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“I know,” she said. “I have an appointment at eight tonight.”
He made an annoyed little huff, and she said, “But I can come back to the office and finish it after that.”
“Whatever,” he said. “I don’t care when you do it, as long as it’s finished by eight tomorrow.”
“It will be,” she said. “I’m sorry, Mr. Dawson.”
He waved off her apology and stalked back to his office. She released her breath in a soft exhale, gathered her things, and left before he could change his mind.
* * *
Jane yawned and rubbed at her eyes as she placed the pile of papers on Mr. Dawson’s desk. After her shift at the club was finished at two, she went home and slept for a couple of hours before showering and getting ready for work. She had arrived at the office at six and worked furiously to finish the pile of work on her desk. It was five minutes before eight, and she moved aside nervously when Mr. Dawson walked into his office. He pulled off his overcoat and tossed it on the leather couch before sitting behind his desk.
“Good morning, Mr. Dawson.”
“Morning,” he said shortly without looking at her.
He didn’t seem in a better mood, and she touched the papers on his desk. “Here’s the work you needed.”
“Thanks. Can you get me a coffee and bring it to the boardroom?”
She nodded as he picked up the papers, his laptop, and a few file folders and left the office. She ran to the kitchen and made his coffee how he liked before taking it to the boardroom. He gave her a distracted thank you, and she smiled politely at the two men and three women sitting at the table with him before making her escape.
Once at her desk, she pulled an orange from her purse and peeled it with trembling hands. She felt shaky and weak from lack of food and sleep, and she drank water before eating the orange. It made her feel a little better, thank goodness. She had her tip money from last night in her wallet, and she was sorely tempted to take a few dollars and buy a bagel from the café in the lobby downstairs.
She ignored the temptation. It was slow last night, and after splitting her tips with the bartender, she only had about thirty dollars. She needed that money for Mama J. Tanya had left her a message on her cell last night that Mama J had ruined her only nightgown and would need a new one. Jane would stop tonight and pick one up before visiting her.
She took another deep breath, rubbed her aching temples, and opened her email. Mr. Dawson had sent her half a dozen emails after she left last night, and she started her work with a soft sigh.
* * *
“This is the third night in a row you can’t stay. You said your time was flexible, Ms. Smith.”
“I know, and I’m so sorry.” Jane tried to smile at her boss, but his look of anger stopped it before it began. “I can come back after my appointment again and finish.”
Mr. Dawson glanced at his watch. “Are you going to have appointments every night at eight?”
“No,” Jane lied. “It’s just this week.”
“Is it?” he asked.
She swallowed and glanced at the floor before nodding. “Yes.”
She had an awful feeling he knew she was lying. When he continued to stare at her, she squirmed in her chair. It was almost seven thirty, and she had already missed her bus, which meant she would be late for her shift at the club. If she were lucky, Jeremy would dock her pay and not outright fire her for being late.
“I’m sorry,” she said again. “Would it work for me to come in later tonight and finish it?”
“Fine,” he bit out. “Better run, Ms. Smith. I wouldn’t want you to be late for your appointment.”
She flushed as he walked away but quickly shut down her computer and hurried to the elevator. She had worked late the last three nights and gone directly to the club after. She still hadn’t picked up Mama J a nightgown, and guilt coursed through her.
It’s fine, Janie. Mama J can wear her robe for one more night. She won’t mind.
As she ran outside and stood at the bus stop, her stomach growled, and she felt so lightheaded that she thought she might faint. She grabbed the metal pole of the bus sign and held on grimly as she bent over and breathed deeply. She wished she had thought to bring two sandwiches to work with her. She should have planned for the possibility that Mr. Dawson would require her to work late again tonight. He had been in a bad mood since Monday, and her inability to stay later than seven hadn’t helped his attitude. If this kept up, she would be forced to quit her job at the club.
You can’t! You won’t have enough money to pay for Mama J’s care.
She wouldn’t, but maybe she could get a weekend job at another restaurant or club.
