Page 118 of Stuck with my Mechanic Daddies

And just like that, it was gone.

“You don’t have to do this,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I’m sorry, Aurora. But our decision is final.”

The line went dead.

I stood there on the sidewalk, phone still clutched in my hand, as the weight of it all came crashing down.

I had lost my job.

Everything I’d built in the city.

There was no future anymore.

I felt like I was falling, and I had no idea how to stop.

I didn’t remember walking to Hank Lawson’s office, shoving open the heavy glass door of Lawson Realty.

Anger burned through me, hot and untamed.

I’d lost my job.

And it was because of him.

Hank Lawson sat behind his oversized mahogany desk, his chair tilted back, the picture of smug confidence.

His office was just like him—expensive but soulless. Dark wood, leather chairs, a gold-plated nameplate that screamedpower trip.

He didn’t look surprised to see me. In fact, he smirked.

“Aurora Bennett,” he drawled, tapping a pen against his desk. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

I slammed the folder down in front of him, my pulse a roar in my ears. “Drop the act, Hank. I know what you did.”

His gaze flicked lazily to the documents before meeting mine again. “You'll have to be more specific.”

My hands curled into fists at my sides. “The safe. The real records. Theactualdeed to Page Turners. We both know George settled his ownership long before he died. You forged those papers, didn’t you? Had someone on the inside make sure they were altered before they were filed. Because you knew you didn’t have a real claim.”

His smirk didn’t falter. If anything, it deepened.

“I’ve heard you always were a smart girl.” He leaned forward, steepling his fingers together. “But let’s say, hypothetically, that Ididhave those records tampered with. What exactly do you plan to do about it?”

I gritted my teeth. “I already met with my lawyer. We’re taking this to court.”

Hank let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Oh, sweetheart. You really think a judge is going to overturn this overnight? Legal battles take months. Years, even. And let me guess, you don’t have that kind of time, do you?”

My stomach tightened.

“I heard about your little job situation,” he went on smoothly. “Unfortunate, really. But what did you expect? No company wants to be associated with a scandal.”

The air in the room felt suffocating.

He planned this. He had known exactly what he was doing.

I clenched my jaw. “This town isn’t going to stand behind you, Hank. Not when the truth comes out.”

“Oh?” His brow lifted. “The truth? Do you think anyone in this town actually cares about your truth?”

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