Chapter 8 #2
“I’m at Steele Corp, riding the elevator down to the lobby because I was just fired.
I got a call this morning that my mom was in a car accident, and I left without telling anyone.
I wasn’t thinking, Miranda. The EMT called, and I just bolted.
What kind of shit place fires someone when their Mom is in the fucking ER? ”
Anger was doing a good job of swallowing up my need to cry.
“A job that’s looking for a lawsuit,” Miranda said firmly. “Is your mom okay?”
“Yeah. A concussion, broken forearm, and massive bruises are the worst of it. They said she should be able to go home tomorrow.”
“I’m so sorry that happened to her. And for the bullshit happening to you. Who fired you?”
“My boss. Lianna.”
“Walk your ass to HR and tell them what happened. They’ll back you up. That’s what they’re there for. And while you’re doing that, I’m going to make some calls.”
The doors opened, and I stepped out onto the main floor, feeling so lost.
“Wait for my text,” she said.
The call disconnected, and I looked at my phone, curious who Miranda would call. Did she actually have connections at Steele? Probably. How else could she know the job was open? Obviously, the connection wasn’t that close, or I wouldn’t have been fired.
I frowned, realizing she hadn’t agreed to get me in at Wulf Enterprises. What happened to solidarity? I was willing to throw my pride to the curb to ensure I had the livelihood Mom and I needed to keep her house while she recovered.
Feeling close to tears again, I hesitated only a few seconds before walking to the HR department.
The same woman I’d talked to about the computer issues, Gail, listened to what happened this morning, handed me tissues when the dam broke, and hugged me.
Her phone rang several times during our conversation, but she steadfastly ignored it.
She reassured me that Steele Corporation would never fire me for leaving work to attend to a family medical emergency.
She agreed that the way Lianna spoke to me was out of line and did not embody Steele Corp’s “Building Community, Inside and Out” motto.
She promised to discuss Lianna’s behavior with her and suggested I take the rest of the day off to be with my mom.
“Thank you,” I said, standing to shake her hand.
“If you need Monday off, call me directly. Tell your mom that everyone at Steele Corp is wishing her well.”
“I will.”
I left a little calmer than when I’d gone in, but I still wasn’t sure where I stood. Having HR say I wasn’t fired was well and good, but no one in my department actually wanted me there. Did I want to work in a place that was constantly trying to shove me out the door?
On my way to my car, I remembered to check my phone and saw a message from Miranda.
Miranda: They can’t and won’t fire you. What Lianna did goes against everything Steele stands for. Her boss will talk to her.
Me: Does that mean I have to stay here?
Miranda: Don’t you want to? I thought you liked it.
Me: My mom is going to be out of work for at least eight weeks now. I need a stable job. With all the shit that’s been happening at this one, it’s not stable.
Miranda: Mrs. Wulf said you’re welcome here. No resume or interview needed. Just say the word.
Even though I hated the idea of using connections that blatantly, money was currently a higher priority than my pride. Yet…
I stared at that message for so long that she texted again.
Miranda: It’s an open invite. I know how you feel about the “back door,” though. Keep fighting at Steele and know you have a safe harbor here.
Me: Stop trying to make me cry.
Miranda: Tears are mirrors I use to see your love.
Me: You need a better hobby.
Miranda: I’m working on it.
Snorting, I tossed my phone into my purse and headed for the hospital, feeling a little lighter after her teasing.
Mom’s arm was in a splint when I arrived, and she was resting.
“She told me to tell you to go to work,” her nurse said. “She said there’s nothing you can do for her and that she’s fine.”
I sighed. “Yeah, that sounds like Mom. Did she get anything to eat? She’s been skipping meals lately.”
“I’ll make sure she has a good dinner.”
“Thank you.”
I left the hospital and went home to change. Mom’s laptop sat open on the table, bills spread out beside it. Her new spreadsheet projected what would happen in two and four weeks without her income. The numbers weren’t terrible.
If only four weeks were the end of it.
Mom would be out of work for at least double that and needed to replace her car before getting a job, since we lived in the suburbs.
Making a sandwich, I considered the possibilities.
Mom’s insurance wasn’t great and wouldn’t cover much of the hospital bills.
She’d have to ask for a payment plan and hope the other driver’s insurance would cover at least part of it.
Even then, I wasn’t sure we could manage on my income alone.
My pay was higher than hers had been when she fell behind, but the bills would be higher now, too.
My thoughts churned the entire drive to work, searching for solutions.
Uncle Jay took one look at me and said, “What happened?”
“Mom got into a car accident. She’s fine. It’s just…a lot.”
