Page 77 of The Bad Girl

Chapter 28

Nadine

After three hours of reality television, I’m pretty sure I’ve lost quite a few IQ points, but it’s worth it for the distraction it provides. It also serves as a valuable research tool. Bad Girls Behind Bars follows around a bunch of women that have landed themselves in jail for various offenses and then documents them as they reenter society.

Bad Girl Beyta got a month in the slammer for throwing a beer bottle at her man’s sidepiece. First thing she did upon release—got drunk. Then she threatened an elderly lady crossing the street, stole some cigarettes, and streaked through the streets of LA buck naked. Her freedom lasted three days.

A loud knock sounds from the door, pulling me from the drama that’s become an obsession of mine.

“Just a minute!” I yell, pulling my robe closed to hide my ice cream-stained shirt.

Granger goes on high alert, refusing to let me out of her sight. Needless to say, we are having trust issues now.

“Who is it?” I call through the door and look out the peephole to see a slender, dark-skinned woman holding a briefcase.

“Ms. Winters? My name is Jenna, and I work for InStryde.”

Jenna?I rack my brain, trying to figure out which department she’s from. Not accounting. Possibly legal, maybe PR?

I open the door, immediately regretting my actions when I see how poised and polished she is. Her hair’s perfectly set, and her makeup is applied to highlight her best features, whereas I look like I haven’t bathed in a month. The security detail Maxwell assigned to my apartment does a double take, like he can’t believe he’s watching a person that belongs on the People of Walmart website.

“May I come in?” she asks, her smile revealing two deep-set dimples.

“Ummm…sure.”

We go into my living room, where she takes a seat without being offered.

Why did I choose today to let myself go?

“What is this about?” I ask as I reclaim my spot on the couch.

She starts right into what sounds like a rehearsed speech. “Ms. Winters, InStryde is appalled by what happened aboard Mr. Harlow’s boat. Although Maxwell and InStryde had nothing to do with Mr. Johnson’s decision to take a boat full of hostages, we realize that Maxwell being a high-value target led to your captivity.”

“Yeah, ummm, I suppose that’s true.”

“Which is why we’ve put together a package for your troubles!” Jenna says with beaming eyes, taking a black leather portfolio from her briefcase.

“A package?”

“Yes! Your name has yet to be released to the public, but as soon as it is, people are going to want to talk with you. To hear your side of the story.”

“My side?”

“Yes! And it is yours to tell, all that we ask is that you take a few weeks to digest what happened.”

“Excuse me? I’m confused.”

Jenna never takes her eyes from me as she opens the portfolio and hands it over to me. “Please review the enclosed documents.”

I take the portfolio, which is opened to pictures of an immaculate-looking apartment. The furniture is modern and white, the back wall is all windows revealing a breathtaking view of the city landscape.

“What is this?”

“It’s your new apartment, paid for by InStryde for the next five years, and if you look on the next page, you’ll see a sizable payout for your troubles.”

“Payout?” I say with a skewed brow. “But Maxwell did nothing wrong.”

“Of course, he didn’t! But that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t feel terrible about what happened.”