They better, or else we’re going to have an issue and no one’s getting paid.
“So… which lucky girl is going to be your date for the weekend?”
Her voice is laced with so much suspicion I almost don’t want to answer. In truth, I shouldn’t even allow myself to be distracted this weekend with a woman. Hemsworth is my priority. But for some reason, I can’t walk away from the girl.
“Portia is my client’s exact type,” I answer.
It’s true. That girl is exactly who Hemsworth goes for. And me—I never thought I’d want to be near the princess again, but I can’t deny that she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. If we didn’t have the shit in our past, she’d be checking off every box. I might have even considered hanging up my bachelor card for good. But I can’t forget the disgust I saw in her eyes, or all the shit she said.
“Let me tell you something, Deuce. Lauralyn’s been through hell and back and she’s barely still standing. You have to promise me that you won’t ruin her. That girl has already suffered massive heartbreak in her life. If you want to play, you pay. But you make it damn clear what your expectations are. Don’t go leading her on and giving her any false hope. I don’t want her thinking you’re the marrying type, when you and I both know you aren’t.”
“You have my word, Lola. I have no intention of leading her on. I just need her to play her part. But do me a favor. Don’t tell her she’s going to be my date for the weekend. I didn’t make the best impression this afternoon.”
A low laugh rumbles through the line. “You don’t say. Never known you to be the warm and fuzzy type, Deuce. You don’t have to worry. I’ll let you do the honors. But if you hurt her, you can consider our partnership over.”
I’m shocked that she would risk losing millions a year in business over a girl like Lauralyn Prince. That’s because she doesn’t know the girl like I do.
8
Lauralyn
“You got the job, Portia. Make sure you’re there at noon tomorrow.”
My stomach drops as I hear Lola’s words. He gave her the job. I should’ve known he’d pick her. I saw the way he was looking at her, that lustful look in his eyes. But I was still holding out hope that he’d keep his word. Turns out I was nothing but a means for some high school revenge.
The tears blur my vision, and I almost don’t want to enter Lola’s office.
“Told you he’d pick me,” Portia boasts in her snotty tone as she comes walking out the door. “And he doesn’t just want me for the job.” She cuts me with an evil smirk. “Now, it’s only a matter of time before he puts a ring on my finger. And then I’ll become an Ol’ Lady and be a queen in this town. Can you imagine getting to wake up next to that sexy-as-hell biker every day? I’m not going to be able to keep my hands off him.”
I don’t want to hear anymore. It’s bad enough that my dreams of finishing school were just ripped away, but this… Listening to Portia brag about her future with Holt… Imagining them together… It’s like pouring salt into a wound and rubbing it into the raw flesh. It burns worse than when I walked in and discovered my fiancé fucking my best friend.
“I hope it all works out for you,” I state, trying not to let her see the truth, but her brightened smile is proof that she knows she’s gotten to me. I will never understand why she hates me so much. She’s the one with all the leads in the shows. She’s the one who goes home with the men, getting extra tips and attention. All I do is clock in, do my job, and then go home to study. I keep to myself and I don’t stir up trouble.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” She smirks. “Some guy called for you earlier. He said that if he didn’t receive payment by Monday, he was sending the case to collections.”
I guess that was his final attempt at reaching me. Now, Portia and the rest of the world know my business. And it looks like she’s more than happy about it.
She shoves past me and I take a steadying breath before entering Lola’s office. I just pray I don’t break down in front of her. Lola has enough to deal with right now. She doesn’t need a sobbing mess on her hands.
“Why didn’t you tell me things had gotten so bad?” she asks me pointedly.
I take a seat, feeling the tears threatening to fall. “Because I didn’t want you to feel like you needed to bail me out again.” She’s already helped me enough—giving me cash advances in the past, extra shifts. I’m done draining her of her generous kindness.
“Laur, honey, when are you going to realize that I’m more than just your boss? I’m your friend. I care about you. And Iwould never let you be put out on the street. If you need money, I can lend it to you.”
I shake my head no. With the amount I owe, I’d never be able to pay her back.
“I need to do this on my own, Lola. You’ve already done so much for me. If I have to hold off school for a few years, I will. And if I have to move into a cheaper place, I can do that too.”
“Cheaper place,” she scoffs. “That dump you live in already gives me agita. I have Dale follow you home every night just to make sure you’re safe.”
“You do?” I didn’t know he did that. Now, I feel even worse. She’s always having to look out for me.
“Of course I do. I’m not old enough to be your mom, but that’s how I feel towards you. You’re a sweet girl, and I don’t want to see you wind up hurt.”
The tears finally fall, slipping right down my cheeks, little drops of pain. Lola is the only one I have left. I lost my dad. My mom. My friends. Collin. Everything I’ve ever known. And all I have is this place and the woman who gave me a chance. She may not be old enough to be my mom, but I wish she was. She’s a million times better than the one I was given. Lola’s been through hell and back, but she’s never let anything take her down. She didn’t turn to drugs or burn her world down when life didn’t go her way. She stayed strong. She fought. And she now uses her past to help others.
“I appreciate everything, Lola. But I have to do this on my own.”
