AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Let me see.” More clacking as I located my keys by the door and slung my bag over my shoulder.
“The bill was paid by one Eli Talbot.”
I stumbled to a stop in the middle of my hallway.
What the hell was Eli Talbot doing paying my hospice bill?”
——
“What the hell are you playing at?” I demanded, throwing the office door open so forcefully that it clattered against the wall and bounced back at me. I caught it with one hand while Eli’s secretary scurried in under my arm.
“I’m sorry, sir. I tried to stop her.”
“It’s fine.” Eli, perched on the corner of his desk, raised one hand and waved her away. “Callie. What a pleasant surprise.”
“This isn’t a pleasant visit,” I snapped, striding forward. It had taken me twenty minutes to get here, fueled by anger and reassurance from Bianca who was holding our table at the restaurant.
“On the contrary.” Eli glanced up from the newspaper in his hand and snaked his gaze down me. “All dressed up for me? You shouldn’t have.”
I ignored that comment and focused on the reason I was there. “What the hell are you playing at, paying my hospice bills? We were not friends and we certainly don’t know each other well enough for something like that.”
Heat danced across the surface of my skin, flaring each time the hot anger in my chest twisted and sparked. I was so angry I knew I would burst if I paused even for a moment.
“What an odd way to say thank you.”
“I’m not saying thank you, I’m asking what the hell!”
Eli sighed dramatically and folded up the newspaper. “Thank you would get you much further.”
“Tell me why!” I yelled, then I caught myself and took a step back. The last thing I needed was to overstep, as much as I wanted to slap that smug smile off his smarmy face.
“It’s simple. You walked my dog, and Bianca had talked about you with such love that when I learned you were struggling with a bill or two, I stepped in to help.” Eli stood from his desk and moved around to his chair. “That’s all there is to it.”
“Bullshit,” I snapped. “Things are never that simple with men like you. How did you even learn about my financial situation?”
“Men like me?” Eli raised one brow and slowly sat down. He ignored most of my sentence. “Would you say the same if your boss, Mr. Crane, paid that bill? Although I imagine he never would since he clearly doesn’t pay you well enough in the first place. If he did, you wouldn’t have an outstanding bill, would you?”
Somehow, his comment about Sawyer bothered me even more, and I bit back a deep noise of fury. Sawyer paid me enough, but medical bills of all kinds were eye-watering.
“What I get paid – in fact, any aspect of my life is absolutely none of your business you creep. Did you wake up this morning and contemplate just how many ways you could overstep boundaries with someone you don’t know” What kind of insanity was this?
“All I’m saying is maybe you need to re-evaluate when someone does a good deed,” Eli smirked, steepling his fingers together. “Such a volatile woman you are.”
Anger surged like a hot wave and I stepped forward, ready to yell until I was hoarse. Thankfully, sense caught up with me.
“Stay away from me, and stay away from my mother, understand? Take your good deed elsewhere.”
——
“Talk about creepy,” Bianca groaned, lightly stabbing some pepper onto her fork. “I’m so sorry. What are you going to do?”
Toying with my own chicken, I shrugged and absently stabbed at my pasta. “I have no idea. I’m going to cancel the payment and refund it for sure but I just don’t understand why. I don’t believe that bullshit about it being a good deed.”
“Are you sure?” Bianca tilted her head as she ate. “He’s always been so pleasant when we meet. Maybe you just had one bad experience that’s tainted him and this really is just a rich guy trying to do something nice.”
“Whose side are you on?” I snapped.
“Yours,” Bianca replied in the same tone, then lifted one hand with her palm up. “I’m just saying. He paid a bill and given how you were struggling, maybe it’s not such a bad thing y’know? It gives you some breathing room and he’s not asked for anything in return. Maybe keep it.”
