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“Have a seat.”
I immediately took the chair in front of her desk while she rounded it and sat in her own. The thought of disappointing this woman was unsettling. Sam rested his head on my feet as though he wanted to stay out of sight.
“Some disturbing facts have been brought to my attention, ones I can’t ignore.” I kept a pleasant look on my face while inside I was reeling. “This is the first time this has happened in all the years I’ve been here.”
“I’m sorry, but I think you need to catch me up.”
“You’ve lied about your identity.” She slid a photocopied image of my driver’s license across the desk. It said my name was Gweneth Maddington with an address on Park Avenue. Mrs. Quinn even had a birth certificate with the same name. “You stated when you arrived that you were punched by your boyfriend. These images prove otherwise.” She showed me pictures. One was of me standing in the middle of a crowd at what was probably a club, pulling on another woman’s hair. The next photo was of me landing a punch as some chick hit me in the eye.
Son of a bitch.How had he known . . . Wait, it couldn’t be Tamas. If he knew where I was, he’d use brawn to get me, not intelligence. The only person who knew me as Gweneth was Tamas.
Except Drew.
Because of the fight.Fuck. That man. He’d been serious.He’d stop at nothing to get what he wanted.
“Mrs. Quinn, this isn’t what you think—”
“I believe in giving a person a chance to defend themselves, but this is pretty damning.”
I’d never seen the other woman in the photo. I’d never had a dress like the figure with my face on it. Until Tamas, I’d never been punched or thrown one for that matter.
I slumped in my seat. It was impossible to prove the pictures weren’t from last week. “I-I—”
“You lied in a written statement. Worse than that, you’ve taken advantage of what we have here. I don’t have the luxury of being skeptical when women arrive. I have to trust them, because if I don’t, and I turn them out . . . if something happens to them, that’s on my head. Not only have you deceived everyone, but you’ve made me question a process that up until now, I haven’t.”
“I apologize. That wasn’t my intent.”
“Consequences are a lesson the residents of this place don’t need to learn. They know firsthand what their choices and the choices of others can lead to. I don’t believe you know what the cost of doing something dishonest is.” I couldn’t begin to imagine where she was going with this. “I’ve calculated the cost of what you’ve taken from this facility to be one thousand two hundred and fifty-four dollars. You will pay it back, or I’ll be forced to prosecute. I can’t let this behavior go.”
“Mrs. Quinn,” I whispered. “I don’t have that kind of money.”Not cash anyway.
She frowned, that Park Avenue address insinuating otherwise. How could she know it was just another one of many temporary places I’d lived with one of the many temporary men? “Then I will allow you to work off your debt, but you cannot stay. And I don’t want this mentioned to any of the other women. Their worlds are fragile. I don’t want to bring any more doubt into it than there already is.”
“I understand.” I reached for Sam, needing to feel him. This place had felt more like a home than anything had since I was a child. I didn’t want to give it up. “When should I begin?”
“In the morning will be fine. I’ve been in contact with an area shelter for our two facilities to work together. You’ll finish setting up the program for therapy animals you inspired and oversee it until it is operating smoothly. I expect you to do so with enthusiasm.” The look she bestowed upon me was pointed.She’d already initiated the program?When was the last time I’d inspired anything good? This was meant to be a punishment, but I felt honored. “I’ll escort you to collect your belongings and see you out.”
Drew was justdown the sidewalk when I exited the front entrance, looking arrogant.
“You,” I said, shoving my index finger in his chest.
“Told you I would get you to my apartment.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Drew
Just because Ihad a soft spot for Sonya didn’t mean I wouldn’t do whatever was necessary to get what I wanted. Fabricating documentation to prove to Mrs. Quinn she wasn’t who she said she was had been a breeze. The way she was sulking, every so often trying to yank her hand from mine, I’d have thought she didn’t want to leave Paths of Purpose because the place was growing on her.
I’d yet to figure out why she was there, other than the obvious perks, but she had to have been looking for a way out. I was her perfect target. She should be happy I’d rescued her, except she was going to have to be the breadwinner for a while.
I smirked. “You could be a little more grateful.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“I am pretty amazing, aren’t I?” She smacked my arm. “Oh, come on, sugar. It’s not like I left you with no place to go.”
“You left me with no choice,” she huffed, nostrils flaring.
