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I need to get out of here, but I have nowhere to go—no one to hide ht I’m alone I bury my face in et out of this?
At that moment, Black walks in the room She slams the door shut and tosses her purse on the desk, nearly hittingdown in her chair “Do you have an idea what you’ve put h?”
“You’re not lance up at her slowly My words are sharp, but steady My speech doesn’t slur the way I expect it to The buzz see off
Miss Black’s red lips curl into a sneer “I don’t care in the slightest what trauh and if you ever equatefor death” Her eyes narrow as she speaks and I knoithout any doubt that she hatesI care about is this company and your little stunt at the hotel put it in jeopardy Where is Mel?” Staring her in the eye, I shrug “Fine You want to play it this way, then we’ll play”
Black grabs a pair of sewing sheers fro blades She stands and walks around behind , the crazy-ass woman slices open the back of my shirt It falls forward and tus to cut before we get to skin, and from the looks of it, you already have a scar Why add more?”
I’m ready to start a hysterical rant, but I shove it down I need to be able to think Miss Black is all about logic I decide to give her the infor The last ti back until they find out who killed the look-a-like in Mr Ferro’s hotel room”
She laughs lightly “Ah, are we back to formalities with Sean? Very well It’s all for the best, because you couldn’t marry him and work for me”
“I don’t want to work for you” I sound rather dignified for so in a bra and jeans
She ss “Ah, that’s where you’re wrong I have a new job for you, one you’ll adore And since you’ve taken your previous career plans and sent theht this would interest you”
I glance up at her “Nothing you can say will interestaway fro There haven’t been any cops following ht at the hotel points back to you”
“Ah, so they didn’t find a bracelet Funny, because I thought they did” Miss Black s anywhere, not for a while And like the rest of the girls, you hen I tell you to”
“No, not me I’m done”
“So, tellto pay for food? What about your bills? Do you have a secret trust fund that I’m unaware of, or do you really think you canat the steak house? Because that life wasn’t one you wanted, if I recall correctly This is easy rounds, a pool, and then there’s the money, but you don’t need that”
Black slides off the desk and walks to her closet and continues talking “Ideals won’t feed you and keep the rain off your back They don’t protect you either, and like it or not,that ain It tookposition”
I turn inmy wadded, torn shirt in ht For once, I just want to lay down and be left alone Black’s words sound like noise inabout?” I shouldn’t ask I know I shouldn’t, but I’m screwed I’o and I’ll get kicked out on my ass I’ll be homeless
Unless, I go beg Marty for a bed, and god knoard that would be since he has a mad crush on ht he was gay, but not anys have happened, but I still yearn for his friendship What the hell does that uys that suck They lie to o I’o It feels like my life has shattered, the shards have been crushed to dust and are blowing away I can’t stand it anymore
“It’s not a complicated notion, Avery Asabout you Add in that desperation to survive and the job is perfect for you”
“Again, what are you talking about?”
She soes into a freefall I shouldn’t have asked The back of e my life “I was like you once—alone and desperate—forced to do things that I didn’t want to do” She leans back in her chair and steeples her fingers “Then I becaed My e for you Do you understand what I’?”
I stare at her This is unreal It can’t be happening All I can e is, “What?”
Black stares back, her dark eyes utterly unsympathetic “You heard me”
I have no idea what to say After a few ht You kidnapped ht me here to ask me to take your place?” My voice has a have-you-lost-your-mind tone
Black laughs lightly and it sends a chill down my spine “No one can takeyour skill set in the best way possible You’d be a madam in the location where I install you You still answer toon your back Other woe of them”
I laugh, because I think she’s joking “Yeah, right Very funny When are you going to shootold” I’htest move, but I’m too exhausted to think
Miss Black pinches the bridge of her nose and sighs, before pressing a button under her desk A moment later, Gabe opens the door “Yes?”
“Miss Stanz requested that her body be dumped at Captree after her disposal”
Gabe’s wrinkled face turns white, but his old eyes re, “Yes ma’am”
She asks Gabe, “Or would you rather have the previous job I mentioned?”
Gabe’s expression is stern “The previous job, Miss Black”
“So convince you’re annoying friend to take it and thank ets up and leaves the rooht of me
Gabe lets out a rush of air after the door closes behind her His shoulders lose a little bit of tension as he lowers his huge body into the chair next to mine “You told her no?”
“Gabe, she wasn’t serious She hateslike that?”