Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
I t rained Monday morning in a sideways deluge. I walked to work huddled under a plastic emergency trench coat I’d found in Maria’s closet. Paycheck…paycheck…
I kept my head down all morning. Lori flounced by my desk once, her strong perfume leaving a sour taste in my mouth. What was the point of confronting her at work? I was already terrified of how my boss Valerie would respond to the email I’d sent about Gerry and me—and if anyone had seen the photos Gerry had put online.
At lunch, my phone flashed a steady stream of incoming text messages.
Maria
Raven was in the hospital yesterday! She’s okay. Learning more…
Shit—a stalker tried to kidnap her. I didn’t know she had a stalker, did you?
Autumn is blowing her top. Raven told her that she has a thing with Beau.
Raven is living at Beau’s house? Dang. News to me.
I’m going to drink with Autumn tonight to talk her out of violence. You know you should come.
You went to bed so early we didn’t have a chance to talk. Nico and I think it’s all going to work out. So stay where you are and trust the process…
Me
Poor Raven. I could make some pasta salad to bring over.
No bar for me—I’m counting the seconds until I see money in my bank account again. And then it all disappears to bills. Thanks for the invite though.
“Kelsey.”
My head snapped up. “Hi, Valerie. What can I do for you?”
“Come to my office.” She frowned—which she always did, but it was like frowning on steroids.
“Of course.” My stomach rolled.
Valerie quickstepped back across the floor, her rigid hair not daring to spring away from her tight bun. I shut my computer and stood right away. The office was fairly empty with most people having left their desks for lunch. Adjusting my necklace, I took a deep, slow breath. You’re fired.
I forced my feet to carry me through the cubicles to Valerie’s office, and I tapped on the door.
“Enter. Close the door, Kelsey, and have a seat.”
I folded my hands in my lap and waited, my chest tight.
“First of all,” Valerie said, “I’m sorry you’re in an uncomfortable situation with Gerry Sagan.”
“Thank you. Like I said in my email, I don’t want it to interfere with work.”
“Right.” She sat back and crossed her arms. “But it has because I’ve also had a complaint about you.”
“From Gerry?”
“An anonymous source and another one that requested to be anonymous. They’re claiming that you’re an indecent person to work around, who sells lewd photos of herself online and writes porn reviews while you’re at work.”
I closed my eyes and scoffed, my jaw clenching, pressing a hand on my chest—it was like I’d been punched. “It’s Gerry. He threatened to do this if I left him. Can I have my lawyer contact you? I’ve filed three police reports and contacted the FBI about the photos he posted of me online.”
“And the other thing? Porn or something…”
“I write book reviews as a hobby. Never at work. You can look at my online history on my work computer.”
“Huh.”
“If it was Lori, I think she’s in a relationship with Gerry now. On Saturday night, she drove him to the place where I’ve been staying. He was drunk and abusive. I had to call the police.”
“Why would she do that? It doesn’t make sense.”
I pressed my lips together, my eyes burning. “Gerry is…manipulative.”
Valerie harrumphed and held a tissue box out to me.
“I value my job so much. This will blow over. I will not be confronting anyone here. I just really want to move on.”
She drummed her fingers on the desk. “I’m going to suspend you. Pending investigation. I’m sorry, it’s policy. Mr. Sagan will be suspended as well. Of course, this is why workplace romances are such a problem. Have your lawyer email me. I think it would help have this cleared up quickly.”
I nodded, my throat too tight to speak, and stumbled out of Valerie’s office.