Page 25 of The Enemy

“If it’s gold diggers they are worried about, they need not look further than your mommy.”

I would laugh at how the sneer fell from his face if I weren't so angry. What could he say to me now?

Like I said earlier. Neo and I didn’t need a blade to do any real damage—our words were more than enough.

He grabbed a pen and began to scribble on a notepad.

“Doesn’t respect her superiors, childish behaviors…” He looked up at me and I noticed some of his mirth had come back, then he looked toward the trash can. “Prone to violence.”

I bit my lip to fight the urge to ask him what he was doing.

His gaze was locked on my lips.

“Everyone agreed that it was best that I keep an eye on you. I will be reporting weekly updates on your progress.”

Even though I wanted to scream, and for the first time in a long time I felt like running to my father so he could make things better, I took a deep breath and swallowed my anger.

At times, it felt like I was being measured by a stick that was different from everyone else. Whether it was due to privilege, my weight, or the color of my skin, nothing was ever fair.

“I do hope you can be fair. I’d hate to report a complaint against you for discrimination,” I told him as calmly as possible.

This seemed to irritate him.

“What the hell do I have to discriminate?”

And because I woke up elated to finally start at the family company only to find out that things would be harder for me than everyone else before me, my insecurities came out, and I was vulnerable in a way I shouldn’t be in front of Neo.

“Take your pick, Neo,” I told him as I raised my hand and counted off my fingers. “I’m not a boy, but between us, I don’t think that would matter much to my grandfather since I’m not light-skinned enough for him, and if I wasn’t enough of a letdown, being fat isn’t doing me any favors.”

Neo’s demeanor had changed again. It wasn’t hostile like it had been earlier, nor was it taunting. I waved my big white flag before he could get his last dig in. Wars weren’t won in a day, and losing one battle didn’t mean you lost the war.

“What would you like me to do today?”

It almost made me physically ill to get those words out, but I was determined to prove everyone wrong.

SEVEN

LOURDES

Hell was a place on earth,and it was called corporate America. Four days into what I thought was my dream job, I was ready to call it quits.

My number one reason for not doing so was currently making her way toward me. Pricilla loved walking up to my desk at least once a day. She loved to look down at me while she asked to speak with her son, who was above me on the corporate ladder.

“I’m sorry, but Mr. Caldwell is in a meeting. He can’t see you right now,” I told her before she could begin with her digs at me.

Pricilla’s lips curled in disgust at using Neo’s actual surname. She could try and pretend the mockery of their scandal didn’t happen, but just because we didn’t talk about it, it didn’t mean we didn’t know.

“That is not his name,” she barked at me.

“Oh, my apologies. Since your sugar daddy was still gracious enough to let him use it in high school, I keep forgetting.”

Something had to be said about my ability to court death because Pricilla looked ready to jump over my desk and strangle me.

“Why, you little?—”

“Mother.” Neo stepped out of his office before Pricilla could finish her sentence. “I didn’t realize we had a meeting.”

There was an edge to Neo’s tone. Maybe he was just as annoyed as I was about Pricilla’s visit. I could deal with each of them independently, but if they teamed up on me, I was afraid it would be an all-out bloodbath.

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