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PJ Harlowe
Stomping her way into her apartment, PJ flopped her body down onto the couch and threw her shoes across the room. Tears that she had been holding in all the way home released from her eyes and poured down her face. She was crushed. PJ loved her job. If it hadn’t been for her stupid boss, she would have enjoyed going to work. Now what was she going to do?
Everywhere she would want to work in DC would know what happened with Brewster by close of business. The problem was the narrative would be spun by Brewster. He was sure to blackball her. There was no way she would get another job in the financial industry in that town.
Just as she was contemplating what other industry, she could parlay her talents in, her phone buzzed. Expecting it to be old man Brewster calling to beg her back, she was surprised to see the face of her best friend pop on the screen. He always knew when to come through. It was like Lattimore had psychic powers that told him when something was wrong with her. PJ liked to call it twin tuition, only they weren’t twins nor were they related.
She answered the phone trying hard to make sure he didn’t hear the tears in her voice. “Hello?”
“Hey bestie, what the hell is going on? I called the office and your assistant said you no longer work there.”
Taken aback by her friend’s remarks, PJ pulled a strand of her curly hair and watched as it stretched down past her breast and then sprung back up to her shoulder.
“Hey Latti. Yeah, I was gonna call you later on tonight. I just couldn’t take it anymore. That bastard was piling on account after account and expecting me to just do all the work while his little bitch boy did nothing.”
“Do you need me to come up there and have a talk with that prick? Pam told me what he said to you. I will wring his fucking neck if you want me to.”
“No, I don’t need you going to jail. I no longer have a job so your bail money will tap into my savings.”
They both laughed at her comment. It was a standing joke between the friends that if anyone messed with the other, they would take care of the situation. The one who wasn’t in trouble would need to get the funds to bail the other out of jail.
“Now that’s my girl. It is good to hear you laugh. I hate hearing you cry.”
“I’m okay. I just need time to process all of this.”
“What’s to process? You left a job that was driving you crazy and now you have no excuse not to come back home. You can finally take me up on my offer to rule by my side as CFO of Aston Financial.”
She took a deep breath and then let it out. PJ had avoided the offer from her friend for several years. He had been trying to convince her to move back to their hometown of Charlotte. She hadn’t lived there since before leaving for college.
“Latti, I can’t just pick up my life and move back home.”
“Why the hell not? You have a very lucrative job offer on the table. By the way, I am willing to pay you what you are worth. The cost of living is lower here so you could afford to go back to school and get that second master’s degree you’ve been talking about. And best of all you will be here with me!”
“Well, that part sounds good, but where would I even live? You know how I hate searching for houses.”
“No need to search for a house. You can live with me.”
“What? No way.”
“Why the hell not? I live alone in this big ass penthouse apartment. It is way too big for just me. I need you here to make this place feel like home. I miss having you around. Come on bestie. Say yes! I need you here with me.”
“You make me sick. How the hell am I supposed to say no to that?”
“That’s the point. You’re not! Say yes. You know you want to. Just give me that one little word and I will have movers at your door within the hour.”
“Okay. You’ve twisted my arm.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes, big head! It looks like I’m coming home.”
“Wait until your uncle hears you’re coming home. You know he’s going to throw a huge BBQ at his house.”
“No!!! Don’t you dare tell my uncle. I need to get my head together before dealing with my crazy family.”
PJ couldn’t believe it. She was going home after all these years. At least she didn’t have to worry about finding a new job and a place to stay. Her bestie had made it easy to say yes. Now all she had to do was pack up her life.
Two weeks later PJ was in her champagne-colored Lincoln MKZ driving the six- hour, nine-minute trip from Washington, D.C. to Charlotte, N.C. If there was one thing that relaxed her, it was driving. There was just something about taking to the road in a luxury vehicle. The smooth ride of the Lincoln on the pavement and the comfortable butter leather seats almost made it too comfortable. That was her excuse for cranking up her music to deafening levels, as she sang along to every song. The panoramic roof allowed her that feeling of freedom that she heard motorcyclists talk about. It was like having the best of both worlds.
