Chapter9
1727 Words
NATALIE’S POV
I stared at the spreadsheet on my screen for what felt like the hundredth time.
No matter how many times I looked at them, they refused to change.
I rubbed my eyes and forced myself to focus on work again.
I was halfway through updating next week’s schedule when a shadow appeared at my doorway.
I looked up.
Lucas stood there with one hand in his pocket.
My stomach did that annoying little flip it had started doing around him.
“Mr. King.”
“I’m leaving.”
I blinked.
“Okay.”
“I have a meeting across town.”
“I looked down at the papers.
“But I didn’t receive any mail or appointment.”
“A personal meeting.”
“Oh,” I said under my breath. “Okay”
He didn’t move. He just stared like he was waiting for something.”
“I’ll make sure everything’s organized before tomorrow,” I added.
His gaze shifted briefly to my computer screen, then back to me.
“I won’t be returning today.”
“Alright.”
“You can leave.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
I glanced around my office.
“There are still reports I haven’t finished.”
“And? Do you have a lot?”
“Well there are a few but not much.”
“Great. You can finish them tomorrow. I won’t put a lot of pressure on you.”
I stared at him.
That didn’t sound like the Lucas King I’d met so far.
The same man who expected perfection from everyone around him never sent anyone home early.
He seemed to notice my confusion.
His jaw tightened slightly.
“Your daughter should probably be your priority right now. And it’s only your first week. What type of boss would I be if I let my staff overwork themse on their first week?”
For a second, I forgot how to speak.
The words sounded like he cared.
Lucas seemed to realize it too because his expression immediately hardened.
“Don’t mistake that for special treatment.”
Then he turned and walked away.
Just like that.
I sat there for several seconds after he disappeared.
Very confused.
Eventually I grabbed my purse and left before he could change his mind.
I wanted to pick up Ava, but she still had hours till the usual time, so I went to sort out something first.
The bookstore was busy when I arrived.
A familiar bell chimed above the door as I stepped inside. The scent of paper, coffee, and old books wrapped around me instantly.
For the first time all day, I felt myself relax.
“Look who decided to visit.”
I looked up to find Ken standing behind the register.
I smiled.
“Miss me already?”
He laughed.
“Not a chance.”
“Rude.”
“You still working tonight?”
I nodded.
“If that’s okay.”
“Of course it is.”
I tied my apron around my waist and got to work.
At first, I thought I was doing fine.
Then I accidentally placed a mystery novel in the romance section.
Ten minutes later, I almost dropped an entire stack of books.
By the end of the second hour, my feet hurt so badly I could barely stand.
Apparently, Ken noticed.
Because he suddenly appeared beside me while I was organizing a shelf.
“When was the last time you slept?”
I laughed weakly.
“Yesterday.”
“Slept properly,”
I stayed quiet.
I hadnt gotten up to four hours of sleep since the day Jason decided to walk back into my life.
His expression softened. “You look exhausted.”
“I’ll survive.”
He shook his head. “You always say that.”
I shrugged because it was true.
I didn’t have ang option other than to survive.
“Give me a moment,” he said.
Ken disappeared into his office.
A few minutes later, he returned holding a plain white envelope.
Immediately, I knew what was inside.
My stomach dropped.
“No.”
He placed it on the counter.
“Yes.”
“I can’t take that.”
“It’s a loan.”
“I still can’t.”
“You can and you will.”
I shook my head.
“Ken—”
“Natalie.”
His voice was low and gentle.
“You’ve worked here for years.”
I looked away.
“You’ve covered shifts nobody wanted. You’ve stayed late when I needed help. You’ve practically kept this place running some days.”
“That’s my job.”
“And this is me returning the favor.”
My throat tightened.
I hated needing help. More than that, I hated accepting it.
But I needed every dollar I could get.
Slowly, I reached for the envelope.
“Thank you so much,” I let out a breath of relief. “You have no idea how much help this is.”
Ken smiled.
“Pay me back whenever.”
I nodded before my emotions could embarrass me.
“Go home to Ava.”
“Oh hell no, im working this shift.”
He laughed but didn’t argue.
By the time my shift ended, the sun was already beginning to set.
