Page 92

His confidence of his threat is undeniable when he enters the bathroom without so much as a backward glance, and he slams the door behind him.
“I wouldn’t,” Rafael cautions when I attempt to follow him.
“We can’t leave him like this. He’s…”Upset. Hurt. Breaking my goddamn heart.
Rafael sighs like he heard my private thoughts before he curls his arm around my shoulders and guides me through the servants’ entrance. “He’ll be all right. He just needs a couple of minutes to calm down.”
39
MARA
Rafael lied.
Things didn’t calm down. They got worse. And they continue getting worse.
“I’m so sorry, Mara. I wish I had more to offer you.”
I smile to assure Val I know she had my back before I hand her the keys she requested I return this morning.
Although I officially resigned from my position with Chrysler Holdings two weeks ago, I was removed from the cleaning roster only this morning.
Val went to bat for me. She reminded Mrs. Whitten that I am in favor to Maksim Ivanov, and that he wouldn’t take kindly to the removal of my position at a building he predominately owns.
Her underhanded threat saw Mrs. Whitten offering me a cleaning roster consisting of the toilets in the staff locker room, the service elevator, a small handful of offices on the lower floor, and any silverware Val’s full-time team can’t keep up with.
The hours won’t be close to what they once were, but since I can’t stomach the idea of spending Ark’s money, I’m considering accepting them.
“Can I give you an answer tomorrow?”
If I learned anything from my brief relationship with Ark, it is that living life in the fast lane doubles your odds of crashing.
“Of course.” Val gathers up the documents from our meeting before heading for the door.
Since Mrs. Whitten didn’t want to encourage other employees to break the nonfraternization policy with the hope of a “massive payout,” our meeting this morning was held in one of the communal offices in the lobby. This one is poky, and the ventilation is horrid, but since it is surrounded by two-way mirrors, my second dressing-down was done without witnesses.
I fling my eyes to Val when she asks, “Do you need a ride home?”
“No,” I reply, shaking my head. “I was just going to hang around until Tillie finishes school. It’ll save an extra bus fare.”
When a shameful sigh rumbles in my chest, Val smiles at me like I’m not pathetic. “Take all the time you need, both now and with the job offer.”
She strays her eyes around three of the rooms circling the surveillance-type pod. Numerous cleaning staff are polishing silverware for an upcoming event. My heart wants to pretend it is clueless who is hosting the first gala in the Chrysler building in over a decade, but my head is cruel and vindictive. It has reminded my heart a hundred times already about Ark’s upcoming birthday celebration, and it has been barely seventy-two hours since I last saw him.
“You’re better than this, Mara,” Val says, forcing my focus back to her. “You always have been.”
After a second smile, she leaves me alone to ponder.
I watch my once-coworkers for several minutes while considering Mrs. Whitten’s new job offer. The delivery Ark must have organized before he decided I wasn’t worth his time anymore will keep our tummies full for months, but it won’t help with the rent and utilities for my apartment.
Without stable income, I’ll go under in less than a month, so I have no choice. I have to stuff my tail between my legs and accept Mrs. Whitten’s scraps until I find something more suitable.
It isn’t ideal, but again, I am still better off than some people.
I could have to buy votes instead of achieving them in a respectful way.
I sigh heavily, hating my vindictiveness.
I know Ark’s game plan. He spelled it out in black and white only days ago, but it hurt like hell when I saw a news article this morning about his rekindling relationship with Veronika.