Tangled Roses (The Romanovs #3)
Chapter 1
CHAPTER 1
ELLIE
NEW YORK
W hat a day. Most days are spent like this, but for some reason I’m tired and it’s not because I went out last night either.
It’s the hustle of New York. The endless trials that make getting to work harder than it should be and when I get there, I never stop. Long lines to check in, guest queries and the complaints – they are always complaining and by the time my shift is over I am ready for my bed.
“Gabrielle, may I have a word before you leave?”
Mr. Reese stares at me from the door to his office and a bubble of anxiety catches me off guard.
What, now?
I paste a bright smile on my face and push aside my weariness and walk confidently into his office.
“Please, take a seat.” He says shortly, pointing to the upright chair in front of his desk, whereas he sits on a more comfortable padded one.
“Your three month’s trial ends today.” He says, getting straight to the point and I shift on my seat as I remember he’s right.
He stares at me with a blank expression and then says completely out of the blue, “I’m afraid we will not be taking your employment with us any further.”
“Excuse me?”
I’m shocked. Very shocked because I wasn’t expecting that. If anything, I thought they would give me a raise because the money here is seriously shocking.
“W… Why?” I stutter because I can’t for the life of me understand what I did wrong and his expression shows zero sympathy, or empathy as he says harshly, “You can apply to human resources for feedback. A full report will be available by the end of the week. Please hand in your security pass; you are free to leave.”
“But–” I open my mouth to speak, unsure what to say first because I am the hardest worker on his team, and I know that for a fact.
“Good day, Miss Adams.”
Mr. Reese is giving nothing away and I realize I won’t get anything from him .
I am so shocked the full implications haven’t really hit me yet except for one.
I need the money.
I really need the money because rentals in New York are pricey.
I’m not sure what to do because I can’t lose my job. I just can’t and so I decide to appeal to his better nature.
“Is there anything else I can do? Any other positions I can apply for?” I ask desperately, and he shakes his head with a steely glint in his eye.
“No. There is nothing here for you, Miss Adams. Please leave.”
“Why are you being so cruel?”
A little of my fire boils to the surface, and he checks his watch and says dismissively, “I suggest you return home, Miss Adams, and consider your options. Maybe you should pay your folks a visit. Perhaps they can help you until you find another position.”
He leans back and I hate the way his eyes appear to burn through my clothes, and I notice a sudden malevolent gleam light his eyes as he says slowly, “Unless.”
“Unless what, Mr. Reese.”
I am so desperate for anything, I don’t even consider how creepy this man is. I’ve always felt it. I hate that his eyes follow me when I walk, burning into my back as if he’s branding me. The way his gaze lingers on my chest and the spark that lights in his eyes when he asks me to fetch him some coffee is disturbing.
I’ve always considered Mr. Reese the sleaziest kind of boss and he is giving off extremely creepy vibes right now as he slides a card across the desk toward me.
“I have a friend. Michelle Jackson. She is always on the lookout for women like you and could push some work your way. ”
“Women like me?” What does he mean by that?
He sneers, “Women who don’t cut it in business and can utilise their skills more productively?”
My tears threaten to reveal how weak I am, but I won’t give this man the pleasure of seeing me cry. Instead, my fingers close around the card, and I stand, gathering my dignity around me because it’s the only thing I have left of value and say coolly, “Good day, Mr. Reese.”
I say nothing else and head to the door, fighting the tears that aren’t far away, and as I open the door, he says smoothly, “Call her, Gabrielle. You won’t regret it. Say I sent you and who knows, our paths may cross again one day.”
I slam the door behind me because if they do, I’m liable to go down for murder because right now, I really hate and detest Mr. Reese.
As I pass Jack, the receptionist who took my place, he says with concern. “Are you okay, Ellie?”
“Not really.”
He moves away from the desk and guides me to the side and says with concern, “What happened?”
“My three months are up and they are not taking me on.”
“Fuck!” His low whisper of surprise makes me laugh bitterly.
“Yes, I was sure I’d be kept on because I haven’t done anything wrong.”
Jack shakes his head in disgust.
“Honey, that was your problem.”
“What do you mean?”
“Listen, babe.” He lowers his voice.
“I should have warned you to start looking, but I thought you had this in the bag. You see, a stunning girl like you is her own worst enemy sometimes because Mr. Reese does this to all the pretty girls.”
“What, fire them? ”
I don’t understand, and his mouth twists with distaste. “No. He sends them on their way with no hope and a calling card for a woman he takes a cut from.”
I hold out the card. “Michelle Jackson, by any coincidence?”
“That’s the one.” He hisses. “You throw that card away and head to the internet instead. That woman sells women for sex and is into all kinds of things like drugs, orgies and trafficking.”
He wrenches the card from my grasp and tears it into pieces, and says in a whisper, “Meet me after my shift. The Excelsior bar in Manhattan. I’ll make a few calls to some of my contacts. I’m sure one of them will be able to hook you up with a normal job. Fuck Mr. Reese and his twisted games. I will not let him ruin another poor woman’s life.”
“You would do that for me?”
I am so grateful, and Jack smiles. “Of course, we’re friends, aren’t we, and if you can’t rely on friends, who can you rely on?”
“Certainly not Mr. Reese.” I say, my heart a little lighter than it was before, and Jack grins.
“Go and do some digging of your own. Try out the agencies on fifth street. Sign up with a few. You never know where they will take you.”
He glances over his shoulder at the guest glaring at him from the desk and he sighs.
“Sorry, babe. I’ll see you at seven. We’ll chat some more then.”
He heads back and I leave The City Inn with a sense of desperation.
That job was all I had. Since my grandmother died, I am homeless too and going home to my folks isn’t an option for me. My father is a mystery and my mother a felon. I haven’t seen her for the past fifteen years and wouldn’t be able to pick her out in a crowd. Jack is one of the few friends I’ve made in a city that doesn’t have time to make any and so I head toward fifth street, pinning all my hopes on finding something there.
I keep my head down and try to avoid the crowds, although it’s almost impossible on the busy streets of New York. There is always someone in my way and I am shoved and shouted at so many times, I’m oblivious to it.
As I walk, I ignore everyone and everything around me as I pull my cap down over my head and place my ear buds in so I can listen to my playlist, effectively blocking everything out.
Perhaps I should have been more alert and more watchful of my surroundings because suddenly I’m shoved hard from behind into a huge person in front of me and as I raise my head to object, something is pressed hard against my face and then complete oblivion.