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But wasn’t that my plan? To give Jamie a taste of the pain he had given me? To crash him so hard that, just like me, he could never pull himself back up?
I accomplished that, but why don’t I feel the rejoice of my success? I should, but I don't, because this story isn't finished yet. There are unfinished pages, blank spaces that need to be filled in.
Air rushes back into my lungs, and I twist on the faucet, splashing water on my face. That's what I need to do. I'm so close to the end of this chapter of my life. This long ass chapter that just won't fucking end. In order to shut this book and seal it, in order to have the closure I need, there's only one thing left to do.
And once that happens, I can finally move forward with my life. I can do this. It’s time. Well, maybe tomorrow. It might take a little liquid courage, but then I'll do it.
I need to tell Jamie the truth.
Jamie
After yesterday’s blowout with Lara, I’m happy it’s a slow day at Eden's. It gives me an opportunity to go through the books and see exactly what the fuck she did. Only an hour into my analysis, I've already chucked my phone across my office twice. The second time, I cracked the corner of the screen, so I’ve resisted a repeat another half dozen times.
My texts are open and I'm rewriting my tenth message to her. To my surprise, she hasn't tried to text me, and although my better judgement tells me to leave it alone, my anger has taken the reins and I don't really care.
You fucking bitchis how most of the unsent texts start.
What the hell is wrong with you?Is another common one.
Followed by photos of the multiple income statements she tampered with in the books.
After comparing the numbers to every single receipt at least three times, it's clear she didn't tamper with the reports the whole time she worked here, but almost.
The discrepancies seem to start right after we hired Maddie, which is some serious psychotic bullshit. I've dealt with jealous women before, but for her to destroy my entire business because of another woman… Like, what the fuck?
For that reason, I quickly look up mental health facilities, and copy and paste the link into one text to her, with a side message:You need help.
My thumb hovers over the send button, and I'm just about to press it when a text from Mark comes in. I slide back in my chair, my heart leaping. I've sent over a dozen texts trying to explain that Lara is crazy, that I never once said I wanted to cut him out of my life, and that she had acted on her own. Until just now, Mark hasn't responded to any of my texts. I open the text thread, anticipating his response.
(Mark)Stop texting me or I will block you.
"Fuck. Not what I was expecting."
Out of the corner of my eye, Maddie appears at my open door at that moment.
"Sorry to interrupt," she says.
Tugging on my hair, I toss my phone on the desk. "It's fine. What's up?" I lean back in my armchair and turn to face her. Maddie is wringing her hands together and her face is pale. "Maddie, what's wrong?"
"Um, I'm not really sure." Her voice is harried, tense. She points down the hallway toward the front-of-house. "You should probably come see—"
"Did you not hear me? I told you to get the fuck out!" Shelly's scream echoes through the hallway.
Fuck. A disaster is brewing. I didn't go into details when I told Shelly that I fired Lara—just that if Lara shows up, not to let her in.
"Thanks, Maddie."
I slide past her, running a hand over my face. Why the fuck would Lara come back here?
I turn out of the hallway into the front-of-house, and my stomach sinks. Lara is leaning over the bar, grabbing a bottle of vodka from behind the counter. Shelly is on the other side, losing the tug of war. Lara yanks the bottle out of Shelly’s hand and immediately drops it, the glass shattering at her feet.
Our early afternoon customers all turn in their seats to watch the unusual show, grins across their faces, wishing we served popcorn. On the stage, Mariah stops dancing. The bouncer shift doesn't start for another hour and I'm immediately regretting that.
Lara lunges for another bottle.
"Lara—get out!" Shelly grabs the retractable faucet from the sink and sprays Lara with it.
"Fuck." I storm toward them and Shelly spots me.
