Read Online KEPT: A Second Chance Fairy Tale by A.C. Bextor - Free Book Online
Authors: A.C. Bextor
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guilt.”
“She’s young, inexperienced, and needs more training than any of the more qualified applicants.” I point to the stack of resumes sitting on the end of my desk. “She’ll need clothes, probably a car, and daycare for the hours we work. What the fuck was Corbin thinking?”
“He was thinking he could save you.”
“What the hell from?”
“Well…” she says hesitantly. “Yourself, Mr. Holden.”
Lucy
S HE’S YOUNG, INEXPERIENCED, AND NEEDS more training than any of the more qualified applicants.
Funny thing about open doors—you can hear every word on the other side without static or filter.
Corbin had just explained the role Lillie would play in showing me how to do her job before she retires in two weeks.
I had been relieved to know it wouldn’t be him or his partner training me.
I had been looking forward to learning from a ‘champ’, as he referred to Lillie.
I had even been excited about going with him to get coffee, then taking a tour of the building as my next step in orientation.
Had been. Not anymore.
“What’d you just hear?” Corbin questions in a gentle tone as he steps up behind me.
She’ll need clothes, probably a car, and daycare for the hours we work.
The tears of insult swelling in my eyes are obvious, so there’s no point in hiding them.
“I heard enough,” I whisper, not from embarrassment, but to control my angered emotions. I’ve just been rudely insulted by a man I’ve never met.
“Mike’s different, Lucy. He’s just…”
Turning my gaze to Corbin, not wanting to hear him make excuses for his partner’s flawed character, I decide without needing another moment to think.
“This job isn’t for me, Mr. Mercer,” I voice, still standing at the door.
“Luce,” Corbin calmly tries to pacify.
“Lucy. My name is Lucy,” I correct.
Releasing a frustrated breath, Corbin lifts his head, then drops it to the floor. “Lucy,” he pronounces quietly. “He didn’t mean–”
Before he can offer any more explanation, I push the office door open to its fullest. Lillie stops talking when Mr. Holden’s head lifts in my direction and he removes his dark-rimmed glasses.
“Lucy!” Corbin calls out, but it’s too late. I’ve entered the dragon’s lair, and I’m not afraid of getting burned any more than I already have.
“Mr. Holden,” I address. I don’t know him, so I can only assume the look on his face is one of shock. “I’m not a charity case.”
“Lucy…” Lillie whispers, looking up at me standing beside her. I haven’t met her yet, but it’s clear she already knows who I am.
I don’t let her interruption deter my anger. Looking back to Mr. “Rude”, I seethe, “There’s no job worthy of being insulted on the first day—better yet, the first hour I’ve arrived. I’m not perfect–”
“Stop talking,” he snaps, sitting back in his chair and crossing his hands over his waist. “And sit down.”
“No, I won’t stop talking or sit down.” I power on with confidence. “I’ve met a lot of assholes, Mr. Holden. A lot . You may think in my lowly young and inexperienced years I haven’t, and it’s your right to state your opinion. However, in turn, I’ll state mine.”
“Oh, sweet Jesus,” Lillie shockingly murmurs as she turns around, looking behind me to what I can only imagine is a just as shocked Corbin.
My spirit begins to break and my nose starts to sting. The words I wasn’t meant to hear are finally penetrating.
In reaction to my hurt, I push, “You’re ridiculous ! You don’t even know me!” I take a breath, thinking there has to be more to this than I understand. “Did my mother-in-law put you up to this? Has she gotten to you?”
His mouth opens and he starts to answer, but stops. I don’t give him a chance to speak anyway. Nothing could make his cruel reaction to me being here okay.
My gaze moves to his hands, clutched together but remaining still. I don’t see evidence of a family, but
“She’s young, inexperienced, and needs more training than any of the more qualified applicants.” I point to the stack of resumes sitting on the end of my desk. “She’ll need clothes, probably a car, and daycare for the hours we work. What the fuck was Corbin thinking?”
“He was thinking he could save you.”
“What the hell from?”
“Well…” she says hesitantly. “Yourself, Mr. Holden.”
Lucy
S HE’S YOUNG, INEXPERIENCED, AND NEEDS more training than any of the more qualified applicants.
Funny thing about open doors—you can hear every word on the other side without static or filter.
Corbin had just explained the role Lillie would play in showing me how to do her job before she retires in two weeks.
I had been relieved to know it wouldn’t be him or his partner training me.
I had been looking forward to learning from a ‘champ’, as he referred to Lillie.
I had even been excited about going with him to get coffee, then taking a tour of the building as my next step in orientation.
Had been. Not anymore.
“What’d you just hear?” Corbin questions in a gentle tone as he steps up behind me.
She’ll need clothes, probably a car, and daycare for the hours we work.
The tears of insult swelling in my eyes are obvious, so there’s no point in hiding them.
“I heard enough,” I whisper, not from embarrassment, but to control my angered emotions. I’ve just been rudely insulted by a man I’ve never met.
“Mike’s different, Lucy. He’s just…”
Turning my gaze to Corbin, not wanting to hear him make excuses for his partner’s flawed character, I decide without needing another moment to think.
“This job isn’t for me, Mr. Mercer,” I voice, still standing at the door.
“Luce,” Corbin calmly tries to pacify.
“Lucy. My name is Lucy,” I correct.
Releasing a frustrated breath, Corbin lifts his head, then drops it to the floor. “Lucy,” he pronounces quietly. “He didn’t mean–”
Before he can offer any more explanation, I push the office door open to its fullest. Lillie stops talking when Mr. Holden’s head lifts in my direction and he removes his dark-rimmed glasses.
“Lucy!” Corbin calls out, but it’s too late. I’ve entered the dragon’s lair, and I’m not afraid of getting burned any more than I already have.
“Mr. Holden,” I address. I don’t know him, so I can only assume the look on his face is one of shock. “I’m not a charity case.”
“Lucy…” Lillie whispers, looking up at me standing beside her. I haven’t met her yet, but it’s clear she already knows who I am.
I don’t let her interruption deter my anger. Looking back to Mr. “Rude”, I seethe, “There’s no job worthy of being insulted on the first day—better yet, the first hour I’ve arrived. I’m not perfect–”
“Stop talking,” he snaps, sitting back in his chair and crossing his hands over his waist. “And sit down.”
“No, I won’t stop talking or sit down.” I power on with confidence. “I’ve met a lot of assholes, Mr. Holden. A lot . You may think in my lowly young and inexperienced years I haven’t, and it’s your right to state your opinion. However, in turn, I’ll state mine.”
“Oh, sweet Jesus,” Lillie shockingly murmurs as she turns around, looking behind me to what I can only imagine is a just as shocked Corbin.
My spirit begins to break and my nose starts to sting. The words I wasn’t meant to hear are finally penetrating.
In reaction to my hurt, I push, “You’re ridiculous ! You don’t even know me!” I take a breath, thinking there has to be more to this than I understand. “Did my mother-in-law put you up to this? Has she gotten to you?”
His mouth opens and he starts to answer, but stops. I don’t give him a chance to speak anyway. Nothing could make his cruel reaction to me being here okay.
My gaze moves to his hands, clutched together but remaining still. I don’t see evidence of a family, but
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