Page 52 of Starting Our Chance

30 Loretta

Where in the hell am I going to get that money? Dressed in black couture, I glided into my seat at the dinner table. Ever since Felicity left, I had been racking my brains as to where to come up with the funds to pay Mr. Oscolti his inconvenience fee.

When a bowl of a delicious smelling soup was placed in front of me, I waited with my hands politely folded in my lap for the host to begin eating.

“Please, begin.” Mr. Oscolti gestured with his raised hand.

“Have you confirmed that the information we gave you was correct?” I unfolded my napkin before lifting my spoon.

There was a pregnant pause before my old boss grunted, “I was told to take very good care of you. So, while we wait, I feed you. But do not mistake my presence for wanting to have a conversation.”

I’m so screwed.It had all come down to this. I was off the hook and could leave—if I paid the man an obscene pile of cash. And the only place I could think to get the money was the one place I would never go.

“What is the alternative if I cannot come up with the funds?” I dropped my spoon, letting it clatter against the bowl. “I’m done playing games.”

“You’re done?” he sneered. “Fine, here is the reality of your situation. You cost me a lot of time and money—more than the amount stolen will cover. So, if you cannot come up with the cash, you will come back to New York and work for me.”

An accountant by trade, I ran the numbers through my head. It would take years to pay the man back, and that was if I gave him my whole salary from every paycheck and kept nothing for myself. Swallowing hard, I lifted my eyes to the ceiling as I felt the threat of tears. I had remained calm while awaiting things to play out in the room that I had been kept in. However, this . . . this was different. I just can’t ask Duke. I want to be his equal, not have him buy me off. I blinked back the tears and focused on the shimmering chandelier until I had control of my features again. It was one of the hardest things I had ever done.

The thought of selling the family farm was also non-negotiable. There was the slightest possibility that I could have Mama take a loan out against its value, but would that be enough?

I managed to clear my throat and ask, “Would you take my whole paycheck?” A jolt of pride shot through me that there was no wobble in my voice. “Or would you at least let me keep a pittance to live off?”

“Oh, you won’t be doing anything that allows you to have a salary.” And that’s when I saw it. The curl of his malicious lip and the leer in his eyes.

Faced with the hard truth at long last, I bowed my head. My freedom or my love.

Whatever happened, it would ruin any relationship Duke and I could hope for.

The crash of the French doors being flung open had me jumping out of my seat.

“Girl, I leave the business in your hands for only a FEW days and what do I come back to? A burnt office building and a ransom . . . and when Duke told me to hire you because you would make my life easier, just what the fuck was he talking about?” Nikki’s drawl was thick as molasses, but there was no anger behind her boisterous words.

Grabbing for the back of the chair, I steadied myself so as not to fall over. I didn’t even think . . .. “What are you doing here?”

In response, Nikki dropped two plastic supermarket bags with tied handles on the center of the table. “Let’s go, Sweet Cheeks. I have somewhere I have to get back to.” Turning on her heel, she held up her hand to silence my old boss. “I officially brought Ms. Forman’s ransom. She will be working for me for a very long time to pay this off.”

And just like that, Nikki marched out of the dining room. It was said that one shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. That was advice that I could adhere to. Careful not to trip on the expensive looking rug, I didn’t hesitate to follow Nikki out of the sliding French doors.

Shoulders thrown back and head held high, Nikki walked past the armed guards without a second look.

~*~

WHEN WE EMERGED FROMthe house, we headed straight for her truck. The sinking feeling in my chest was unmistakable. My boyfriend wasn’t there—he wasn’t waiting for me. Well, of course he isn’t. I chased him away.

“How did you know?” I shot Nikki a side-long look once I was safely ensconced next to her in the bucket seat of her truck.

Nikki didn’t respond until she’d put a good number of blocks between us and my old boss. In a cool and rather formal tone, she bluntly said, “How the fuck do you think I found out? A distraught Duke showed up at the worst possible moment . . ..” Nikki shook her head.

“I’m so sorry, Nikki.” I could feel the tension filling the truck. “I just couldn’t have that hanging between us. It would destroy us.”

“I get it.” Nikki sighed. But the next moment she slammed the heel of her hand against the steering wheel. “I wanted to help you, I did. But you two could have gotten past that! Now he thinks you don’t trust him, Loretta. You really think that this is a better position for the two of you to be in right now? Are you really that stupid?”

I blew out a long breath. She was right, of course. “I had to pick my poison.”

“And now we all have to live with the results.”

“I swear, I’ll find a way to pay you back. I ran the numbers. If I keep twenty-three percent of my paycheck—”

---