And the automatic response when she could have been running â balanced, hands raised, fists loose, even though she hadnât thrown a punch in years. Her dad would be proud.
âNo, I wasnât scared. Not when I was punching him. Later, when I realised what was happening, I was terrified. Thatâs when I started screaming, putting everything into making as much noise as I could. I knew making a lot of noise was my only chance. I hit back and I screamed. Thatâs what saved me.â Listen up, viewers, she thought.
Liv felt great as she walked into the office. The best sheâd felt in a long time, despite the face and knuckle. Somebastard had tried to hurt her and she was getting her own back. Teagan was talking into her headset so Liv sent her a thumbs up as she passed. Kellyâs door was shut but she could see her through the glass, chair turned towards the computer, one hand holding the phone, the other on the mouse.
The temp agency had started as a throwaway line when they were both at home with toddlers. Liv had joked they had enough friends who wanted a bit of casual work to start a business.
âRemember that day in Commerce when we told old Smelly Smythe we werenât just talking, we were making plans to go into business?â Kelly had reminded her.
âWe should do it,â Liv said.
Sheâd majored in Human Resources at uni and worked in recruitment before she had Cameron â and she couldnât get the concept out of her mind. Once sheâd nutted out the basics, Kelly didnât take a lot of convincing. Sheâd studied Psychology but six months of clinical work had sworn her off it for life, and sheâd moved into staff training and personnel. Finding and managing casual employment for the staff on their books was an easy sideways step.
The two of them had spent nine months fleshing out the details, Liv doing the figures, writing business plans and contract proposals, Kelly working on the logo and website, doing market research and searching for premises. Two years later, they were paying themselves a full wage.
As Liv crossed the front office now, she cast an appreciative eye over reception, the kitchenette/storeroom behind it, Livâs and Kellyâs doors side by side on the back wall,Livâs own small, organised space. It wasnât flash but it was theirs and she was proud of it. The only place she felt at home these days.
The adrenaline high lasted about five minutes, long enough to rev up her computer, check her emails and discover a gazillion new messages. Her face started to ache as she skimmed the sender and subject lines â clients, temps, two from mothers of Cameronâs classmates. Are you okay? , What happened? , Chin up! Bad news travelled fast.
She tried replying to a few but typing with one hand was ridiculously slow. One was from Tessa, a hilarious redhead and one of the first temps on their books. At least she might get a laugh.
Bet youâre ruing the day you broke that mirror over a black cat!! I heard about what happened. You poor, poor sod. And after everything else . . .
Liv shut it down, ticked off. It wasnât bad luck. It was life. Shitty sometimes, totally fucked up at others. A bass drum started up behind her blackened lid. She kept her good eye on the photo of Cameron on her desk as she closed the other one and pressed a thumb to the bruising, trying to ease the pressure.
âYou should go home.â Kellyâs voice came from the doorway.
She should get some work done. âWeâve got that meeting with Neil Brummer in half an hour.â Neil had been their accountant from the start. Two weeks ago, theyâd asked him to go over their operating costs.
âHe rescheduled. When was the last time you had painkillers?â
âA while ago.â She winced as she flexed her injured hand.
âTee,â Kelly called into reception. âGet some water for
âNo, I wasnât scared. Not when I was punching him. Later, when I realised what was happening, I was terrified. Thatâs when I started screaming, putting everything into making as much noise as I could. I knew making a lot of noise was my only chance. I hit back and I screamed. Thatâs what saved me.â Listen up, viewers, she thought.
Liv felt great as she walked into the office. The best sheâd felt in a long time, despite the face and knuckle. Somebastard had tried to hurt her and she was getting her own back. Teagan was talking into her headset so Liv sent her a thumbs up as she passed. Kellyâs door was shut but she could see her through the glass, chair turned towards the computer, one hand holding the phone, the other on the mouse.
The temp agency had started as a throwaway line when they were both at home with toddlers. Liv had joked they had enough friends who wanted a bit of casual work to start a business.
âRemember that day in Commerce when we told old Smelly Smythe we werenât just talking, we were making plans to go into business?â Kelly had reminded her.
âWe should do it,â Liv said.
Sheâd majored in Human Resources at uni and worked in recruitment before she had Cameron â and she couldnât get the concept out of her mind. Once sheâd nutted out the basics, Kelly didnât take a lot of convincing. Sheâd studied Psychology but six months of clinical work had sworn her off it for life, and sheâd moved into staff training and personnel. Finding and managing casual employment for the staff on their books was an easy sideways step.
The two of them had spent nine months fleshing out the details, Liv doing the figures, writing business plans and contract proposals, Kelly working on the logo and website, doing market research and searching for premises. Two years later, they were paying themselves a full wage.
As Liv crossed the front office now, she cast an appreciative eye over reception, the kitchenette/storeroom behind it, Livâs and Kellyâs doors side by side on the back wall,Livâs own small, organised space. It wasnât flash but it was theirs and she was proud of it. The only place she felt at home these days.
The adrenaline high lasted about five minutes, long enough to rev up her computer, check her emails and discover a gazillion new messages. Her face started to ache as she skimmed the sender and subject lines â clients, temps, two from mothers of Cameronâs classmates. Are you okay? , What happened? , Chin up! Bad news travelled fast.
She tried replying to a few but typing with one hand was ridiculously slow. One was from Tessa, a hilarious redhead and one of the first temps on their books. At least she might get a laugh.
Bet youâre ruing the day you broke that mirror over a black cat!! I heard about what happened. You poor, poor sod. And after everything else . . .
Liv shut it down, ticked off. It wasnât bad luck. It was life. Shitty sometimes, totally fucked up at others. A bass drum started up behind her blackened lid. She kept her good eye on the photo of Cameron on her desk as she closed the other one and pressed a thumb to the bruising, trying to ease the pressure.
âYou should go home.â Kellyâs voice came from the doorway.
She should get some work done. âWeâve got that meeting with Neil Brummer in half an hour.â Neil had been their accountant from the start. Two weeks ago, theyâd asked him to go over their operating costs.
âHe rescheduled. When was the last time you had painkillers?â
âA while ago.â She winced as she flexed her injured hand.
âTee,â Kelly called into reception. âGet some water for
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