Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
“Good.” He lifts his chin triumphantly.
“But then I’ll have to get online later and tell the world how my boss only allowed me to take two weeks off over the past three years, makes me do his job but only pays me for mine, and even though I’ve never called in sick, he’s denying me time off for an emergency. All because he’s addicted to golf. I’m sure you’ll have incredible luck replacing me when candidates look you up and find my list of complaints.”
“You-you can’t blackmail me, Mila. I won’t put up with it. I’ll-I’ll sue you.” He points an angry finger in my face.
I take a deep breath. I don’t know why I’m even still working here. Okay, fine. Money. I work because I need money, like most people. But with my qualifications, I can get a job somewhere else at the drop of a hat. I’m constantly getting emails from recruiters, not to mention our clients often tell me to give them a ring if I ever find myself available. Sure, the smart thing to do would be wait until I have something else lined up, but maybe that’s my problem. I don’t ever go for “something else” because I overthink everything and talk myself out of change.
Always looking for reasons to say no instead of yes, just like Sofie said. I don’t want to be unemployed, but ya know what? I don’t want to be employed here, either. Not anymore. Plus, my insurance check is coming. I can use the funds to tide me over.
I look Dick in the eyes. “I changed my mind. I’m not staying. So you can fire me.”
“You—you—I’m not falling for that. You’ll claim I terminated you unfairly. If you want to leave, you quit.”
I shrug. “Okay. I quit, Dick. Because you’re a dick. For real. And yes, I’ve always wanted to say that. Dick, dick, dick. You’re a horrible, flaccid, useless organ. No, wait. That’s an insult to the penises of the world. You’re an asshole, Dick. And I don’t mean a nice, clean pink one, like I have. You’re, like, an old, crusty, smelly shit hole that no amount of soap can wash clean.”
He frowns. “That’s not very nice, speaking of a man’s holes. Don’t see me talking like that.”
“Yet you’re obsessed with putting your balls in every hole you can find.” I turn to leave. “Enjoy doing your own work for once.”
“I was going to give you a raise, Mila! But you can forget that now.”
Yep. I push the door to go outside. My phone instantly rings. It’s Coco.
“Hey,” I say.
“Mila. Wow. That was so overdue.”
“Right?”
“We’re all really proud of you,” she says. “And Larry already told me he won’t allow his staff to sub for Dick’s people anymore. Dick’s too needy.” She lowers her voice. “Also, I hear that Larry’s going to buy Dick out soon. He’s tired of holding up the business on his own.”
So, in a way, Dick is going to get fired? Awesome. “Thank you for all the help and support, Coco.”
“Anytime, Mila. You be sure to let us know where you land, ’kay?”
“Absolutely.” I slide into my car, and my other line goes off. It’s Skippy. “I have to go. I’ll call you later.”
“Sure thing. Talk soon.”
I answer Skippy’s call, holding my breath.
“Mila, you were right. Carter filmed his abduction.”
“No shit.”
“Yes shit. And you’re never going to believe who took him.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
My heart thumps wildly inside my chest. I almost don’t want to hear the answer, because from the sound of Skippy’s voice, it isn’t good news. I just pray it wasn’t some jealous husband situation or a disgruntled woman, like me, seeking justice.
I slow my breathing and then ask away. “Who took Carter?”
“Have you ever heard of Miguel Gusano?”
“No,” I say.
“He owns some of the biggest farms throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Mostly coconuts.”
“Coconuts?” Why is this becoming a reoccurring theme in my life? I feel like the universe is trying to tell me something again.
“Yeah, but the unofficial word is that Miguel Gusano’s brother, Roman, ships all sorts of drugs, using the coconuts as packages. They inject it as a liquid inside and seal them with wax plugs.”
This is pretty detailed for an unofficial word a person just stumbled upon. “How do you know so much?”
Skippy doesn’t reply.
“Please, Skippy. I really need to help find Carter.”
“I really can’t tell you, Mila.”
“Skippy! Come on. What if this were your brother?”
“Which one? I have ten.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake. “Pick your favorite.”
He gasps. “Little Paul? No, not little Pauly.”
“I’m picking Pauly. Now, imagine he’s abducted from his room and there’s blood everywhere. Wouldn’t you want some security guru like yourself to try to help get him back?”
“Yes,” he says with sadness. “But if I tell you, it could ruin my business.”
“Why?”
“Because Miguel Gusano is my client.”