to deal with Travis, but that small reprieve ends today.
When I hear the honking from outside, I grab my purse and a breakfast bar, before I lock up. I asked Kassandra to give me a ride to and from work this week, since I’m still carless. Roman promised he would give me updates on what’s happening, once they get the new part in. It was kind of comical. After spending an entire weekend having sex and exploring each other’s bodies, we’d only exchanged phone numbers this morning, before he left for work at the garage.
He didn’t seem all that enthused that I’d be heading back to work today with Travis, but I assured him I’d come up with a solution for his advances. I didn’t tell him, yet, that that solution still wasn’t having a discussion with Samuel. The last thing I want to do is piss Samuel off, or his son, and be out of a job.
Jobless.
Carless.
Neither of those things sound appealing.
“Olivia, can I speak to you before your shift begins?” Samuel says, popping his head out of his office. My stomach cramps. Swallowing the sudden lump in my throat, I nod, forcing a smile, as I follow him into his office.
He blows out a weary sigh, dropping his glasses on his desk. “About the other day, with Travis. I wanted to make sure…did he corner you?”
My eyes widen with surprise.
I wasn’t expecting this.
I was expecting him to take his son’s side and fire me.
Pressing my lips together, I war with myself and mull my options over. Even if I do tell him about what happened with Travis, that’s his son, so what is he really going to do? There’s no doubt in my mind I’ll have to be let go and the people in the office will gossip, and I’ll be the problem.
Even though it physically pains me to do so, I shake my head. “No. It was just a misunderstanding. That’s all. I’m fine.” The words are acid on my tongue.
Samuel searches my gaze. It’s as if he’s waiting for me to change my story, but I square my shoulders, determined to leave it in the past. Scrubbing a hand over his face, he nods.
“You’re free to go. I just wanted to check in on you, Olivia.”
“Thank you, Samuel. I appreciate it.”
I’m able to avoid Travis throughout most of my shift. After my conversation with his father, I’m all the more determined to keep my distance. That is, until after lunch. We have a dog in for a clean break, an open wound near the ribs and what looks to be a shattered jaw. Travis needs all hands-on deck and that includes me, much to his chagrin.
It’s obvious he’s been purposely choosing everyone else for help over me. It’s spiteful and petty, because he knows how much I love healing animals. Hell, he used to compliment me on how good I was at all of this. Now, he has me second-guessing myself and my abilities. Was he only saying those things because he wanted in my pants, or did he really mean them? Chances are, he didn’t. That would explain why, instead, he’d have me clean up and not join in on any of the action.
Till now.
Putting my grievances aside, I follow Travis’s orders, and with everyone in the room, we work together like a well-oiled machine. The procedure for Daisy, the dog in question, goes a little over our time estimation, and by the time we clean up and have her in recovery, everyone is bone-tired. I’m gathering my stuff from my locker when I hear Travis’s voice. I release a pent-up sigh, feeling deflated. I was so sure I’d get out of here today, without having to deal with him.
Across the break room, I meet Kassandra’s gaze. She looks just as unhappy about this as I do. Sucking it up, I head into his office, keeping my expression blank. I refuse to let him know how much he’s bothering me. I’m sure he’d get nothing but satisfaction out of that fact.
“You wanted to speak to me?”
“I did. Shut my door, will you?”
Biting the inside of my cheek to keep from snapping back a smart remark, I move to close the door, but pause, when Kassandra pops her head inside, stopping me in my tracks.
“Someone’s here to see you, Liv.”
There’s a glint in her eye that makes me wary. My brows pull down in confusion. I glance back at Travis, who looks just as confused and