Chapter 3
Eden’s POV
“It’s Sunday. It’s illegal to work on Sunday.” Inez said, brows scrunched up.
“Hmm.” 1 said as I took another sip of my drink. Ruby raised her daughter, C.C’s pudgy hand in the air and waved it at me from the laptop screen.
“C.C. is saying hi.” My niece just giggled. I hated that I wasn’t as involved in their lives as I’d have liked. It was an argument my family had made over time and I knew they were right. One day, Christian and C.C would be grown up and they would hardly even know who I was because I had spent all of their childhood working and sending them too expensive gifts to cleanse my guilt.
“Hey, Ceec.” I smiled at the tiny, blonde child.
“Are you even listening to me?” Incz asked.
“I am.”
“So you’re coming tomorrow? No excuses.” She wagged a finger at me. “You can tell Blackwell to shove it where the sun doesn’t shine. At least for tomorrow, Monday you can go back to your endless hours.”
“We both know she’s not going to make it.” Ruby said. “it’s like you haven’t been on the receiving end of her excuses for the past four years.”
“Hey!” I snapped. “That’s not fair.” It wasn’t fair, but it was the truth. Ruby, Inez and I had been inseparable once upon a time, closer than triplets, even though three of us looked nothing alike. Inez had practically grown up with us since her parents had been big shot lawyers that were never around. I had resented them on her behalf back then. Luckily for me, I wasn’t going to end up becoming them in the future because I was going to stay single forever and die alone.
Yay me.
“She has to be there, it’s tradition and I’m announcing my engagement to Reese and you and Ruby have to be there to act surprised like I didn’t tell you seconds after he put the ring on.” Inez said.
“Can I pass out?” Ruby asked. I laughed. “too dramatic. Just do a little oh my God and I’ll squeal and we’ll both coo over the ring.”
“Is Eli going to be there?” Inez asked quietly. I saw Ruby wince.
Chapter 3
ULL O
Ruby and I’s older brother Eli had been in love with Inez for years, unbeknownst to the rest of his. Things had exploded when Eli’s new co worker, Reese, had spent
rest of his.. Reese and Inez had taken an interest in each other immediately
Thanksgiving with
which prompted Eli to confess his feelings to Inez. It had turned into a whole thing and up till now, Eli was still sout about it. He did even want to hear my best friend’s name being mentioned.
“Nobody’s heard from him in a while now.” Ruby said.
“Oh. Okay.” Inez replied. She felt guilty about the whole thing even though she had no reason to be. None of it was her fault and she hadn’t chosen to fall for Reese. Eli was my biological brother and I loved him, but he needed to get over himself.
My work phone buzzed beside me. Inez’s gaze sharpened.
“Is that him? Is that Blackwell right now? It’s bine pm on a Saturday night for God’s sake. What does he want now? A lullaby before bed? The devil works hard, but Blackwell works twice as hard.”
“She’s right boo.” My sister said, eyes concerned. “I’m worried about you. When was the last time you went on a date?”
“Forget dating, she hasn’t had sex in centuries. She’s a born again Virgin at this point.” I rolled my eyes at her.
“I’ll talk to you two later. Goodnight.”
“If he makes you miss lunch tomorrow, I’ll personally show up at your office and give him a piece of my mind.” Inez warned. I let out a peal of laughter at that, even Ruby joined in. My best friend was four feet eleven and looked like a child with tattoos. I would really love to see her squaring up with my six foot three over two hundred pounds boss.
“I can be terrifying.” She pouted.
“Sure, you can.” Ruby laughed patronizingly. My phone began to buzz again. Fuck, I couldn’t believe I had let Blackwell’s call go to voice mail. That had never happened before. I even carried my work phone into the bathroom.
“Okay, bye.”
“Goodnight.” They chorused. I shut the laptop before picking the phone.
“Good evening, Mr. Blackwell.”
“We’re going sailing tomorrow with the family. Eleven am,” He said abruptly.
12:49 Tue, Oct 8
Chapter 3
“No, we weren’t. “I won’t be able to make it, unfortunately.” My heart was beating double time. It was the first time since our working relationship that I had ever said no to him. I was nervous about his reaction. It seemed today was the day of firsts.
There was a pause.
“You won’t be able to make it?”
“I have lunch with my family tomorrow that unfortunately cannot miss.” Everything inside of me was screaming at me to backtrack and apologize and tell him that I had made a mistake and I would be at that yacht Bright and early on Sunday. But something else, a smaller, but firmer part rebelled at my life being taken away by this job.
“Okay.” I didn’t know what I had been expecting, but it wasn’t…that. What did his okay. mean? Did it mean that I could go off and have fun with my family with no consequences? Did it mean that I would come back to my position occupied by someone else?
“O–okay?” I stammered.
“Have fun, Eden.” He hung up. I stared at the dark screen of the phone for minutes. after the call had disconnected. That hadn’t been as terrifying as I had thought. Why had I never said no to him before anyway? People liked to say Mr. Blackwell was terrifying, and he was, but he wasn’t an unreasonable man in my opinion..
I decided then and there that I’d make more of an effort into regaining my life from Blackwell’s clutches.
