As I charged back into my office, I picked up those file folders. I stormed out and went right up to Bonnie’s office before knocking on her office door. I knocked and I knocked because I knew she was there. I’d seen her damn car in the parking garage, so whatever bullshit she and JoJo were running against me ended now.
And when she finally whipped her door open, I dropped the files at her feet.
“What the hell is all of this?” Bonnie spat.
I put on my best smile. “It’s not my job to do your work. Even when you’re scheduled to be on vacation while you’re still in the office. Do your job, or I’m reporting you to H.R. Understood?”
Her eyes flared with anger. “You’re messing with the wrong woman.”
“Funny, I could’ve told you the same thing.”
And without another word, I turned and headed back to my office.
I felt people gawking at me for the scene I had made, but I didn’t care. If my purpose here was to expose the shit going on behind closed doors, then I’d be the scapegoat. I didn’t care if I had to flip burgers in a different country for the rest of my life. If it meant blowing the doors of this place wide open so that everyone was treated fairly and equally and not tortured every second of their lives, then it was worth it.
I enjoyed the sweet taste of victory as I locked my office door behind me. I walked over and peered out over the L.A. skyline, drinking the view in.
Because honestly, I wasn’t sure how much longer I’d be employed to see it.
I know he’s got a good side. I just don’t know how to bring it out.
If any conclusion had come from my prior conversation with JoJo, it was the fact that all of his issues stemmed from trust issues. And those could be fixed. If he opened himself up to the idea, he could release himself from the chains he had shackled around his own ankles. The only issue is that it required me to play a very specific game where, at least for a while, I sank to his level in order to prove that he couldn’t fuck with me the way he did my sister.
And now more than ever, I knew that both of them were responsible for what happened between them.
Not just Maggie.
“Time for phase two,” I whispered to myself.
And like clockwork, I heard that telltale voice slip through my office door.
“Knock knock!” Brit sing-songed.
I smiled as I walked over and unlocked my office. “Come in, come in. I actually have a slow morning.”
She came inside and closed the door behind her. “Yeah, I saw what happened at Bonnie’s office. Isn’t she supposed to be--?”
I nodded. “On vacation? Yep.”
“But she’s here?”
I grinned. “Yep.”
“So, you’re taking advantage of that?”
I shook my head. “No. I’m just making sure she and Mr. Ryker understand that they can no longer take advantage of me.”
She smiled brightly. “Sounds like a nice lunch is in order.”
And I’m buying for the both of us.
21
Rebecca
After knockingout half of the work that had been emailed to me from JoJo himself, Brit and I took an early lunch.
She drove as we crossed town to her favorite brunch place and immediately ordered ourselves the endless mimosas on the menu. Granted, it was thirty bucks a pop. But, endless orange juice and champagne? With the spread of food we had just ordered?
