Page 42 of Unexpected Redemption

Oh, sugar smacks.

When I took the job at Bask, I was at rock bottom. I didn’t have a pot to piss in nor a window to toss it out. And I certainly never considered what would happen when I wanted to move on with my career.

Gasp. Can you imagine?Menot thinking through consequences? That’s unheard of. A once in a lifetime occurrence. Triple giggle.

Peggy’s droning on about her digital file system while I’m quashing the urge to run and hide under Tomer’s desk so he can pet my hair. Everything’s better when he’s comforting me.

Oh, duh. Tomer can fix it.

If they ask me to fill anything out, I’ll simply tell them I’ll do it tonight. By then, Tomer can create a whole new identity for me.

Don’t laugh. It’s not hypocritical. I’ll have you know it’s a perfectly reasonable strategy to avoid telling Boss Dad I’m a kinky girl. That’s what my inner delulu told me. And I trust that bitch.

Peggy twists in her chair, spinning to face me and away from the computer. “Any question on this so far?”

“None that come to mind.”

Because my brain is a toxic trash heap.

“Good. That’s good.” Her eyes search the desk, and she taps her chin with an age-weathered fingertip.“Let’s see. What else?”

Time for a mental pep talk. She’ll be gone in a few hours, and I’ll be floundering like a fish on a dock unless I absorb as much as possible.

Focus, Lettie. You can do this.

She claps. “Ah. I know. Let’s discuss his calendar.”

Grabbing my notepad, I prepare to take notes on her process. “Sounds good.”

After briefly explaining their shared calendar system, she pivots to discuss how she screens his calls and points me to his VIP contact list of local law enforcement and government officials, among other notable figures. When she gets to the part about how to handle pop-in visitors, we share a chuckle.

Despite the frustration she flung at me on the day I barged in here, she quickly recovered once she realized the gravity of the situation. Her ire at me further faded when she learned I had no clue about the mess I walked into the morning after the shooting.

I’ve already filled about six pages in my notepad by the time my new boss exits his office. His eyes bulge when he sees me sitting with Peggy. Almost instantly, his shock morphs into amusement. He strides over, his eyes flickering between Peggy and me.

As soon as she sees him approach, her posture straightens. “What do you need, Boss?”

“Nothing. I’m heading over to the lair. The team has something to show me.”

Color me curious.

He cuts his cunning gaze at me, one corner of his mouth twitching upward. “You’ve already decided, haven’t you?”

Briefly, I contemplate fudging the truth. But I’ve never been a good liar. And what’s the point?

“I have. I’ll fill in for Peggy.”

“Did you talk to...” His words trail off as he tips his head down the hall.

“Tomer?” I confirm.

His expression sags, and it breaks my freaking heart. The other night, Tomer told me how strained their relationship has been since I came in with horns blowing to herald the news of my existence.

Although I don’t know their entire history, it doesn’t take a genius to see they care about each other.

I answer him with a steady voice. “Yes. I spoke with him after I left your office. He’s good with it, so long as I think I can handle it. And I do.”

“What about your therapist?”

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