Page 134 of Wicked Deceit
"Absolute fuck heads," she hisses, clenching her teeth.
I hold up a hand. "Um….I feel like I'm missing something," I mutter, side-eyeing my brother with confusion.
"I'll sign the papers for the money," she says, taking a deep breath, but steely determination settles on her shoulders.
"Okay, cool," Zepp says, reaching down for the manila envelope he brought inside, hoping she'd take the inheritance to help her.
"On one stipulation," she grinds out, looking over the papers.
"What's that?" I ask.
"I want a job at West Records. I want to intern. I want to become a band manager," she says, nodding vigorously as she looks over the papers. "I have experience managing bands from the area. So, in return, I'll sign the papers if you give me a job. I'll move out to California and start as soon as possible."
"I…Umm…" I look at Zepp who scratches chin.
"To become a manager is a hefty undertaking. You'd have to intern at the bottom and get the feel for it. A bachelor's in Music Management is a necessity at West Records. We want the best of the best, but you're family. And if you want a job…"
"I'll start at the bottom. I'll sort fucking mail. I want this…" she says again with a snarl, taking another gulp of milkshake to calm herself down.
"But why? You could take your inheritance and never work another day in your life. Why would you want to?"
She rubs her stomach again, looking out the window with that same distant look forming over her eyes, like she’s trapped inside a memory, and she can’t break free.
"I'm getting my business degree right now and working through summer programs to obtain it ASAP. I can change my major to music business. I'll put in the work. Anything to make those assholes pay for what they did to me." She frowns slightly, shaking herself out of her thoughts.
"Who?" Zepp asks, furrowing his brows.
"They promised they'd take me with them. They promised….they loved me." A slight hiccup escapes from her trembling lips, but she looks away, refusing to let us see her break. "They promised me everything, and I believed every lie they told." She swallows hard, vigorously wiping away the tears falling down her cheeks. "They left me, and they left her," she whispers, pointing to her pregnant stomach.
I blow out a breath, filled with so much fucking confusion. "Who?"
She stares out the window again, letting the emotions take hold. "Whispered Words promised me the world, and then they turned their back on me."
