Dahlia's Dark Admirer by Justina Luther

Author:Justina Luther
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, suspense, thriller, romantic, crime
Publisher: Crazy Ink
Published: 2022-06-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Noon June 7, Marrion, Montana

Cold AC strikes Dahlia, bringing gooseflesh to her skin everywhere it hits. Her attention slips from the paper on the desk in front of her, to her manager’s face and back again. “This is a joke, right?”

“I’m sorry, Miss Orson, but it’s not.”

“I did not yell at that customer.”

“There are several witnesses saying you did. My hands are tied here. Please, sign the paper and return to your duties.”

“There’s already a warning in my file. Why do this now?”

The manager exchanges a glance with the assistant. “There were additional complaints made, and the district director is now involved. They insist we make sure the lesson sticks in this teachable moment.”

“I’m not going to sign my name to a write-up for something I didn’t do.”

“Miss Orson, you either sign the page or you leave the building. Effective now.”

She digs her nails into the edge of the chair, clamping her jaw tight. If I do this, I’m admitting something I didn’t do twice. But if I don’t sign it, I lose my job. This place is the only job I’ve ever had that lets me call out when I really have to. Grandpa’s and Mom’s faces flash through her mind. This job lets me help them. Her throat tightens, and she leans forward to pick up the pen, scribbling her name to the page. “Are we done here?”

The manager inclines his head. “You can go.”

“Can I take my lunch break now?”

He opens his mouth as if to say something and shuts it again, waving her out.

She hurries into the break room, clocks out, and goes to her locker spinning the dial and grabbing her purse. She keeps her gaze trained on the tile while she makes her way to the front door.

“Everything alright, Dahlia?” Brandi says.

She pulls her purse onto her shoulder and lifts her head keeping her gaze trained forward. Her lips tremble while her eyes sting. When she makes it to the front of the store, she makes a sharp left and ducks around the side of the display window. Crouching beside the bricks, she presses a quaking palm to her lips. She blinks to clear the tears. Pulling out her phone, she texts Austin.

Dahlia: Are you there? I really need to talk.

She sets the phone on the ground beside her, hugging her knees to her chest. Come on. I can’t talk to anybody else about this. Answer me, please. When he doesn’t respond, she tries again.

Dahlia: Austin, come on. Where are you? I really need to talk to you.

Pulling up his contact info, she dials his number, and it rings once, twice, three times and goes to voicemail. A tear slips to drip from her chin. She pulls herself to her feet. You have to get out of here. She jogs to her car, stopping short at the sight of a bouquet of sunflowers wrapped in black ribbon sitting on the hood. An envelope lies beside them. She peers one way and then the other, finding herself alone in the parking lot.

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