Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 85342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“Julia,” Rosalind says and I can hear her voice is soft. “I just got the paperwork.” I close my eyes.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call you yesterday,” I say softly. “It was…”
“You don’t have to apologize for anything,” she replies and then I can tell in her voice that something is up. “Listen, Julia, I hate to do this to you.” I don’t know what is coming next but my stomach sinks to my feet. I put the coffee cup on the counter, not saying a word. “We were talking and thought maybe it would be a good idea for you to take some time off.”
“What?” I gasp, shocked, thinking maybe I misheard her.
“It’s not for long, only until this thing dies down,” Rosalind assures me. “You know parents like this. They are going to get tired really fast.” She takes a deep inhale. “They will go away soon enough.” Will they? I ask myself. I have ten million reasons they won’t.
I didn’t know what was coming, but I never, ever in a million years expected this. I was wrong when I said I felt like a truck ran me over. It’s more like a meteor crashed into earth on top of me. “I’m sorry, what?” is all I can say. “Nothing has been decided,” I say, not sure what to say.
“I know,” she replies, her voice going soft. “I fought as much as I could.” I close my eyes as the tears run down my face. “We have to think of the other cases you have.” I want to fight back and argue my side of it, but the lump in my throat is so big I can’t talk. “What if they come in and throw all those other cases in turmoil? We just can’t have that. I don’t want to do this, but I have no choice.” She stops talking for a second and then it’s almost as if she whispers out, “Did you call a lawyer?”
“Not yet,” I say, two words, just two little words. Two words are the only thing I can say.
“I would call them,” she urges. “Talk soon.” I don’t bother to answer her. I just hang up the phone, putting it on the counter beside me.
“What happened?” Jillian asks from her stool.
I grab the cup of coffee, pretty sure I’m in the stages of shock. However, after the last couple of days I wonder if I’m not in some big nightmare. Everything I’ve done the past six years is going to be gone in the blink of an eye. Everything I poured my heart and soul into is going to be ripped away from me. I can’t sugarcoat it, especially not with Jillian. “I think I just got fired.”
CHAPTER 20
Chase
The alarm doesn’t even wake me up because I’ve been up all fucking night. It has to have been the longest night I’ve had in a long time. Getting out of bed, I walk to the kitchen and start a protein shake instead of coffee. “She’s fine,” I tell myself as I put fruit in there and ignore the pull to pick up my phone for the umpteenth time. Placing the smoothie in a to-go cup, I walk to the bedroom and dress in a team track suit.
I wash my face and brush my teeth before I head toward the rink. I park in my regular spot and I’m not surprised to see no one is here yet. Pressing the lock button on the car, the sound fills the garage when my phone rings in my hand. My heart speeds up as I think it’s her, but when I look down, I see it’s my sister, Vivienne.
“It’s really early,” I say, putting the phone to my ear. “Some would call it farmer time?” I joke with her. She is the only one in the family who thinks the day should start at ten o’clock and anything before should be deemed illegal.
“It’s not that early.” She laughs and I can hear the covers rustle from her side. “Besides, I’m calling for—”
“Oh, I know you’re calling for something,” I cut her off as I walk into the arena. A couple of the trainers have arrived and I wave at them as I walk to my office. “I mean, it’s not like you ever call to see how I am.”
“Wow.” She chuckles. “Is someone feeling neglected?” It’s my turn to laugh. “Does someone need a hug?”
“What do you want?” I ask her, pulling out the chair before I sit in it. “I’m assuming you do want something.”
“You would assume right for once.” I shake my head. “I’m coming down today,” she says and my eyebrows pinch together.
“It’s the middle of the week.” I lean back in the chair, rocking back and forth. “You usually grace us with your presence on Friday and then leave on Sunday.”