Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
I watched Konni tip back his glass and drain it in a few mesmerizing swallows. With a promise to see me soon, he passed me a twenty and left his spot.
“That was quick,” Uncle Jay said when I put the money in the till.
“He said he’ll be back later,” I said.
“Hmm. Can you check the private group for me?”
The private group was discussing Motan businesses when I quietly entered. As I ensured their food and beverages didn’t need restocking, I listened in. They mentioned various companies: Steele Corporation, Wulf Enterprises, Phoenix Health Systems, Hildcrask Financial, and…
TAS Solutions—the company that Mom and Dad built together.
“I heard they’re working on a deal with Hestian Global. If it pans out, they’ll receive a substantial capital injection. Might be worth buying stock now while it’s low.”
Hearing the truth behind Dad’s attempt to marry me to Hestian didn’t reassure me that Dad would leave me alone. If anything, I now knew he’d probably double his efforts. As if I needed another pain in my ass.
“Too bad Zellon isn’t public. That’s a stock I’d buy. I’d get a kick back every time my wife buys something from there,” another man said with a laugh.
With a polite smile on my face, I stepped forward. “Are there any other foods or beverages anyone needs?”
They confirmed they were fine, and I let them know I would check on them again later.
After rejoining Uncle Jay behind the main bar, I briefly considered kicking off my shoes. The heels were really starting to bite in, but the thought of walking around barefoot behind the bar was less appealing than a blister, so I pushed through the irritation and continued serving.
Konni returned when the bar was full, and the only free-standing table was across the room. We made eye contact as Erika approached him. Whatever he said to her had her turning to look at me in question.
“I’ll be right back,” I called to Uncle Jay.
He nodded, and I slipped out from behind the bar. Erika met me halfway.
“He said you promised to serve him a drink. Are you all right with that?”
“This time, yeah. He asked before he left.”
She nodded and went to check on another table while I joined him.
“All of Luna Pulse’s staff members have mixology training, you know.”
“Very admirable, but we both know I’m here for the company and not the drink, right?”
Were we back to openly flirting again?
“Conversation, I can do. Anything more is off the table. I’m still waiting on my operation,” I said.
He smirked a little. “Spankings are no longer an option?”
My insides went hot and fluttery at the thought of the spankings and at knowing my supposed gender transition didn’t bother him.
“The only thing I’m offering tonight is a drink. Take it or leave it.”
“I’ll take it. Surprise me.”
I went back to the bar to fix him an Old Fashioned, sweet, but didn’t stay to chat once I delivered it. Instead, I checked on the private room again. They needed another bottle of bourbon and more crackers. By the time I returned to Konni’s table, he was gone.
“He left you something,” Erika said. “I put it behind the bar.”
“Thanks.”
A bag with a box inside waited for me. I opened it to find a pair of sneakers and an envelope containing a note and a thick stack of one-hundred-dollar bills.
You can take it as a tip or a loan. Thanks for the drink. See you tomorrow.
~K
I slipped in the back with the bag and counted the cash.
Five thousand dollars. Enough for Mom and me to gain some breathing room with the bank.
I had my pride, but I also had logic, and logic was currently winning over pride.
Unless we borrowed from somewhere, we would lose the house.
What harm was there in accepting help when needed?
I’d tell Mom it was tip money from a private party, which technically it was, and work out a payment plan with Konni. Mom would be happy it wasn’t from Uncle Jay. Konni would be happy he had a reason to see me every day. And I would be happy that my Mom didn’t lose her home. A win for everyone.
Maybe.
As long as Konni didn’t try to use money to control me.
I took a picture of the note so there would be a date associated with the evidence that the cash had been freely given, and tucked the envelope into my purse.
Then, I took out the shoes. He’d somehow managed to get the right size and even included socks. I suffered no internal debate accepting those gifts and swapped shoes with a sigh of relief.
When I joined Uncle Jay again, he noticed my smile and the shoes.
“From the creeper?”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t think he’s a creeper. Are you really getting creeper energy from him?”
He sighed and gave me a side hug. “No. I just don’t like him because I don’t trust any man with you.”
I grinned. “Aw! Thanks!”
“It’s hard to say what you would do to him,” he added, “and lawsuits are expensive.”
I swatted his chest in mock outrage, and his responding laugh drew everyone’s attention.
“Get back to work,” I told him.
