Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 92782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
While I stared at my hands in my lap and mentally coached myself to calm down, I heard the door open again and lifted my head, ready to meet my boss.
There were moments in life when all the pieces fell into place, and you smiled, finally figuring out the puzzle. Then, there were moments when that puzzle was a nightmare you hadn’t prepared for and wished it were just a dream.
I was experiencing the latter.
His eyes met mine, and it was almost as if his smile was broadcasting his win.
I had started to believe my luck was finally turning around, only to have it all come crashing down around me. I wasn’t meant for luck. Fate was against me and had been since the day my Mama D had passed away. Nothing good had come after that.
My hand slid over my stomach, and I immediately regretted that thought. I was wrong. Something wonderful had come my way.
“Good morning,” Wallace said to the room as he walked to stand at the head of the table.
His faded jeans—which I knew cost over three hundred dollars and were the only brand he would wear—long-sleeved white oxford, and leather loafers brought back memories I preferred to forget.
His gaze swung to mine again, and the glint of victory in his eyes was the same as when he’d won a football game when we were in high school. I wasn’t a game, but right now, I couldn’t be sure if he had won this or not.
He had set me up so completely and allowed me to enjoy it before taking the curtain down to see the truth behind it all.
“As most of you know, I’ve been to all the Gabler Groceries that are having the garden center added on to them. We have seven finished in Florida, two ready in Georgia, three in Alabama, and two in South Carolina. Those are all located in the largest areas with the highest income,” he began, then walked over to pick up a remote, and the screen behind him slowly rolled down.
“We are ready to begin stocking the store in Orlando and Miami. Their additions are move-in prepped. This next week, each of your jobs will come in to full play. I need everyone here focused on our upcoming grand openings at these two stores. I know Hillary has the marketing plan already in effect, and she is going to share what she wants to accomplish this month.” He paused, then turned to me. “And most importantly, Liberty Dillard, who has been working with all the vendors we are using, will be the one to choose the inventory. I have complete faith in her and look forward to seeing what she’s chosen for those two stores.” He flashed his grin that he’d been using to charm people since we had been in high school. “I’ve known Liberty for a very long time. We’ve had a personal relationship that has evolved over time. So, if you see me working closely with her, understand that I’m not playing favorites.”
I dropped my eyes to my lap as my face heated. Great. Now, he had everyone looking at me and assuming he and I were sleeping together. Would they also think that the baby was his? I felt sick. How could I stay here? How had I not figured out in the week I had been here that GG stood for Gabler Garden, like it was so proudly displayed on the screen behind him.
The apartment, the office, the salary—all things that no one would give to a woman with no college degree or credentials. I could fix them all cocktails with my eyes closed, but that wasn’t the job I’d been hired for.
I’d known this was too good to be true, and like Mama D had always told me, “If it looks like an easy pie, then it ain’t gonna be worth eatin’.”
Well, Mama D, I ate the damn pie.
44
Liberty
Standing outside my apartment door, I stared at it. I couldn’t do this. I needed it, but I couldn’t do it. As much as having a job like this along with a place to live had changed my life, it also meant I would have to allow Wallace back into my world.
I touched my stomach. I’d wanted a good job and a safe place to live before he was born, but not at this cost. Wallace was my past. He didn’t get to control my life. If I stayed here, I might as well hand over my independence. This was just another man taking care of me.
Why Wallace was so determined to get me back I didn’t understand. One would think being pregnant with another man’s baby would be enough to send him away for good.
The only thing I could figure was that he thought of me leaving him as losing, and Wallace never liked to lose. He thought he’d won this time too. It had been all over his face today. When he stopped by my office on his way out, he told me to let him know at any time if I changed my mind about dinner. He had stood there for a moment, grinning as if he thought I was going to go with him because he’d given me all that I had wanted.