AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You called me,” I remind her.
“Enough back and forth!” she snaps. “I want my money before I leave LA. You have thirty days to buy me out.”
My heart is beating at warp speed and my head hurts so badly it’s like a construction crew is jackhammering against concrete.
“Oh, one last thing, Jules,” she sneers. “Just in case you plan on going psycho on our personal items still in your father’s Cracker Jack box house… you know like, accidentally burning or dumping everything at the Salvation Army. Don’t even think about it. I’ll sue your ass faster than you can say oops.”
My fear mixes with annoyance. “You’d sue me?”
Her threat is like I’ve been punched in the guts, and I almost topple over in my heels, putting out a hand to steady myself against the wall once more.
She lets out a demonic laugh. “You bet your bottom dollar.” She never really made any effort to be nice to me, but I never imagined she’d take pleasure in seeing me destitute. “One last thing before I go.”
“What now?”
“I did your last three remaining employees a favor.”
Attrition has been a problem since Daddy died. Let’s just say, the employees weren’t jumping up and down when Hillary and I stepped in. Well, since she didn’t show her bitchy face often, I guess attrition was caused by my inexperience to run a company.
“In what sense?” I ask carefully.
“Once you buy me out, your father’s company will crumble like a deck of cards. I called them to warn them of things to come and suggested they find a new job because your days are numbered.”
Her revelation knocks me askew. “You did what?” I shriek.
“I’m sure they dropped their letters of resignation on your desk as they rushed out the door. You can thank me later. I saved you from having that difficult conversation.”
My body vibrates with rage. “You raving bitch!” I spit into the phone.
“Enjoy the rest of your day,” she singsongs before ending the call.
A text message pops on my screen.
Then another.
And another.
Judging from who they’re from and variations of the same I’m really sorry to do this, Jules, but… opening line, I don’t have to read the messages in full to know what this pertains to. I guess in a way, I should be relieved since making payroll was always so stressful, involving so much juggling, it would deplete me of all my energy.
I’m not sure how long I stand in the lobby of this fancy building, clutching my phone. It must be a while, because my legs start to hurt. There’s no equity left in the house. Daddy used it all to keep the company afloat. And profits from the business are as foreign as snow in Miami. In other words, I’m knee-deep in shit.
The weight that is my life settles on my shoulders, as heavy as an elephant.
My mind races for a solution, but none comes.
All the air seems to evaporate around me.
What am I going to do?
Where am I going to find money to buy Hillary out?
Where am I going to live?
How am I going to survive this?
My stomach twists and catapults bile into my throat as I struggle not to throw up.
I’m doomed.
