Rebecca
I wasn’tsure how long I sat at my desk staring at my office door. I wasn’t sure how many times I flinched whenever I heard people walking down the hallway. And as I sat there, leaned back in my brand-new leather office chair, I did the only thing I knew to do.
I picked up my cell phone and called my family.
“Hey there, pumpkin!”
Dad’s voice was ecstatic, and it tugged a smile across my cheeks. “Hey, Daddy.”
“Oh, oh, oh! Put her on speaker!” Mom called out.
And after I heard that telltale click, her voice filled my hear.
“Hey there, sweetheart. How’s your first day going?”
I snickered. “Well, things could be better.”
“What’s going on?” Dad asked. “Trouble with the co-workers already?”
Then, my sister’s voice sounded. “That Becks?”
I rolled my eyes. “Hey, Maggie.”
Her voice became more prominent on the phone. “Already tanking the new job.”
“Can it,” Mom said flatly.
Maggie giggled. “Sorry, sorry. Just got a lot on my mind. How’s it going, though? Los Angeles treating you well?”
I snickered. “Well, it would be if my boss wasn’t JoJo.”
Everyone fell silent before Maggie cleared her throat. “Say what?”
I giggled bitterly. “Yep. You heard me right. JoJo from high school owns and operates the company I was just hired at.”
“Is he still giving you grief?” Dad asked.
“You have an H.R. department for a reason if he does,” Mom said.
But Maggie quickly reminded me of just how emotionless she really was. “Ah, suck it up.”
“Maggie!” Mom exclaimed.
“You know I’m right, Mom,” she said. “You know Becks has always been too emotionally involved with things. Girl, if he starts to give you a hard time, report his ass and tell him to suck it the fuck up. We’re all adults. High school was ages ago. He needs to let shit go and stop ruining lives because he feels like he’s entitled to it.”
If you had just left him alone…“You know it’s not that easy, Maggie. Not for me, anyway.”
“Becks, I love you. You’re my sister. But it’s not that big of a deal. If you make it a big deal, so will he.”
I sighed heavily. “You know that’s not how he works.”
“Back in high school, sure! But we’re all grown with big boy and big girl jobs and big person panties. Sounds like he’s still got a personal problem, so if all else fails just work your ass off and get promoted to another part of the company.”
I blinked. “There isn’t another part of the company.”
She groaned, as ifIwere botheringher. “Then, work there long enough to get a good recommendation or two and then interview for another company. Come on, you aren’t helpless anymore.”
“That’s enough,” Dad hissed.
