Chapter 6
“Reality is a real vajayjay blocker.”
-Celia
I woke up pleasantly sore but slightly annoyed when I realized my brother wanted to video chat.
Not with me. With Flint.
Flint kept ignoring the call until I reminded him Luke was relentless and would pester him until he answered. Flint threw on a robe and walked into the other room to take the call.
When he shut the door, my phone rang. I frowned as I realized it was the office calling me. At seven o’clock on a Saturday morning. That can’t be good.
“Cruz,” I answered.
“Celia?” A familiar voice sounded on the other end of the line.
“Neva?” Why was my boss calling me this early? On a Saturday.
Not good. Not good.
“Hey, Celia. Something has come up that couldn’t wait until Monday,” Neva DeLoza began. My mentor didn’t have the usual motherly tone in her voice.
I sat up straighter and clutched the hotel robe around me. “Tell me.”
“Your husband has been blowing up our phone lines,” Neva explained.
“Today?”
Neva paused. “Not just today. This has been going on the last few days, but today he found a way to reach the Director.”
The Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement? No. No. No. No. No.
I cleared my throat. “He’s myex-husband and a huge turd. What is he saying?”
“He’s saying you owe him back alimony from your divorce.”
My stomach plummeted. “I don’t. But what does that mean?”
“He threatened to go to the Homeland Security Secretary and the media if you don’t get this worked out,” Neva sighed.
“It is worked out!” My voice raised an octave. “We got divorced years ago. The judge settled everything. Twice. And the deadbeat sperm donor got away without paying any child support.”
“Honey, I know,” the motherly voice was back. “But you need to get your house in order. Take a few days off, get things straightened out. Spend time with your family. You certainly have the vacation accrued.”
She wasn’t wrong about that. I hadn’t taken a day off since the twins went to college. I didn’t even know how much time was in the bank.
“I just…” I stammered.
“Get it straightened out, Cruz,” Neva was back to being all business. “If this thing gets worse, I won’t have a choice but to suspend you. Now, go have some nice time off. Let me know when it’s settled.”
With that, she disconnected the call.
I threw my phone across the room and cursed. That bastard was still messing with my life.
I was sick to death of it.
