Turns out trying to outrun DayGlow was just the adult version of that strategy. And it was proving about as effective.
“Jules?” Griffin said. “Did you hear what Charlie asked?”
I cleared my throat. “That’s…” I couldn’t say anything else.
“Really nice,” Griffin finished for me. “But not surprising. DayGlow takes very good care of their employees.” I wanted to vomit at those words, but he didn’t know any better. I’d let him believe I was happy at my job. Very, very happy.
“Mind if I read it?” I walked over to Charlie.
“Of course.” She handed me the card and sidled close to read over my shoulder.
With heartfelt sympathy to the Dupree family during this difficult time.
You remain in our thoughts.
All our love,
The DayGlow Cosmetics family
P.S. Our warmest congratulations to Juliette and Griffin on their recent wedding. Welook forward to meeting Griffin soon.
“Oh my word.” Charlie pressed a hand over her heart. “That is so sweet.”
Bile rose in my throat. I swallowed it down.
“Juliette?” Charlie said, a hand on my lower back. “Are you okay?”
No, I was hyperventilating. “Fine,” I puffed, wishing I could drop my head between my knees. I fanned my face. “It’s really… sweet.”
“Dang.” Theo bomb-whistled, holding a phone with a pink and white checkered case.
“Now you’re on Maggie’s phone?” Charlie said, spinning on poor Maggie.
Maggie held her hands up, backing away. “Sorry, he begged, and you know how his eyes get when he begs.”
Bowen grinned. “It’s trippy. Like Puss n’ Boot’s take-me-with-you eyes from Shrek. Nobody can say no. Not even you, Chuck.”
Charlie swung her glare on Bowen. “Watch me.” She stomped over to her brother and ripped the phone away. “Seriously. Rehab. Monday morning. Pack your bags.” She whirled, storming toward Maggie.
“But look.” Theo shuffled after her, pointing at the screen. “Look how much DayGlow gave James.”
I pressed my hands to my cheeks, wishing I could hide. Because I already knew exactly how much money they’d given James. Down to the last cent.
Charlie came to a dead halt and let out her own bomb-whistle. She swung around. “This can’t be right.”
Oh, it was right. But that money didn’t belong to DayGlow.
It belonged to me.
Or it had.
Until DayGlow froze my accounts and cleaned them out last night. They wouldn’t actually let James keep it. I wished they would. Though James probably wouldn’t want it if he knew how it had been earned.
This wasn’t a gift. It was a message.
Tomorrow morning, we’d wake up to find there had been a clerical error. A more modest, but still impressive amount would take its place.
Griffin reached for the phone. “Dang. What an odd amount.” He looked at me. “Two million seven hundred and sixty-six thousand dollars and seventy-three cents.”
