Chapter 3
I slammed the door behind me, my heart pounding with frustration. James had cost me my job at the diner, and I was furious. I kicked off my shoes, barely able to contain the anger boiling inside me. How could he have had the audacity to waltz in and disrupt my life like that?
“Mother freaking fucker!” I shouted. I wanted to wrap my fingers around his neck and squeeze as hard as I could. Either that or a few good, swift kicks to his balls.
“Meow.”
I looked down at Muffin and sighed. “You never liked him, did you?”
“Meow.”
“I know. I should have listened to you to begin with. If I had, I wouldn’t be in this situation now.”
The first time James had ever visited my apartment, Muffin went ballistic. She hissed from the moment he walked through the door until the second he left. She even managed to get a few good swipes in with her claws.
I tossed my purse onto the couch and plopped down at my cluttered kitchen table, resting my head in my hands.
My mind raced, replaying the events of the day like a broken freaking record.
One moment, I was serving coffee and clearing tables, and the next, I was fired because James was a lowlife asshat.
I felt like I was drowning in a sea of chaos, and I couldn’t see a way out of any of it.
I lived in a small town. Jobs were scarce.
With a huff, I pulled my laptop from the mess of papers that covered the table.
I needed to find something—anything—to distract myself from the mess I found myself in.
I drew in a deep breath and began to surf through the wanted ads, wishing for a glimmer of hope.
Anything that would get me out of this situation I found myself in.
Scrolling through the listings, my eyes glazed over the usual assortment of dead-end jobs.
Waitressing, retail, telemarketing—none of it sounded appealing.
I was sick of the same old routine, the same miserable cycle of waking up, going to a job I didn’t want, and coming home to an empty apartment.
Well, empty except for Muffin. I longed for something different, something that would pull me out of this suffocating small-town life.
Something that made my heart race with excitement for life that I hadn’t felt in a very long time.
Just as I was about to close my laptop in defeat, one listing caught my attention.
“Wanted: Executive Assistant.” My heart sped up as I clicked it and read the description.
The position was for someone to support a busy executive in Arrhythmia, Texas.
The pay was four times what I made now, and best of all, it was a chance to escape this town—maybe even start fresh somewhere else.
I paused, biting my lip as I considered the implications. Sure, I wasn’t exactly qualified—my experience consisted of waitressing and dealing with entitled customers—but I was desperate. Besides, how hard could it be to type a few letters and answer a phone?
I needed to get away from James and the crappy life I had been living. This seemed like my chance. I just had to sell my non-existent skills.
“Ugh!” I thought and began pulling complete bullshit out of my ass. Google was my friend when it came to my fudged skills.
The ad listed several positive qualities the employer was seeking: organization, communication skills, and the ability to handle a fast-paced work environment.
I could do that! I had spent years juggling multiple tables in the diner and managing grumpy customers.
I could spin that into something impressive, right?
I hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of my past decisions and the fact that I was willing to lie my ass off to get the hell out of Dodge. The urge to escape overpowered my better judgment. I took a deep breath, my fingers hovering over the keyboard as I began to craft my new identity.
“Okay, Muffin,” I said, glancing at my fluffy black cat curled up on the couch. “What do you think? Should I go for it?”
Muffin blinked lazily at me, her green eyes reflecting the overhead light. “Meow.”
“Not helpful,” I replied, rolling my eyes. “But I need your support here. I can’t stay in this town any longer. I need to get away from James, from all of this.”
Muffin stretched and yawned, as if considering my plight. “Meow.”
“Exactly! A new job could mean a new life for us and more treats for you,” I said, feeling the excitement bubble within me.
“Imagine it, Muffin. A place where I don’t have to worry about old ghosts haunting me.
I could be an executive assistant. I could wear fancy clothes and drink coffee from real mugs instead of Styrofoam!
And I could get you a new kitty tower!” Hers was looking pretty beat up.
Muffin blinked again, her tail flicking as if she understood the dream. “Meow?”
“Right? It’s a bit of a stretch, but I could totally pull it off. I can charm my way through any interview, can’t I?” I grinned, the idea taking hold of me. “Just like you charm me into giving you extra treats.”
Before I could continue, my phone buzzed, breaking my concentration. I glanced at the screen and saw several missed calls and messages from James. My stomach twisted at the sight of his name.
“Ugh, what does he want now?” I muttered, scrolling through the texts. “Please, Audrey. I’m sorry. Can we talk?” and “You can’t just ignore me. I need you.” The more I read, the angrier I became.
“Why can’t he just take a hint?” I scoffed. “This is the last thing I need right now.” I ignored the messages, shoving my phone aside as I refocused on my laptop.
With a renewed resolve, I began typing, adding details about my completely made-up skills and experience.
I embellished my previous job duties, transforming my mundane waitressing tasks into something that sounded more sophisticated.
“Managed a team of servers to ensure customer satisfaction,” I typed.
“Coordinated high-volume orders and handled customer inquiries with professionalism.”
As I crafted my new persona, I felt a flicker of exhilaration—this was my chance for a fresh start. I imagined myself in a new town, away from the drama with James and the suffocating weight of my life.
With a few more tweaks and embellishments, I finished my application and hit send. My heart raced at the thought of leaving everything I hated behind. I didn’t care if I was bending the truth; the prospect of a fresh start was too intoxicating not to go for it.
“See? We did it, Muffin!” I exclaimed, looking at my cat as if she were my partner in crime. “We’re one step closer to a new life!”
Muffin hopped off the couch and padded over to me, brushing against my leg. “Meow.”
“Right, right.” I chuckled. “Let’s not count our chickens before they hatch. But I have a good feeling about this.”
As I leaned back in my chair, feeling a mixture of hope and anxiety wash over me, I realized that I was ready to close this chapter of my life and embrace whatever came next.
My phone buzzed again, pulling me from my thoughts. I glanced at the screen and saw another text from James. “I’m waiting for you to respond. Please just talk to me.” The frustration boiled within me, but I refused to let him ruin this moment.
Instead, I turned my focus back to the laptop, determined to find more ads, more opportunities. Now that I had an idea of what I wanted, nothing was going to stop me.
As I scrolled through the listings, I felt a sense of control returning. I was actively searching for something better, something that could change the course of my life. I was ready to fight for my future—no matter what it took.
And with that thought, I knew that I was no longer a victim of my circumstances. I was ready to embrace the new and exciting changes that were headed my way.