Page 121 of The Forgotten

Nancy’s brow raises and I can see that her entire body is tensing. It doesn’t look at all comfortable, and I bet her sphincter is also clenching. I give her a bright smile and a cheeky thumbs up to go with it, because I can’t be fired twice, right?

“I’m going to be registering for unemployment, and as per my contract, I am making sure to tell you before I leave. I’m not taking anything that doesn’t belong to me, and I’ll be changing into my clothes before I leave,” I continue.

I’m no longer crying, but I know there is a mango boba tea with my name on it once I leave here. I would usually have a really big glass of wine, however the very thought reminds me of Dr. Gallagher. Ugh, I think he may have ruined wine for me!

The fucker.

“It sounds like you have it all figured out,” the HR manager says.

I don’t but I smell a trap. “Is there exit documentation I need to complete?” I hedge.

I’ll be damned if I forget something that’ll keep me from receiving my money.

“I know how difficult Dr. Gallagher can be to work with,” Nancy sighs. “Here is the packet to fill out and then you can leave. There’s no trick. I expect he was in quite the mood when he spoke to you.”

“He yelled at me,” I grumble under my breath, taking a seat to fill out the pack of paperwork she hands me. I’m honest to the point of excess, knowing it isn’t going to matter. “Here you go. Can he bar me from working at other hospitals?”

“Absolutely,” Nancy says with a smile. It’s as if someone told her that the sky was raining hundred dollar bills and she’d forever shit gold. She’s going to give me whiplash. “Dr. Gallagher knows all the head doctors in Chicago.”

“That’s adorable,” I breathe, standing.

Well, Chicago. It’s been real. Real shitty.

I can’t afford to keep my apartment here without a job, and I refuse to take handouts. Fuck it, I’m taking the damn scrubs. Marching out of the office, I pick up my shit from my locker and leave the hospital.

Time to pivot.

Chapter

One

Two days later

MARIE

“No,Tommy. I’m not moving in with you,” I sigh, looking around my apartment as I pack my shit up.

“Well what are you going to do?”he scoffs. “I’m glad you found your backbone, but you shouldn’t stay in Chicago if that doctor is burning your integrity with all the hospitals. You love nursing, what else would you do?”

“I know,” I grumble, trying to figure out how to deflect. When he makes an annoyed sound, I roll my eyes. “I’m packing up now. I’ve already applied to a bunch of jobs in Minneapolis, Tommy.”

“I still haven’t heard you tell me where you’re staying,”he growls.

“I’ll find something,” I murmur, trying to get him to drop it.

I wouldn’t have called him at all, but he makes sure to have one of the guys he used to work with check on me. He alsooccasionally calls me to patch up his men. If I disappeared, Tommy would lose his shit. “My unemployment benefits should be kicking in soon too.”

I had to fight at the office this morning to get them. Nancy at the hospital decided to make things difficult and told them that I had quit. While this is true, I was fired first. There’s nuance there, and I fully plan to fight for that money. I have money in savings and the hospital owes me one last paycheck as well.

Hopefully, they won’t figure out a way to screw me out of that too.

Blowing out a breath, I shake my head as I grimace at my apartment. I told my landlord that I’ll have to leave most of my furniture. I don’t have room for it all in my little Honda Civic hatchback, and I don’t want to waste money on a rental moving truck.

I’m way too proud to ask for help, and that pisses off my brother to no end. I would be more likely to ask if I didn’t think that he’d hold it over my head forever.

“Marie,” Tommy complains when I’m quiet for too long.

“Right, I got this, Tommy. Promise. I’ll be in touch soon,” I mumble quickly. “Bye.”