practically anywhere and as freeing as it sounded, I was frozen. I had no ideas.
I pulled out an old phone book from the nightstand drawer and flipped to where there was a map of the United States. I was on the verge of closing my eyes and pointing randomly when there was a knock on the door. At the same time my phone started to buzz. I didn’t recognize the number, but the area code was Boston. I had nothing to say to anyone back there so I let it keep buzzing.
The pizza guy handed me the box and I gave him a twenty. My stomach growled as soon as I opened the box. Just as I took a huge bite, my phone started to buzz again. I looked and it was the same number. No one even knew I had this phone except Madden.
I almost choked on my pizza.
Was Madden calling me? Or worse yet, was it the hospital trying to tell me something had happened to him. I hated that I cared enough to answer the phone.
“Hello?” I answered with a shaky voice. My heartbeat pounded in my ears.
“Hello Ms. Kinsey? This is Dee with AllTemps. We’ve had an opportunity come up and I immediately thought of you. It’s here in the city, mid level accounting at a large firm. They are very interested in you starting right away.”
I sat down on the edge of the bed. Heaviness settled in my gut. I had never given the agency my real credentials because I didn’t want a job in my field. It would have been the first place Jacob checked. And even if I were looking, there was no way in hell I was taking a job in the same city as Madden.
I wanted to get away, not move closer.
“I’m sorry but I’m traveling right now and can’t accept that job.” I started to push Call End when she hurried on.
“Oh well, just let me know where you are and I can arrange something there. This company has ties in a lot of the major cities too. And like I said, they are very interested in you Ms. Kinsey.”
This was Madden’s doing, I had no doubt. Who else could promise a job in any city on a moment’s notice? I glanced at the phone book map. Anger danced along my skin. He couldn’t leave it alone could he? He treated me like some business transaction on one hand, and yet he put money in my purse, arranged for a job?
Paid you off for services rendered.
“I didn’t give you my experience or education,” I said. “How does this company that wants me know I have the right credentials?” I tried to keep the accusation from my voice but I knew the answer.
“Oh...well...I ahhh...I thought we had that in your file. I’ll give it a look…” she stammered.
If I had any doubt, it was gone now. I clenched my teeth. Damn him. He wanted me out of his life and in the next breath, did something like this. I just wanted to get away from Boston so I could stop thinking about him.
I glanced at the phone book and my gaze settled on Florida, as far south as I could go. “Miami,” I blurted out. It was a long coastline between Boston and Miami.
“Very good,” she said much too enthusiastically. “Let me make some calls and I’ll get back to you. Thank you Ms. Kinsey.” She actually sounded a little relieved and I had to wonder what Madden had said to the woman. What he had threatened to do if she failed her task of placing me somewhere for employment.
I set the phone down and tossed the phone book onto the floor. He was infuriating. Thought he could just command people’s lives like some kind of puppet master. I knew him well enough to know that controlling everything was what he did. Never gave it a second thought. If he wanted someone to jump the only acceptable answer was how high.
I wasn’t jumping for Madden Cross for one more second.
I pulled the envelope from my purse and slipped a finger under the flap. Inside was exactly what he promised; a cashier’s check for thirty-five thousand dollars. I’d never seen so many zeros in my life.
Bile rose in my throat. If I cashed it, he would win. He’d get what he wanted. I didn’t want his money. That very first night at the resort I had decided that I wasn’t going to