Page 11 of Hell's Claim

“I know that. What about that lady that keeps adopting all those children?” I asked.

“Phoenix Michaelson? You’d be very lucky, and I don’t think she’s taking anymore in,” Mrs Jefferson replied.

“Then it seems you are stuck with me. Just like the last twelve years.”

“Callie, I’d never say it like that!” Mrs Jefferson exclaimed.

“Why not? I’m your failure. You’ve adopted or long-term fostered all your kids. And apart from this bitch and the Timmons, they seem to be with good families,” I said.

Mrs Jefferson’s face changed. Her expression grew dark, and intense dislike crossed it. The Timmons had been charged, and both were jailed. An in-depth investigation had revealed other children they’d abused. Sadie had been re-homed and finally adopted six months ago. Me? I was left on the shelf again. I didn’t know what I was doing wrong, but I’d done it my entire life.

The longest I had ever stayed in a home was a year. The Abbotts had been planning to adopt me when Mrs Abbott fell pregnant, and it was bye-bye Callie. At twelve, I considered myself an adult. Life was simply miserable. According to the older kids, it wouldn’t improve either. Nobody wished to parent children over seven or eight. We were known as the unwanted. That was the story of my life… unwanted.

I doubted it would ever change now. Twelve years old, and I was fully aware of how cruel this world was. Lessons had been learned.

Chapter Three.

Callie – 2013

Happy fucking eighteenth to me, I thought as I stood at the bottom of the steps of the last care home I’d ever live in. Mrs Jefferson had said goodbye and handed me an envelope. Inside was a credit card in my name with two thousand dollars on. It was pretty kind of her. Mrs Jefferson had also arranged an apartment for me and a job. Strangely, I had left school with top marks.

Mrs Jefferson had been as surprised as anyone, well apart from me. I knew I was clever; it was just nobody had ever showed an interest in me. Now, I was legally an adult and basically on my own. No one cared if I lived or died or even if I turned up for work tomorrow. If I was a weaker person, I’d throw a pity party. Not me. Something inside me was stronger than that.

I picked up my backpack with all my worldly goods in and headed for the bus. Luckily, it stopped outside my apartment.

I’d secured a job as an intern in an office. I was quick to learn and thankful for employment. Some kids left the care home and ended up on the streets, drugs and whoring soon took care ofthem. I didn’t care how bad shit got, I’d never prostitute my body.

The wind was chill today and blew through my thin coat. Thanks to my less-than-ideal childhood, I knew how to budget and manage money. I’d buy some smart outfits with the card Mrs Jefferson had given me and a new coat. It wouldn’t do to arrive at a new job looking like what I was—an unwanted kid who nobody cared about.

2017

I stared at Belinda, the HR officer for the company I worked for.

“I don’t understand,” I stammered.

“Callie, when you signed the contract, you agreed to no interoffice relationships,” Belinda said slowly.

“I’m not retarded, I just don’t remember that clause,” I snapped.

“It’s there. And you’ve admitted to having a relationship with Adam Drake.”

“Is he being fired, too?” I demanded, anger flaring.

“Well, he is—”

“In other words, no. Because he’s management. Let me inform you I know I’m not Adam’s only girlfriend who worked here. Did you sack all of them too? You have a predator working here. And you’re as guilty as him for defending him,” I hissed.

Belinda had the grace to look shamefaced. “We’re giving you six months’ severance pay—”

“And in the meantime, I get blacklisted like all his other ex-girlfriends? Oh, the girls in the office couldn’t wait to tell me Adam’s past. You are as culpable as him. Adam will keep getting away with this shit, and young women will have their livesruined. I wonder what a lawyer would say!” I continued and got to my feet.

“You can’t sue us!” Belinda cried.

“Wanna bet? You’ll be hearing from my lawyer!”

With all my dignity, I left the room. I passed the offices of the managers and saw their knowing looks. Yet another woman who’d fallen victim to the office Lothario.

Adam was nowhere to be seen. That wasn’t a surprise. I was furious. I’d been up for promotion and everything and honestly had not known about that rule. If I had, Adam could have done one. I’d been flattered by his attention, and, over time, he’d gained my trust and worn me down. Adam had known what he was doing was wrong and hadn’t batted an eyelid. I wasn’t going to take this lying down.

---