He winked and started talking people into fresh drinks.
Mom was already up, getting ready for work, when I woke the next morning.
“Another early shift?” I asked.
“A double, actually.” She flashed me a smile, and I knew she was thinking about the income.
“I have more good news,” I said, handing over the stack of cash. “It’s from a private party last night, not Uncle Jay. You can even call him and ask if you want.”
She looked from me to the cash to me again.
“What kind of private party?” Her concern and skepticism were more sad than hurtful because I knew she didn’t doubt me but the world.
“The kind where I heard business talk and had to restock the most expensive bourbon that Uncle Jay carries. If Lunar Pulse allowed smoking, they probably would have had cigars. Thank you, shifters everywhere, for having sensitive noses.
“And, no, we shouldn’t have a problem taking money from people who like to throw it around,” I added when I saw her lingering hesitation. “Do you have time to swing by the bank, or should I?”
“I’ll make time. Thank you for this, Sophie. I’ll pay you back.”
“Nope, you won’t. You’re going to take this as room and board I owe for every time I came home from college and ate all your food. I’m still getting the better end of the bargain," I promised. “But you have to make me dinner tonight as a thank you. I’ll be home by midnight.”
I bolted away to get ready before she could think of a way to refuse, then listened to her leave early.
An hour later, I walked into work, feeling optimistic. Arriving earlier than usual because of the report, not because of Lianna’s attitude the day before, I smiled at Whitney, who was already at her desk.
“Did you get a chance to look at it? What did you think?”
“Look at what?” she asked.
“The report I sent out last night. I copied you on it.”
She looked away from me to check her email and shook her head.
“I don’t have it.”
I sat down, booted up, and checked my sent items. The report was missing. I went to send it again, but it was missing from my hard drive as well.
“Huh,” I said calmly. “That’s weird.”
From the outside, I kept my cool. On the inside, I was cussing up a storm. Who and why? Those were my two biggest questions while I dug the thumb drive out of my purse and resent the email from the evening before.
“Sent it again. Glad I came in early. If you still have time to read it, let me know what you think. I’d love the feedback for the next time I’m given the opportunity to work on something new.”
Whitney nodded, already opening the attachment as I removed my thumb drive and walked away with it in my pocket along with my phone.
I sent my girls a text once I was in the break area.
Me: How often do you have to deal with coworker sabotage at work?
Wrenly: Very rarely now, but it was nuts back in the beginning. Why? Is someone threatening you? Do you need me to send my muscle?
Miranda: Your muscle is in a meeting with your mom.
Wrenly: My other muscle then. Say the word, and I’ll send Bennett.
Me: No need. I was just curious. Also, Bennett’s overprotectiveness seems to be contagious. You might want to get that looked at.
Wrenly laughed at the last comment. Miranda didn’t, and I hoped the meeting with Mrs. Wulf wasn’t serious.
Giving my coffee an extra bit of cream and sugar, I returned to my desk to wait to see whose plans for sabotage I’d thwarted. But nothing happened.
The morning passed without incident. Well, not completely. My Dad called twice. I sent him to voicemail both times. The first message he left simply instructed me to call him back. The second was an attempt to meet me for dinner tonight.
I didn’t reply to either until I went to the cafe downstairs for lunch.
Me: Thanks for the invite, but I’ll pass on being part of TAS’s pitch deck for the Hestian Global contract. Hope it works out for you.
Smirking, I imagined his reaction. A flushed face. Maybe an angry vein or two popping from his forehead. A dramatic chest clap like he was having “the big one.” An enraged phone throw.
I happily finished my lunch and waited for a return call that never came.
My afternoon passed as quietly as my morning, and I left on time. Since I was in a good mood, I stopped for takeout pizza and ate a slice on the way home.
Mom’s car was in the driveway when I pulled up. I grabbed the pizza and went inside to find her at the table, working on her laptop. She didn’t look up at me when I entered, but I could still see her puffy red eyes.
“Hey,” I said. “Glad you’re home. You can help me eat this pizza while it’s still hot. I got our favorite. Pepperoni with extra mushrooms.”
She let out a shaky sigh. “I was let go with four other people today. They got severance pay. I didn’t because I wasn’t there long enough. My manager said she tried to fight for me, but upper management had the final say.”
It took a second for me to find the words.
“I’m sorry, Mom.”
I didn’t know what else to say.
Her breathing hitched.