Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“You can’t! I promised him I’d protect him. That he wouldn’t lose his job. We can just move him to another department, and everything will be fine.”
“If you promised that, you’re a fool, and he’s an even bigger one for believing you.” Dad slapped his hand on his desk and shoved to his feet. He leaned forward, staring holes straight through me. “Use your damn head! You promised to protect him? That’s the very thing the policy is in place to guard against! How is that fair to the thousands of other people we employ?”
The worst part was that what my dad was saying was making sense. Deep down, I knew he was right, and it was like daggers being thrust into my chest. How had I not seen it earlier? How could I have played so fast and loose with Byron’s life when he had so many people depending on him?
“But Byron…I love him…” I whispered. My brain kept turning in useless circles. I didn’t know what to say or do to fix any of this.
A heavy sigh drained out of my father, and he dropped into in his seat. “Go home, Sebastian. Take a day or two to get your head on straight. We’ll talk more after we’ve both had some time to think. This isn’t anything personal. I like the boy, and I don’t want this for him, but if we don’t take a stand, how can anyone work for us? We’re worse than that scum Wallace Barnes at Bluepoint with their years of embezzlement, lies, and cheating.”
I nodded and silently left my father’s office. My head was clogged with cotton and my throat was raw with the scream of frustration I was holding in. The only thing that was clear in my head was getting to Byron. If I could talk to him, explain how I’d fucked up, we could make a plan for him. This wasn’t the end of the world. I could support him, help him get on his feet.
As I walked down the hall, my eyes first lit on Kaylan, who was standing at his desk, glaring daggers at me. I almost paused to apologize to him and reassure him I’d fix things, but I forced myself to keep walking. I’d talk to Byron first and then Kaylan.
Byron was gone.
All the things he’d kept on his desk—the potted orchid, the stack of pens and legal pads for his random notes he took while he was working, his mug—were gone. A stranger sat there now. He looked like someone I’d met from the IT department. They were wiping his computer.
Byron was gone, and it was all my fault. I’d failed to save him.
21
BYRON GRAHAM
I didn’t know what to do.
There were no more solutions. I was completely out of ideas.
Coming up with solutions and answers to unending problems had been my entire life for the past three years. Every moment of every day was fixing one problem after another, conjuring up money from thin air like I was some kind of magician with a white rabbit tucked in his top hat.
But this time, I had nothing left.
After leaving the office, I’d returned home, stripped out of my suit, which was still in a pile on the floor, put on some messy clothes, and crawled into my shitty bed. With the blankets pulled over my head, I could pretend that the rest of the world didn’t exist. I had no job and little hope of getting another one anytime soon. Who the hell were they going to call for a reference? Anyone my would-be employer talked to would find out about this entire debacle.
What was I left with? Try to cobble together three or four minimum-wage jobs so I could keep my mom and brother from being homeless while I gave up on things like sleep and any semblance of a life until…until what? Until my mom finally passed away and I had to support only Ronnie? Until everyone forgot about this mess and I could sneak back into Corporate America with my tail tucked between my legs?
Hopelessness choked me. I couldn’t think of any way to get out of this.
Right now, I was avoiding thinking of Sebastian and all his pretty promises about protecting me and not losing my job, because rage would rise to choke out the despair. That wouldn’t last long, and I’d fall right into despair again.
I’d believed him…
Pounding footsteps echoed up the staircase and filled my silent apartment. I knew before the hammering on my door started that it was Sebastian. For a moment, I considered not answering, just letting him think I wasn’t there. Or that I was ignoring him. Whatever. I didn’t care what he thought anymore.
“Byron! Please, open the door! We need to talk!” Sebastian shouted.
I cringed, tucking my head farther beneath the covers despite the stifling heat. It was too hot to be hiding under the covers, but the world was too harsh and bright to be anywhere but hidden away.