Chapter 2

“Nothing, sir.”

“Then get to work.”

I walked out of his office with a smile so forced that my cheeks hurt. The moment the door closed behind me, I muttered, “One day, I’m going to quit this job and never look back.”

Unfortunately, rent didn’t pay itself, college fees didn’t magically appear, and my sister’s future depended on me finding a way to keep us afloat. So, instead of quitting, I returned to my desk and opened the first file.

For the next several hours, I barely lifted my head. I corrected the report, checked the figures, prepared the briefing notes, made calls, sent emails, and rearranged Lucien’s schedule. Every time I finished one task, another appeared. Twice, he summoned me to his office to complain about details he hadn’t mentioned earlier. Once, he returned a document simply because he didn’t like the way a paragraph had been arranged.

By four in the afternoon, my coffee had gone cold, my eyes were burning, and I had eaten nothing except the granola bar I’d found at the bottom of my handbag. I checked my phone during a brief pause and saw a message from Maya.

Sis, I'm really worried?

I stared at the screen, knowing exactly what she meant. The eviction notice. The rent. Her college fees.

I typed a reply.

Don’t worry. I’ll figure something out.

I slipped my phone into my handbag and returned to work.

At five forty-seven, I finally completed the last item on Lucien’s list. I saved the documents, checked the time again, and let out a quiet breath of relief. Thirteen minutes until closing. 

I began shutting down my computer.

“Ms. Sinclair.”

I closed my eyes.

Not now.

Slowly, I turned around. Lucien stood at the entrance of his office, holding yet another file. His expression was as unreadable as ever.

“Yes, sir?”

“Before you leave, I need this completed.”

I looked at the file, then at him. “Tonight?”

“I want it on my desk first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Mr. Loreto, it’s almost six.”

“I can tell time, Ms. Sinclair.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. “Of course you can, sir.”

He walked over and placed the file on my desk. “The report needs to be thorough. Check every figure and include a summary of the proposed changes.”

I glanced at the thickness of the file. This wasn’t a quick task I could finish in ten minutes. It would take at least an hour, possibly longer, depending on how much information needed to be verified.

“Understood,” I said, because what else could I do?

He gave a brief nod and returned to his office.

I watched him disappear behind the door before looking down at the file.

“I hate this job,” I whispered.

No, I hated my boss. The job itself wasn’t terrible, and the salary was decent enough to help me care for Maya. It was Lucien Loreto who made every working day feel like a punishment. If arrogance were a business qualification, that man would own every company in New York.

Still, I opened the file.

I couldn’t afford to lose my job, no matter how much I wanted to throw the documents at his head and walk out.

By the time I finished the report, it was a little after seven. I saved the document, sent a copy to Lucien’s email, shut down my computer, and grabbed my handbag. My shoulders ached from sitting in the same position for hours, and all I wanted was a hot shower and a quiet evening with Maya.

The moment I stepped outside Loreto Industries, the cool evening air brushed against my face. I took a deep breath, grateful to be away from the suffocating atmosphere of the office.

Then I spotted Ethan beside his car.

My mood lifted a little.

“There you are,” I said as I approached him.

He smiled and opened the passenger door. “Sorry, baby. Traffic was terrible.”

“You waited?”

“Of course I did.” He leaned over and kissed my cheek. “I’d never leave you standing here.”

I smiled as I climbed into the car. Whatever my problems were, seeing Ethan usually made me feel as though I didn’t have to carry them all alone. We’d been together for two years, and I had believed we were building a future together. He was the person I turned to when things became difficult, the person who promised that one day we’d have enough money to stop worrying about every bill.

Ethan got into the driver’s seat and started the engine. For the first few minutes, he talked about his day and a business contract he had been working on. I listened, occasionally asking questions, but my mind kept drifting back to the eviction notice and Maya’s college fees.

I needed money. More than I had in my account, more than I could save from my salary in the next few days.

And Ethan still owed me the money I’d lent him last time.

I had tried not to think about it too much, telling myself he’d pay me back as soon as his business deal went through. But with our situation getting worse, I couldn’t keep waiting.

“Ethan,” I said, turning toward him. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course, baby. What’s wrong?”

“About the money I lent you last time. Do you think you’ll be able to pay me back soon?”

His hands tightened slightly around the steering wheel before he glanced at me. “The money?”