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We’d shared moments, laughter, and then in a memory that still dazzled in my mind, Derek had kissed me.
Of course, it had looked like I’d been his rebound. Maybe I had been.
I could still hear all the foul things Pris had said once she’d found out.
Derek and I had tried to date after that, to show Pris and Stina that they had no control over our lives, but things continued going downhill. Pris had stalked to Derek’s late at night. She’d spread liesabout me to her mom.
Derek and I had agreed to end it, for both our sakes. And then I’d been denied entrance into my childhood home altogether.
“I’m sure you have somewhere else you’d rather be than with the rest of us,”Stina had crowed from the half-opened front door two years ago when I’d arrived for the family gathering.
I’d spotted the Christmas tree behind her. Music had wafted from the open door, along with the smells of cinnamon rolls and ham.
Then Stina had shut me out. She’d left me on the doorstep like a traveling salesman.
She had a sniveling way of turning things around, of making it sound like she was trying to be considerate of me, but I knew better.
I stared at Stina now, thinking of those awful memories, wondering what I was doing here.
Why had I worked with this viper for so long? A thousand dollars seemed like a lot, but was the educational stipend really worth it?
This was why I was leaving. I couldn’t wait to not only quit my job, but quit this town. I couldn’t wait to leave everything that had to do with Stina and Pris Malus behind.
“As far as Christmas Eve goes,” Stina began.
My heart morphed into a bird.
I froze, disbelieving, and yet warning myself not to give in. She was a scorpion. She tended to sting—it was just who she was.
I couldn’t forget that.
“I know this is a busy time for you, especially with thisSierra project of yours, so I don’t think you should plan on coming to the family lunch, not if you’re wanting to finish in time for the ball. I’m assuming you’re going?”
I did what I could to steady my breathing.
Assume? Please.
She knew full well I’d been invited by the owner of the company. I had no doubt Pris had told her, just like she’d told Charlotte and probably the rest of the crew.
“Yes—”
Before I could finish, Stina plowed on. “In that case, you still have Highland Heights. You’ll have to leave the ball early to make it to work on time.”
This was infuriating. I was just as much a member of the family as Charlotte or Pris.
I hadn’t been a welcomed guest in my own home for two years. She might have control over that, but I wouldn’t let her control this.
In that moment, I saw things clearly, more clearly than I had in probably ever.
“I’m unavailable Christmas Eve.”
Stina lifted her chin. “Excuse me?”
“I have plans,” I said, holding my ground.
“This is your job, Ella,” Stina said. “Like it or not, I am your manager. So until you find work elsewhere, you go where I schedule you.”
How she must love this, lording over me like I was her own personal servant.
