Chapter 1

One more hour and then you can leave. Just one more stupid hour.

Mandy resisted the urge to look at her phone for the fifth time in twenty minutes. She didn’t know what she was expecting to see on it. It wasn’t like time would move any faster. She turned her attention back to her sister’s engagement party, which she supposedly should be enjoying – in theory. However, it felt next to impossible with her fucking ex sitting right across from her with his arm around her sister.

Stephen caught Mandy staring and flashed a fake grin at her. Mandy looked away, down at the ice water she had opted for instead of the beer she really wanted. She might as well try to make an effort to show the family she wanted to lose weight.

“Have you chosen the venue yet, Claudia?” Mandy’s mother asked. Her bony elbow jabbed Mandy in the side as she reached for her water glass.

Mandy made an effort to straighten from her slouched position, only to slide her shoulders forward a moment later.

“Not yet.” Claudia smiled at her fiancé. “We were thinking about that cute little church a few blocks away from Stephen’s apartment.”

My apartment! At least it had been until Stephen refused to move out. With her savings dwindling, it had just ended up being scammed easier letting him have it and tell the landlord to start charging him rent instead of her. She had not argued when the landlord also insisted Mandy keep her name on the lease when he added Stephen’s. She kept quiet even when it meant she had to move into her parent’s basement. Temporarily at least... I hope.

“Oh, that church’s so cute! You should definitely check it out. It is Methodist, right?” Her mother’s tone grated Mandy’s nerves. She knew her mother didn’t mean anything about the cuteness of the church, she only wanted confirmation of her question. That was exactly how her mother always worked.

“Of course,” Stephen said. “We wouldn’t consider any church that wasn’t Methodist.”

Her father grunted and checked his watch. He was the only one in the family who seemed to remember the fact that Stephen hadn’t bothered oozing charm when he had met them as Mandy’s boyfriend. Or, more likely, he simply didn’t think anyone was worthy of his precious little angel, Claudia. Mandy couldn’t tell. She was never able to get her father’s attention long enough to ask him.

Just then their food arrived and Mandy’s mouth watered from the smell. She couldn’t take her eyes off the oversized burgers and chicken tenders with French fries served at the pub. The waiter balanced huge plates of delicious junk food on the tray. He smiled at everyone as he set the burger and fried chicken down in front of Claudia and Stephen, the chicken alfredo and crab cakes in front of her parents and then flashed her an almost sympathetic smile before putting a small, bland looking salad in front of Mandy, who vaguely realized it was only a side portion size.

“I took the liberty of ordering for you since you were late in coming,” Claudia said over her heaping plate of fried food. “I know how much you want to lose weight, Mandy. After all, the maid of honor dress is very form fitting.” She glanced over at Stephen. “There’s no way I’m going to even make a dent into this pile.”

Mandy bit back her anger and forced a small smile at her little sister. “Thank you. It’s perfect.” For a rabbit. She reached for the croutons as Claudia nodded and took a bite out of a large fry.Exposition:

Mandy caught a trace of a smile on his face and returned with a small one of her own.

“You do know how to switch focus easily.” Carl leaned back against his chair. “At least in conversation. Your former bosses have done nothing but sing praises of your work ethic. Why did you leave your last job?”

Mandy pressed her lips together. She had left because Stephen was her former boss’s son. Except that would mean Carl Salvo would have to know that Stephen was her ex, and dating the boss’s son was definitely a professional no-no, not to mention it would make her look that much more pathetic. “There was a personal conflict between me and another employee. It’s been resolved, and I don’t intend to repeat it.”

Carl rested his arms on his chair, the trace of the smile gone. “Let me make myself clear, Ms. Connors. I value complete honesty from my employees more than anything else and if you think vague half-truths will make yourself look flawless, and will get you the job, then think again. I won’t ask you why again.”

Mandy took a deep breath. “Fine. I left because I had gotten into a relationship with my boss’s son. It didn’t feel right working at that company after that happened.”

Carl nodded. “How do I know that something like that would not happen again?”

“It didn’t end well. I’ll never make that mistake again.”

“What happened?”

“He got engaged to my sister.”

Carl’s eyes widened slightly and Mandy waited for the look of pity. She expected him to hurry her out of his office so he would never have to see or speak to her again. Instead his usual cool and enigmatic expression slid into place. He smiled and stood up. “I believe I have all the information I need,” he said.

Mandy stood as well and shook his hand.

“Thank you, Ms. Connors. Have a nice day.”

“Have a nice day, sir,” she said, her heart sinking.

He walked her to the door of his office and opened it for her. Mandy was halfway to the elevator when he called out, “Ms. Connors?”

She turned. “Yes, Mr. Salvo?”

“Be here tomorrow at six o’clock sharp. You don’t want to be late for your first day of work.” He shut the door, leaving Mandy in the lobby, her mouth hanging open in a very unprofessional manner.

“Darling, are you sure you want the croutons?” Her mother reached over and slid them out of her grasp. “Your sister went to the trouble of ordering a very healthy meal for you and you’re about to undo all the benefits.”

“I don’t think croutons will keep me at a size twelve.” Mandy tried to keep her face unreadable. The Chinese food I’m ordering when I’m out of here might, though. She poured the entire packet of croutons onto the salad, ignoring the glance Stephen and Claudia exchanged. That’s right. Plan your backup maid of honor all you want. I’m eating the fucking croutons! She wasn’t large, she knew it, but her family made her feel like she was massive compared to her size two sister. Her dear sister had probably said no dressing or hardly any. She took a bite and really wished the salad came automatically with dressing on the side. And maybe garlic bread. Cheesy garlic bread.

“What about your honeymoon?” her mother asked Claudia. “Have you picked a location?”

“Not yet.” Claudia beamed as she turned to gaze at the man beside her. “Stephen said he wanted to surprise me. All I ask is that it’s somewhere warm.” She dabbed a tiny ketchup spot from his lip. “Mandy said she would come with me bathing suit shopping, didn’t you, Mandy?”

Mandy nodded, unable to respond while chewing the near tasteless iceberg lettuce.

“I do wish you took smaller bites.” Her mother shook her head. “You’ll feel full a lot faster if you do. Maybe then you wouldn’t need all those croutons you used.”

Get off my bloody case, Ma! I’m not sixteen years old anymore. “Of course, Mom.” Mandy smiled and took a sip of water. Damn, why didn’t I order a beer? Or a six-pack?

“Anyway, I was hoping for somewhere in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean.” Claudia sighed dramatically. “Just a quiet, intimate little resort in paradise.” She turned to Stephen and kissed him on the cheek. “Won’t that be fun, honey?”

“It’d be heaven.” He rubbed his nose against hers.

Mandy felt like throwing up the lousy salad in her stomach. She stood. “Excuse me, I’ll be right back.” She didn’t wait for her mother’s disapproving glance or some off-the-wall comment from one of them. She turned and walked toward the bathroom, her eyes cast on the floor just in front of her. She glanced up to make sure she went into the correct gendered washroom. As soon as she shut the stall door, she sighed. “Forty-five minutes, girl,” she muttered. “Then you can leave.” But the entrance is so close! All she had to do was slip out and never see any of them ever again... until after the damn wedding.

If only she didn’t live in her parents’ basement. If only she had enough saved up to skip town. If only... Then she truly could disappear.