She's (not) Fine
897 Words
Sloan
Two weeks later...
MY HEAD POUNDS relentlessly, pressure behind my eyes beg me to close them.
Hands shake slightly, breath is out of whack, heart pounds too fast, skipping beats.
"Ms. Killian, please, " Leon begs me, "Just take a vacation. Just for the weekend."
I shake my head obstinately. A knock on my door saves me from declining again.
"Enter."
I OPEN THE DOOR at the sound of her voice.
"Leon, check on Penny."
The tall man, shifts, pushing his glasses up his nose, his mouth opening to say something.
"Ms. Killian, please. You must-"
She shakes her head. "Go check on my daughter Leon. You may berate me later."
The man pushes his wiry glasses up his nose, looking hesitant.
"Yes, Ms. Killian." His disapproval evident, he takes his leave.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Kane," She regards me wearily.
I look her over. She's shaking, she looks quite out of breath and out of sorts.
"Are you alright, Ms. Killian?"
She smiles thinly, nothing like the smile she gave me two weeks ago.
"Fine as ever, Mr. Kane. Do you have the contract?"
"I do..." I don't move.
"Well," she prompts impatiently, "Let me sign it."
Reluctantly, I start to hand it to her, before taking it back.
"You don't look your best, Ms. Killian. Why don't we reconvene a bit later,"
"No, do it no-"
The door bursts open, revealing an angry woman and a red faced Leon carrying Penny.
Killian glares at the blond haired woman, her green eyes sparking. You'd swear her red hair ignited in anger.
"What are you doing here?" She stands up too quickly, faltering a bit.
"I came to see you, dearest sister. You've gotten too rich to talk to us poor folks, huh?"
Killian's eyes narrow. "Get out. I have a business to run. I don't have time for you-"
"You never have time for family!"
I've never heard Ms. Killian raise her voice, but she did.
"You're not family, you're thieves! Leon,"
She nods toward her daughter, "Hand me my daughter."
The bleach blonde woman sneers in contempt.
"You always thought you were better than us, Sloan."
"Don't. Call me that." The woman steps back a little at Killian's vicious tone, but she doesn't stop talking.
"You didn't even tell us about the little girl! Is this how you succeeded? Turning tricks?"
Silence encompassed the office.
The two women make eye contact. Its obvious the blond regrets that statement, but the question is why? She sure seemed to mean it. The conviction with which she insulted Red doesn't leave for doubt.
"Leon, shut the door. Engage soundproof barrier."
"Maybe I should go..."
Leon flips some buttons on the light panel, before nodding.
"Mr. Kane, I do apologize for the inconvenience. We'll reconvene at a later-"
"Who's the father?"
Killian simply stares straight at me, no expression on her face.
Leon looks anxious to do something; whether it be to snap Blondie's neck or get Killian out of here, I can't tell.
"You don't know? Do you?"
Killian still says nothing, before turning her whole body toward Blondie.
"I may be rich," she menacingly approaches her, "But I grew up where you did. And I will shank you quicker then you can f**k your way to safety, and we both know you're good at that."
Shifting, I adjust myself subtly.
Leon's disappointed wagging head tells me not nearly subtle enough.
"Grandpa sai-"
"I don't wanna hear anything about him except he's dead. Is he dead?"
"No. He-"
"Then get the f**k out, before I kill you Sybil."
The woman takes this threat seriously. So do I. Arousing as her anger may be, I have two month old soon. I can't be arrested for aiding and abetting.
"Oh, and Sybil? My daughter was conceived in marriage. Her father is dead,"
Sybil has the nerve to look ashamed, but Sloan scoffs.
"Congradufuckinglations Sybie, you found out. If that gets out to the press, I'll hunt you down, drag you out of whatever crackhouse you end up in, and kill you."
Sybil nods and scurries out the door.
"Leon, damage control. She's gonna run her mouth."
"Ms. Killian," Red ignores him thoroughly, but he is insistent.
"I do apologize, Mr. Kane, I'll reimburse you for your time, and for your discretion on these matters. "
She sounds so tired I can't even be unjustly offended.
"Ms. Killian,"
"Leon, write a check for 500,000 dollars to Mr. Kane personally, "
My eyes widen. I open my mouth to protest, but Leon interrupts.
"Ms. Killian!"
"Yes, Leon?" She starts to sway in an unhealthy way, her eyes half mast.
"You must eat. And sleep. Please-!"
"Leon! I'm fine! Now, go get me the Johnson file an-"
She stops talking, her brows furrowing as if she forgot what she was saying. Then she tips over.
"s**t!"
"Ms. Killian!"
I try to get to her in time, but I know I won't be able to.
Leon is the closest but he has the baby.
"Don't let her hit her head!"
She lightly strikes her head on the edge of her desk, but I push her before she c***k her skull on it.
Her head hits my chest. Everyone in the room lets out a collective huge sigh of relief.
"I'm gonna kill you, Sloan." Leon says shakily.
Her lips turn up as she smiles.
- Writer
