Page 18 of Gluttony

Poking my head into Ginny’s office, I smile at the serious look on her face as she types away on her computer.

“Nobody likes a lurker, Bella. Or should I call you Bowie?” Ah, fuck. I sigh, taking a step inside and setting the hot deliciousness on her desk. Hopefully the scone will bring her back on Team B.

“Hadley told you, huh?” They say it's best to not fight it when you get hit by a massive wave. The way I explained it to Hadley, this isn’t a big deal and people change their names all the time.

Ginny stops typing and gives me her full attention. “Should I be concerned?”

I frown. “Because I changed my name? No. I wasn’t a fan, that’s all there is to it.” I love my name, it's the only thing my parents left me of any significance.

“I’m concerned about your tastes. Anyone named after David Bowie shouldn’t dismiss the honor.” Right there with you, sister. Thing is, I can’t back down now, can I?

“What can I say? Twilight changed my life.” Kill. Me. Now.

“That scone better be the best thing in Manhattan because choosing vampires over a musical genius should be cause for termination.” Ginny pulls the scone out of its bag and brings it to her nose. “Hadley won’t like that you changed bakeries. He’s a child of habit, that one.” As she chastises me, she brings the pastry to her mouth and takes a tentative bite.

I’m pretty fucking confident that Hadley will fall to his knees and beg me for more. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself because I need this plan to work or else Mickey is going to lose his shit.

Judging by Ginny’s wide eyes from her first taste and the subtle moan that escapes her mouth when she swallows, I’mguessing I’ve won her over as well. Three for three this morning. It’s going to be a great fucking week, I can feel it.

For the next hour, I get acquainted with my new job tasks. Little by little, they’re adding new responsibilities to my plate, which are just a step above coffee fetching and scone hunting. Last week they tested my endurance, this week, however, I’m thinking it’s my organizational skills.

They don’t know this, but this is where I shine. Living in a foster home demanded that all of my shit be accounted for, to within an inch of their lives. That our time be spent wisely and our bags ready to grab at a moment’s notice. Because Mickey was always concentrating on his computing skills, I took care of both of our things. I’m an organizational guru and could probably make a ton of money on how-to videos. But what’s the fun in that?

The phone rings just as I’m closing out my Excel sheet.

“Bo-Be…Yes?” Fuck, what name am I supposed to use now?

“It’s hot when you stutter. I wonder if I can make that happen while I’m fucking your arse?” Hmm, I wonder how much money I can get from a harassment suit…

“Hi, Hadley, what can I do for you?” Fuck, I don’t mean for my voice to be low and husky like that, but here we are.

“That’s a loaded question, Bowie. Sure you want the answer to it?” I don’t have time to volley back a petulant response so I do my best impression of an adult and wait him out.

“Suit yourself. We’re in Hayes’s office. You need to come see us.” This shouldn’t be a surprise. Lying at a job interview is pretty serious shit, I’m guessing. Still, I need to go in there with my fighting spirit intact. There’s no way I’m telling Mickey I got fired.

“On my way.” I sit there for a minute, phone in hand and poised at my ear as though still talking to someone. The different scenarios of how this is going to play out are too many toanticipate. Obviously, Hadley told Orion and Hayes about our conversation on Saturday night. It’s not like I wasn’t expecting this, my entire Sunday was just one long freakout about how to make this right.

Mickey doesn’t know and I need to keep it that way. Which means I need to beg for this job. Literally get down on my knees and beg.

Mouth open like a good girl.

Okay, maybe not likethat…yet. Soon, though, or else what the fuck am I even doing here?

With a deep breath in, I put the phone back on the receiver and stand. I'm a strong, independent woman and I can handle these three men, no matter how angry they are. I may not know them very well, but I’m pretty sure that if Ginny loves them—Hadley in particular—then they can’t be all that bad.

I hope.

The sound of laughter echoes down the hall as I approach Hayes’s office. Ginny looks up from her tablet and gives me a close-lipped smile that reeks of pity. My returning grin—forced and a little too wide—says please don’t let them tear me into pieces. Her eyes avert and I’m pretty sure that’s my death certificate signed in the blood from my warm veins.

Fuck, why am I like this?

Stop being so fucking dramatic, Bowie!

With a hesitant knock on the already opened glass door, I straighten my spine and get ready for the guillotine.

“You wanted to see me?” My gaze scans the three men as I try to gauge their moods. Hayes is predictable with his stern eyes and permanent scowl. We’re in his office, which means he’s leading this showdown.

Orion offers me kind eyes as if that’ll lessen the blow that’s about to hit me in the face, while Hadley is a different beastaltogether. I can’t decide if he’s a lion, hungry for a meal, or a wolf ready to protect the pack.

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