“Damn, Sophie-Girl. You weren’t kidding about your mom’s luck. What do you need? What does your mom need?”
“Well, she’s going to need about eight weeks to heal her arm. And I’m not sure what I need yet. I’m still processing. But as soon as I figure it out, I’ll let you know.”
“All right. Are you sure you want to be here? I can manage without you if you need a few nights out to stay with Abbye.”
“No, I’m okay. There’s not much I can do for her.” Except for keep working, I silently added. “Maybe once she’s home, I’ll need to start a little later so I can make us both dinner; otherwise, she’ll go back to skipping meals.”
“Whatever you need, whenever you need it,” he said firmly.
If only Steele Corporation had that level of employee compassion.
Thankfully, the Friday night crowd didn’t give me much time to think about my woes. My new shoes from Konni came in handy as I moved back and forth, mixing and serving drinks.
Miranda showed up around nine.
“Girl, I thought you were ignoring me,” she said over the music.
“Nope, just working.”
“How are you doing?”
“Fine.”
“No, she’s not,” Uncle Jay called to her.
Miranda’s gaze narrowed on me. “How long are you going to work?”
“She’s yours after ten-thirty,” Uncle Jay said before I could answer. “I have backup coming in to replace her.”
I made a “how rude” face at him, and he winked at me while mixing drinks.
“You have an appointment with me and another tower of shots at ten-thirty,” Miranda said. “Don’t stand me up. You won’t like the consequences.”
She left me alone as ten-thirty approached, but Uncle Jay didn’t. He poured me a tray of shots and told me to deliver it in person.
I sighed and left him behind the bar with some college guy I’d never met before but who was really good-looking.
“About time,” Miranda said when I approached. Then she shooed the two men sitting beside her away. “Sorry, guys. It’s girls-only time right now.”
One of them looked like he was going to try to sweet-talk her into paying him more attention than me. She froze him with a look and a low growl. He scampered away.
“I wish I could perfect that growl,” I said. “I wouldn’t need to be in a constant state of transition then.”
“Oh, my poor baby,” she crooned. She plucked a shot from the tray and handed it to me. “Drink this, and you’ll feel better. And don’t worry. I’ll growl for you tonight until you say stop.”
“Hmm. I like what you’re proposing.” The shot went down with a good deal of burn, and I wrinkled my nose. “He didn’t give us the good ones.”
“I think he gave you the ones he thought you needed.” She handed me a second shot. “Don’t stop until your face is numb.”
“Isn’t that the danger zone for humans?”
“I’ll hold your hand if you need your stomach pumped.”
“Friendship would be stopping me before it gets to that point.”
She waved away my concern, and I watched her gaze sweep through the crowd.
“If you’re looking for your next flirt, I vote for my replacement. He has a nice ass.”
Her gaze locked with mine, and she slowly smiled in a way that told me she was about to be up to no good. “Oh? Were you eyeing up the bartender? Are you feeling the itch for something a little more relaxing than a drink?”
I shrugged and picked the next shot for myself. “Maybe.”
“Excellent.”
We danced. We consumed shots. And slowly, all the weight life had been stacking on my shoulders melted away as my intoxication increased.
“Smile for me, Sophie,” Miranda said next to me.
I turned toward her and felt the room spin a little. She was holding up her phone, so I gave her my flirty half smile and struck a pose for a picture.
“Tell me again whose ass is nice,” she said.
“The bartender,” I said. “It’s bitable.”
“And what are you going to do after you bite his backside?”
“Hopefully, experience a private tour of Pound Town on his front side.” I laughed then immediately sobered. “I hope he’s packing. What if he’s small? Go check for me.”
“On it.” She lowered her phone and popped up from her seat like a good wingwoman. “Don’t move from this spot.”
“I won’t.” I was too relaxed to get up, but not so comfortable that I couldn’t reach for another shot. This one was fruity and tasted good.
My eyes might have slipped closed because I had to fight to open them again when someone put their arm around me. I blinked at the most beautiful face with the sparkliest golden eyes I’d ever seen.
“Konni,” I said with a smile. “I missed you.”
His gaze swept my face, and he brushed back a strand of hair that had been tickling my chin.
“Don’t say what you don’t mean,” he said.
“I mean it.”
“How drunk are you?” he asked.
“Just a little.” I proved it by standing. He caught my wrist when I started to sway, and somehow I ended up in his lap with my head very close to his neck.
I leaned in and inhaled deeply.
“I like how you smell.”
“Are you testing me, Sophia?”
“Do you want to be tested?”
“Yes.”
I pressed my lips to his neck and nipped his skin.