I headed straight to Carla’s apartment.
The second Ava opened the door and saw me, she ran straight into my arms.
I nearly cried from relief......again.
I was just a big ball of emotions around her.
“Mommy!”
I laughed and picked her up.
“Hey, baby.”
“You came back.”
“Of course I did.”
Carla smiled from behind her.
“How was she?” I asked.
“She was wonderful.”
“Really?”
“Seriously. You worried for nothing.”
I smiled.
“Thank you again.”
“Anytime.”
It felt strange how many people had helped me lately.
Carla, Ken, Mia. Even Lucas, in his own confusing way.
The thought disappeared the second my phone vibrated.
Jason.
My mood immediately changed. I didn’t even open the message. I patiently waited till we got home and for Ava to fall asleep before calling him.
He answered immediately.
“Calling to tell me you have it?”
I gripped my phone tighter.
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
A short silence followed.
Then:
“Good evening to you too.”
“This is how you are now? Threatening people to get what you want?”
“I didn’t threaten anyone.”
My laugh came out bitter.
“Are you serious right now?”
“You know exactly why I’m doing this.”
“No, I don’t.”
Jason sighed.
“I need the money, Natalie.”
“And you chose me to threaten? After five years? How can you not see how sick this is? And three thousand dollars?! For f***s sake Jason where do you expect me to get that?!”
His voice sharpened.
“I’m desperate.”
I stood up and started pacing.
“Well I don’t have it.”
“You do.”
“No, I don’t.”
“You work for King’s Corporation now.”
“Well if you stalked me the right way you’d know it’s barely been three days since I got it. There’s no down payment!”
“You have one week.”
“Stop saying that!”
My voice echoed through the apartment.
I immediately lowered it.
The last thing I wanted was to wake Ava.
I took a deep breath.
“I can get half.”
“What?”
“I can get half.”
The words tasted like failure.
“It’s all I can manage right now.”
“I need all of it.”
“Then you’re getting nothing.”
He stayed quiet for a long ten seconds.
Finally, he exhaled.
“Fine.”
“What?”
“Half first, then we’ll discuss the rest.”
I quietly let out a breath of relief.
Before I could say anything else, the line disconnected.
I put my phone down and sat on the couch.
Jason should have argued more, pushed harder. Instead, he’d accepted surprisingly quickly.
Maybe he was desperate. But that didn’t make him a better person.
I stared at my phone.
Then at the dark apartment around me.
Then everything I’d been holding together finally cracked.
I threw my purse onto the couch.
It bounced off and landed on the floor.
I pressed both hands against my face.
I was tired. So unbelievably tired.
Tired of worrying, tired of counting money, tired of pretending everything was okay.
A small voice interrupted my thoughts.
“Mommy?”
My heart dropped.
I turned around.
Ava stood in the hallway.
Rubbing her eyes looking sleepy and confused.
I crossed the room in seconds and pulled her into my arms.
“I’m sorry.”
She wrapped her little arms around my neck.
“Are you crying?”
I laughed shakily.
“No.”
That answer sounded ridiculous even to me.
She pressed her cheek against mine.
I held her tighter. “I’m going to protect you.”
“I’m always going to protect you, okay?” I said with a shaky voice.
She nodded. “Okay.”
I kissed the top of her head.
Then carried her back to bed.
By the time she fell asleep again, I felt slightly more human.
My phone buzzed just as I sat down on the couch.
I opened the email and immediately groaned. It was a very large document from Lucas directly. Attached beneath it were instructions.
Review, proofread, submit by eight a.m.
Fantastic. So much for not puttinh pressure on me.
I was already exhausted.
Then my eyes moved lower.
Beneath the instructions was a second message.
A separate line.
Is your daughter feeling better?
I read it multiple times. Because it didn’t sound like Lucas. At least not the version of Lucas I knew.
He was completely distant and cold at work. Yet somehow he kept asking about Ava.
He kept confusing me.
I didn’t know why I wanted to understand him either.
I stared at the message for several seconds before finally setting my phone down.
For the first time since meeting him again, I wasn’t thinking about Jason.
I was thinking about Lucas King.
- Writer
