“Are you firing me for being pregnant?” I ask, completely stunned.
She laughs, folding her hands on her desk. “Of course not, sweetie. I’m firing you because you aren’t a good fit for this position. It’s taking you far too long to learn simple tasks and I can’t hold your hand every day.” She stands up and crosses to the side of the desk I am on. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out. I’m sure you will find something more fitting.”
I feel tears and blink rapidly to keep them back. I refuse to show her how she’s hurt me. How she’s just fired a pregnant woman who now has no income to provide for the baby, pay for my apartment, buy damn groceries. I take a deep breath, letting the pad fall to the floor with a bang. I stare into her eyes and realize she has no soul. She’s a heartless bitch who cares only about money. She’s not confident and convincing, she’s conniving and pushy. She can tell everyone that I sucked at my job, but we both know that’s not true. She doesn’t want my pregnancy getting in the way. Fuck her.
“I had no idea you had a black heart. Makes sense now that you’re divorced,” I say with a smirk. I turn toward the door as she shouts my name. “You’ll be hearing from my attorney.” I walk out and slam the door behind me.
I grab my purse and call Mia as I head out of the building. I tell her what happened as I try to keep the tears from falling. Debra won’t be hearing from my attorney; I can’t afford one. I just needed one more dig. She just destroyed my world, and I don’t know what the fuck I’m going to do now. I won’t be able to find a job that will allow me to afford my apartment, a baby, and all my other bills.
“Hey, don’t cry. Debra is a cunt. We’ll figure it out when I come over. Go home, take a hot bath and relax,” Mia says, cutting into my thoughts.
I didn’t even realize I was crying as I climb into my car. “Okay, I’ll talk to you tonight.”
Once I’m home I do exactly what Mia suggested. I run a hot bath and try to let the water wash away my feelings. I’m angry, sad, and scared. I don’t know what I’m going to do now. In this moment I can understand Kace hurting someone because I’d love to cause her some pain right now. I close my eyes and try to relax my tight muscles.
My phone rings startling me, and I splash water out of the tub. I grab it and see it’s Harper. “Hey,” I mumble.
“Damn, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, you know, just got fired because I’m having a baby. I have no money now, so I have no idea how I’m supposed to afford this apartment, never mind a baby,” I say, letting the anger take over.
“She fired you because you’re pregnant?” she yells. I hear voices in the background, and she is shushing them.
“You got fired because you’re pregnant?” Kace’s deep, sexy face comes through the phone.
Suddenly my body is feeling something completely different. It’s burning with desire for his hands on me in this tub. To feel his talented tongue between my aching legs. Feel his piercing dragging against me making me scream in pleasure. His large, strong hands touching me all over. “Ivy?”
Fuck. I clear my throat as I snap out of my erotic thoughts. “Yeah, I got fired for being pregnant,” I say, and the tears start again. These hormones are going to kill me.
“Are you alright?” he asks. His voice is so calm and full of sympathy.
“No,” I say around a sob.
“Oh sweetheart, don’t cry,” he says. “What do you need?”
I laugh around my tears. If only he knew what I was just thinking. “I need a job,” I whisper, deciding to leave out the part of his hands on me.
“You need money. I can help with that. Give me your account number and I’ll transfer some in,” he says.
“What? No,” I shout, splashing more water out of the tub.
“What was that?” he asks.
“Don’t change the subject. I don’t need your money, Kace. It’s extremely sweet, but not necessary,” I say.
“The need to take care of you and my baby is very necessary,” he almost whispers. His words wash over me, making more tears fall. I can’t find the words, so I just silently cry with the phone to my ear. “I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart.”
“You can be a good guy, Kace,” I say around the lump in my throat.
“I am a good guy. You just keep focusing on other shit,” he says.
He’s right, I do. This guy on the phone right now is the one that I started falling for. The protective, sexy, caring guy I saw so many times. “I know you are, Kace. I just sometimes forget,” I say, wiping my tears on the towel.
“Come back for a few days. Let’s talk for real,” he suggests.
“I need to stay and find a new job,” I explain.
“She can’t fire you for being pregnant,” he says.