financial situation changed because I’m here and working full-time?”
She nodded. “They looked into my employment history, and I’m too high a risk with all the frequent job turnover. And you just started, so you’re the same risk level as I am.”
I bit my bottom lip for a second, knowing what I was going to say wouldn’t go over well with Mom.
“We have a solid plan, Mom. We can come up with the three thousand in thirty days, not four. Uncle Jay would—”
“No.”
“What’s the difference between asking him for three thousand for thirty days or the bank?”
“I said no. I still have four days to figure this out.”
She turned around and closed herself in her room. If she thought I couldn’t hear her soft sobs, she was wrong. I listened to her cry until it was time for me to head to work. I left her a note saying I loved her and a reminder to eat.
Dad’s callousness toward me and Mom’s financial struggles ate at me as I clocked in and started prepping for work. I took pictures of the drinks on autopilot while I tried to think of a way to get the money Mom and I needed without having to sell myself to some old guy.
I had friends I could ask, but if Mom found out, she would not be okay with it. Plus, if I asked Miranda, she’d probably have to sell the new bag she just got, which would make me sad. An idea sparked, and I went into the back for a few minutes after we opened to send a quick text.
Me: Is that guy still interested in me?
Miranda: Yes. Do you want his number?
Me: Hell no. I’m definitely not interested in him, just what he’ll pay for more information. Can we split the cash this time?
Miranda: You need cash? How much?
Me: As much as the info’s worth. What do you think he’d pay for knowing my bra size?
Miranda: I already gave that to him.
Me: How do you know?
Miranda: You’re a drunk who likes to strip before passing out. How do you think I know?
Me: Any ideas what he’d want?
Miranda: The underwear you’re wearing.
Me: Ew. He’s officially gross, and I’ll find another money tree.
Miranda: I was kidding! What about your favorite foods and what you wished for most as a child?
I made a face at the phone.
Me: Are you serious?
Miranda: Yes.
Me: A really good burger and fries when I’m drunk. A bubble tea when I’m hungover. A buffet or ice cream when I have my period. And my mom’s lasagna when it’s cold outside. The thing I wished for most as a kid was that my mom would cry less and smile more.
Miranda: Are you going to tell me what’s going on?
Me: I want to, but I don’t want to make my mom any sadder. Let me know if the info isn’t worth much so I can come up with something that is.
Miranda: On it.
Pocketing my phone, I went back out and continued to smile and serve drinks on autopilot while brainstorming ideas.
If selling information didn’t work, what else could I do?
The bar for what I’d do for cash was pretty low, since I was selling information about myself.
Sleeping with a gross old guy with superiority issues was definitely below that bar, but only just. If he’d been younger than my dad and not interested in more than sex, though?
I cringed at the direction of my thoughts.
That’s prostitution, Soph.
But used underwear wasn’t.
I sighed and set the drink I’d made in front of the person who’d ordered it.
“You're distracted,” Uncle Jay said.
“Sorry.”
“No need to be sorry. You haven’t made any mistakes. I’m just worried. First, you ask for an advance, and now you’re walking around like the world is weighing on you. What’s going on?”
“It’s nothing but also a little bit of everything,” I said. “I promise to come to you if I’m in trouble.”
“I prefer you come to me before that, but I know you value your independence. Just don’t forget the man in your life who loves you the most, okay?”
I grinned at him. “How could I ever forget the best uncle a girl could want?”
He playfully gripped my arms and spun me around to face the end of the bar.
Konni was watching me with his beautiful amber eyes, which seemed to reflect with bits of gold dust in the pulsing lights.
“I meant your stalker, who’s been trying to get your attention for the last fifteen minutes,” my uncle said close to my ear. “Remind him that, if he touches you again, he’s automatically out.”
He released me and added a little nudge to get me moving because something about Konni’s gaze had me locked in place.
Konni watched my approach, his expression serious and concerned.
“My uncle told me to warn you to keep your hands to yourself, or you’ll be blacklisted in the future,” I said instead of a hello.
Konni’s gaze flicked to Uncle Jay, and he nodded once before focusing on me again.
“I called your name twice,” he said.
“Sorry. I didn’t hear you. Music’s loud.”
He slowly shook his head.
“No, you couldn’t hear me because you’re worried about something. What happened at lunch with your Dad?”
Rather than evade, I played it cool.
“He proved me right. He wanted to use me for social and financial gain, and I said no.” I shrugged. “What can I get you?”
“Surprise me.”
I nodded and went to mix him a drink. Since it was slower and Uncle Jay could handle things on his own, I lingered after delivering it.
“As a business person, if you wanted to make money fast, what would you do?” I asked.
“Depends on how much I’d want to make and how fast.”
“Let’s say three thousand dollars in three days?”
He studied me for a long moment. “Are you in trouble, Sophia?”
“No.” I grinned. “You sound like him.” I nodded toward Uncle Jay, who was watching us closely while also watching everything else going on in his club.
Konni’s gaze searched mine. “Whatever it’s for, if you need it, I can loan it to you.”
“Thanks, but this is just hypothetical. And a loan is the last thing I’d want if I needed money. There are too many strings attached to private loans. Plus, I don’t want to be a people-user like my dad.”
Konni nodded and sipped his drink.
“If you change your mind, I’m willing to help.”
“Thanks.”
Waking up for work on Monday wasn’t a problem since Uncle Jay let me leave early again the night before.
The rhythm was working pretty well for me.
Sunday through Thursday, I left by eleven, which was usually when the crowd—if there was one—started to die down.
Friday and Saturday, I stayed until close since I didn’t have to be up by six.
That meant I walked into the office at 7:50 am, which gave me time to put my purse away at my desk, make myself a coffee, and start reading emails.
Whitney and Shana were already at their stations when I arrived.
I was tempted to start coming in earlier, but I knew I would only be a burden by doing so until I actually caught up to their skill level.
“Good morning,” I said, putting my purse in the desk drawer.
Whitney nodded, and Shana didn’t say anything.
Not bothering to offer to bring back anything for them, I went to grab my coffee and returned to my desk a minute before eight.
“She called you twice,” Whitney said before I sat.
“She?”
“Ms. Stonestock. She wants to see you.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
I set my coffee down and went to her office, knocking on the open door before stepping in.
Ms. Stonestock was sitting behind her desk in a posture that screamed both impatience and arrogance. When she saw me, she crossed her arms, which I read as a warning of an impending confrontation.
“Whitney said you wanted to see me,” I said politely.
“Why weren’t you at your desk?”
“Because it wasn’t yet eight.”
“Are you only here to do the bare minimum?”
“I was warned that doing extra would be seen as bribery due to the illicit actions of my predecessors in their attempts to gain information about and favor from the CEO.”
She narrowed her gaze at me and uncrossed her arms to grab a stack of files.
“I expect these expenses to be submitted within the hour. It’s a simple task you should be able to manage on your own if you have any level of competence.”
She tossed the pile toward the edge of her desk, forcing me to “fetch” them.
I left her office, not caring about the work as much as her attitude.