Read Online Return (Coming Home #1) by Meli Raine - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Meli Raine
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though. And never, ever his hands.
Wouldn’t want those to get dirty.
I know he leaves that to other people.
“Have you spoken with IT yet?” the dean asks, already looking back at his papers. Claudia watches us like a snake deciding which of two mice to eat.
“IT?”I ask, feeling dumb. He sounds like he’s saying eye teeth , which makes no sense.
He nods, not making eye contact, and begins to turn away. “You need to go to Information Technology, in the engineering building, to get your staff permissions, email, and such. Just come back when it’s done.”
And just like that he’s gone, the door to his office closing like a coffin lid.
Claudia’s eyes b ur n intome. “You didn’t even know that?” She snorts.
Rage fills me. My face flushes, and I know I look like I’m twelve. Mark used to say emotions showed on my face like a neon sign.
“Why are you here? Other than to visit your father?” I ask, working hard to maintain a professional tone.
“I am here because I want to be,” she says, crossing her arms and leaning on a filing cabinet across from the mainreception desk.
My desk.
If I pick a fight, this will be the worst ten minutes of any new job ever. I decide to try a new tack.
“Fine. If you’re here, maybe you can help me.” Asking her a question can’t hurt, right?
“Are you fucking kidding me?” she says loudly. “You want my help? You take the job I was supposed to get and now yo u want my help?”
A slow dawning of understanding pours in me.The cold starts to fade. “You wanted this job?”
“No shit, Dumbass.” Nice. The Claw always did have a potty mouth.
“I didn’t know,” I answer. It’s all I can think to say.
She snorts. “You come along, begging for a job, and everyone moves heaven and earth for you. Suddenly it’s a ‘conflict of interest’ for my dad to bring me on as the admin.”
Conflict of interest. Oh, no. Is it a conflict ofinterest for the man who turned state’s witness against my dad to be my boss?
I can’t lose this job. I just can’t. Two years and I get my student loans under control and with free tuition, finish my degree. For all that, I can handle The Claw.
“I am sure Human Resources made a decision in the best interests of the university,” I say, the words smooth and flowing. My mouth even feels surprised.It’s like the words came from someone else.
I’m never that calm and composed when confronted.
The sound of a cell phone buzzes in her purse. As she looks for it, I step into the hallway and head for the IT department.
Her eyes follow me until I hit the stairs, where I collapse into an overwhelmed heap on the landing, my knee and ankle throbbing.
Why would The Claw need a crappy entry-leveljob like this? Even the job ad that someone from the alumni association sent me, after they called, said someone with an associates “or two years of college” was sufficient. The Claw graduated with Amy in May. Claudia had options. Why this?
And the dean. I c an manage this for two years, even if my head scream s every time I am around him. My dad i s dead because people lied. I was orphaned becauseLandau lied.
My life ha s been ruined by him.
My shoulders relax and my head’s throb change s . Pain fade s . A clarity emerge s .
This i s even better than my original plan.
Chapter Eleven
“Anchovies!” I exclaim, excited. My stomach growls. I’m wearing my old, grey, stretched out yoga pants and a loose baby blue cami. The trailer gets hot. Late summer in southern California is like living in dry soup. Christina Perri sings in the background out of my tiny old laptop speakers. Three fans in the small trailer windows make an attempt to blow air around.
I’ m sweatinglike a pig, but I’m happy.
“On your half,” Amy groans. “Keep them there. They taste like s alty pieces of shoe leather that crumbles.”
“ Delicious salty pieces of shoe leather!” I shoot back. My mouth is so happy as it bites down on the
Wouldn’t want those to get dirty.
I know he leaves that to other people.
“Have you spoken with IT yet?” the dean asks, already looking back at his papers. Claudia watches us like a snake deciding which of two mice to eat.
“IT?”I ask, feeling dumb. He sounds like he’s saying eye teeth , which makes no sense.
He nods, not making eye contact, and begins to turn away. “You need to go to Information Technology, in the engineering building, to get your staff permissions, email, and such. Just come back when it’s done.”
And just like that he’s gone, the door to his office closing like a coffin lid.
Claudia’s eyes b ur n intome. “You didn’t even know that?” She snorts.
Rage fills me. My face flushes, and I know I look like I’m twelve. Mark used to say emotions showed on my face like a neon sign.
“Why are you here? Other than to visit your father?” I ask, working hard to maintain a professional tone.
“I am here because I want to be,” she says, crossing her arms and leaning on a filing cabinet across from the mainreception desk.
My desk.
If I pick a fight, this will be the worst ten minutes of any new job ever. I decide to try a new tack.
“Fine. If you’re here, maybe you can help me.” Asking her a question can’t hurt, right?
“Are you fucking kidding me?” she says loudly. “You want my help? You take the job I was supposed to get and now yo u want my help?”
A slow dawning of understanding pours in me.The cold starts to fade. “You wanted this job?”
“No shit, Dumbass.” Nice. The Claw always did have a potty mouth.
“I didn’t know,” I answer. It’s all I can think to say.
She snorts. “You come along, begging for a job, and everyone moves heaven and earth for you. Suddenly it’s a ‘conflict of interest’ for my dad to bring me on as the admin.”
Conflict of interest. Oh, no. Is it a conflict ofinterest for the man who turned state’s witness against my dad to be my boss?
I can’t lose this job. I just can’t. Two years and I get my student loans under control and with free tuition, finish my degree. For all that, I can handle The Claw.
“I am sure Human Resources made a decision in the best interests of the university,” I say, the words smooth and flowing. My mouth even feels surprised.It’s like the words came from someone else.
I’m never that calm and composed when confronted.
The sound of a cell phone buzzes in her purse. As she looks for it, I step into the hallway and head for the IT department.
Her eyes follow me until I hit the stairs, where I collapse into an overwhelmed heap on the landing, my knee and ankle throbbing.
Why would The Claw need a crappy entry-leveljob like this? Even the job ad that someone from the alumni association sent me, after they called, said someone with an associates “or two years of college” was sufficient. The Claw graduated with Amy in May. Claudia had options. Why this?
And the dean. I c an manage this for two years, even if my head scream s every time I am around him. My dad i s dead because people lied. I was orphaned becauseLandau lied.
My life ha s been ruined by him.
My shoulders relax and my head’s throb change s . Pain fade s . A clarity emerge s .
This i s even better than my original plan.
Chapter Eleven
“Anchovies!” I exclaim, excited. My stomach growls. I’m wearing my old, grey, stretched out yoga pants and a loose baby blue cami. The trailer gets hot. Late summer in southern California is like living in dry soup. Christina Perri sings in the background out of my tiny old laptop speakers. Three fans in the small trailer windows make an attempt to blow air around.
I’ m sweatinglike a pig, but I’m happy.
“On your half,” Amy groans. “Keep them there. They taste like s alty pieces of shoe leather that crumbles.”
“ Delicious salty pieces of shoe leather!” I shoot back. My mouth is so happy as it bites down on the
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