Page 24 of Crimson Love

My palms start to sweat, and it’s all I can do to keep the tremble out of my voice. “Mr. Donnelly, do I need to be worried?”

He gives me a lazy bow of his head. “My apologies. I’m shit with words. Harlow will attest to that. And, for the last time, call me Devon. What I’m trying to say is there’s no need to wait —”

I fall to the chair so I don’t fall over. “You’re letting me go?”

He instantly frowns. “Hell no. I want to move things forward and make your employment official.”

My eyes fall shut with relief, and I slump into my chair.

“Sorry about that. I should’ve made Harlow deliver the news. She would’ve presented it with pomp and circumstance ... maybe glitter,” he mutters.

“I’m fine. Sorry. I have...” I don’t finish that thought. The last thing I need to tell my boss is that I have self-confidence issues. I pull in a deep breath and stand. “Thank you. You gave me a chance to prove myself. It was more than I deserved.”

“Everyone deserves a chance. I still feel like shit for not creating a part time spot for Blake’s grandma. I’ve got your official offer written up. Full benefits, a new salary, and vacation. All the bells and whistles.”

I should fall at his feet in gratitude, instead I tell him the truth. “I’ve been waiting for you to fire me. I’m so relieved.”

“Blake told me. That’s why I came to talk to you now. Probably should’ve done it weeks ago. You took the job and ran with it. Most importantly, you took it off my plate, which was my number one goal. Good job, Lennon.”

It’s all I can do to fight back my tears. That’s the first time anyone has ever said that to me. “Thank you.”

He lifts his chin and gives me a half smile, which feels like a win when it comes to Devon Donnelly. “The paperwork is on your desk. Sign it and return it to accounting so we can get your new salary in place. I made it retroactive for this pay period.”

“Thank you so much. I feel like I won the biggest prize on earth.”

“Nope. You earned it.” Devon turns for the door but keeps talking. “I hope you can find a place to live. I heard the library basement is bloody horrid.”

“It’s not so bad. I never have to look far for my next read, right?”

I follow Devon out the door but turn the opposite way straight to my office. Once I shut the door behind me, I can’t control my excitement any longer. I dump my things and reach across the desk for my offer letter.

I skim the page to the bottom until I see my new salary.

I stare at it as if the number will disintegrate into thin air if I blink. Thank goodness I’m alone and Devon didn’t give me a hint as to what my new salary is. I can’t stop my tears.

It’s over three times what I was making on my trial period.

I’ve never had a salary. Not a probationary one or a real one or even one that was dangled over my head and threatened to be taken away. Heck, I’ve never even had a bank account in years. It was all I could do to make it look like I knew what I was doing at the Winslet State Bank when I had to open an account. Thank goodness for the internet.

Money.

My own money.

And now even more of it. I don’t know what to do with benefits and vacation. Hell, living in the basement of the library feels like a vacation that I never want to end.

I never dreamed I could live a life like this.

I move around my desk to grab a pen and scribble my name at the bottom of the offer. I’m about to run straight to accounting, when a text comes across my cell.

The only thing that shows up on the screen is Unknown Number. I frown as I unlock the cell to read the message.

It’s like my fingers stop working. My cell falls to the desk, and I fall to my chair.

No.

No. No, no, no.

It happens so fast, I barely keep up with my own body. I grab my trash can and throw up all the contents of my stomach. I retch and gag until I can barely catch my breath.