Chapter 4

Maya

I’d never been so embarrassed in my life, and losing my job was salt in my wounds. After the handsome client left, I returned to my desk to find Mr. Wright standing there with his arms crossed in front of his chest. His eyes bore into me, and I could tell he had a lot on his mind.

“I’m so sorry that happened. My boyfriend seems to have a problem, and I promise you, it won’t happen again.”

“I’d like to believe that, Maya. I mean, you’re an attractive girl. Does he have a problem with you working for attractive men?” He stepped forward, looking me up and down as if he could devour me in one bite.

I bit my tongue and knew better than to comment on his egotistical remark. I was in enough hot water; drowning in it, in fact. “I assure you, it won’t happen again.”

“Unfortunately, that’s not going to be good enough, but maybe we can work something out. I mean, if you want to show me how sorry you are, I’d be willing to give you a second chance.” He walked over and leaned back on my desk. There was no one else in his office, so there weren’t any witnesses to his advances.

His thick erection tented his pants right in front of me, and I sat back in my seat and looked away. It wasn’t like I could get around him to get up, he had me pinned in. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I mean, if you’d like to maybe, prove to me that you’re really in desperate need of this job, I’d reconsider having to let you go.”

“Oh, I see.” I knew very well what he’d meant. “No, thank you, Mr. Wright. I understand if you need to let me go.”

His slick smile turned to a scowl. “Very well, then. Pack up your things.” He reached into his pocket and grabbed four crisp twenties and laid them down on the desk in front of me. “This will save payroll the trouble of sending you a check. I think you’ll find it’s more than compensated for your day of work.” With that, he stormed into his office and slammed the door behind him.

I didn’t know what I was going to do. It had been a hell of a day, and while I didn’t want to go back to the apartment with Craig, I knew I didn’t really have anywhere else to go.

The only money I had equaled a hundred and twenty bucks, and it was barely enough to get myself home and get back on my feet. I’d have to figure out a way to diffuse the situation with Craig. Maybe I’d tell him I changed my mind, that I missed him too much all day and wanted my job back, but then I’d have to eat a lot of crow. Kissing his ass would only prolong the inevitable and make things that much worse when I did leave.

But I had no other choice.

I gathered my things and went down to grab a cab. Sucking Mr. Wright’s cock would have made things a hell of a lot easier for the day, but then I’d be in the same situation; letting a man control me and run my life. I couldn’t give anyone that kind of power over me. Never again. I knew the best I could do was go back to the apartment and make nice as I planned my getaway.

I headed home and cleaned our apartment for the next few hours and then started dinner. I’d have it ready by the time Craig got home, and hopefully, he’d be in a better mood. I called to check in with him and told him I was home, and that I lost my job. I waited for his response, which never came, and then put my phone on the counter to charge.

He came home an hour late smelling like alcohol and gave me glares as he silently walked over and looked into the pot. “What’s this? A peace offering? An apology?” He turned and looked down his nose at me.

“It’s not an apology because I didn’t do anything wrong, Craig. It’s me trying to make the best of things. I thought it would be nice if I made a lovely dinner, and we could talk about what to do next. I need to know this is going somewhere. I need to know we’ll be okay, and that you’ll support me having a new job. I can’t have you coming in and getting me fired, so I thought you might have an idea.”

“Yeah, I guess your boyfriend dumped you, then. Too bad. Now you get to sit your ass here and maybe when you’ve learned your lesson; I’ll let you come back to work for me.”

“I need to make a living, Craig. I can’t keep letting you support me entirely. And he’s not my boyfriend. Shit.”

“Why not? Unless you’re planning on going somewhere?” He glared into my eyes and gave me a knowing look that dared me to deny it as he came closer.

“I’m not staying here and letting you control me. If you can’t let me be my own woman and trust me, maybe I should leave.” I shrugged and bowed my chest, keeping my eyes fixed on him. I wouldn’t back down.

His nostrils flared as he shouted in my face. “That’s how you feel then get the fuck out!” He pushed my chest so hard, I slammed into the counter behind me, and before he could lunge at me again, I scurried around the counter, not daring to take my eyes off of him.

“I can’t do this, Craig. I’m not staying here with you while you’re acting like this!”

“You won’t last five minutes without me. You can’t even go to the mother-fucking store without me. You’ll be back when you figure out you need me.” He grabbed my bag off the counter and threw it at me, then he came around the counter so fast, that I wasn’t sure what he’d do next. I needed to grab some clothes if I was leaving, but before I could think about going to the bedroom, he rushed me, pushing me toward the front door.

“I don’t even have my shoes. Please, just let me get my things.”

He grabbed my shoes from near the couch and pushed them into my arms. “Here, take your fucking shoes and get out. I wouldn’t want you to spend another minute here with me acting like this!” He pushed me out into the hall where I fell to the floor.

I put my shoes on and stood, realizing I was dressed in yoga pants and an oversized tee, with sandals that clearly didn’t go with my outfit. I was pissed off more than anything, but his anger, coupled with his physicality, had me scared. I couldn’t go back inside and fight with him, no matter how much I wanted to and I hurried down and out of the building before he could take a notion of coming after me. At least I had my bag. I opened it up to find my phone and stopped in my tracks in the front lobby when I realized I’d left it on the counter charging.

“Dammit!” I looked to the elevator and wondered if I should go back up, but knew it wasn’t the best idea. I tried to think about what to do but didn’t know anyone in the city. The only neighbor I knew, hated Craig and me, and wouldn’t piss on us if we were on fire, and any friends I’d made were his friends, and he’d known them much longer. I couldn’t depend on them, not when their loyalty was to Craig.

I hurried out to the sidewalk and headed down to the corner coffee shop where I went inside and took a seat. I ordered a coffee and planned my next move.

I had a little money, but it was all I had, and if I wanted to find a way out of the city, I’d have to save every penny. I dug in my bag for change and came across the card the handsome stranger I’d met had left me. He’d been so kind, but then, he was a client of that asshole, Tom Wright, and I wasn’t sure that his idea of helping me wouldn’t come with a price.

It was the only option I had, and maybe he’d at least let me use his phone, so I could find a way back home.

I finished my coffee and then headed out to find The Avalon, where Mr. James Thomas resided on the 61st floor.

I didn’t know why, but something about his name and even his face seemed familiar.