Fallen Woman by Stephie Walls

Author:Stephie Walls [Walls, Stephie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781541184862
Amazon: 1541184866
Goodreads: 33412523
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2016-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

I was out of work for the next two weeks dealing with Emmy’s herx and constant doctor’s appointments. Pearl couldn’t take her to them, and I needed help with the twins so I could. We’d gotten her on a treatment plan that seemed to be working, but it was a slow process, and the recovery was just as time consuming. I’d be screwed if it weren’t for Drake, Holland, and Max. I didn’t know if Jase said anything to them, or if they genuinely just needed my company, but they’d been around a lot recently and had me with them several nights.

Drake and Max were lovely as always, but something changed with Holland. After that night in the back of the limo, he’d seemed to think it was acceptable to be flirtier, more…hands on. He hadn’t crossed the line again, not that I blame that solely on him, but he certainly danced around it. Each time I saw him, he got a little more comfortable touching me in places I didn’t think he had any business being. I knew if I’d told Jase, it would have stopped, but so would the dates, and at five hundred dollars a pop, it was the only way I’d keep the visits to multiple doctors and treatments paid for. I was able to justify it in my mind as long as it wasn’t physical—I told myself I owed this to my daughter for what she had to endure due to my negligence. So, I kept my mouth shut and tolerated his behavior.

I had hoped to return to work after two weeks, but with lingering symptoms in the third, I wasn’t comfortable leaving Miss Pearl to deal with four kids alone. She’d started showing signs of illness, and I couldn’t risk Emmy getting sick. I was taking enough of a chance allowing the twins to go over there during the day, but Emmy’s immune system was too fragile.

There are some benefits to being friends with one of the senior partners. Jase had gotten all the paperwork from Human Resources for me to file for FMLA, and I didn’t have to worry about my job, but without making an exception to company policy, once my vacation was used, I was on leave without pay.

When Holland called to ask about a last-minute event he’d decided to attend, I couldn’t turn him down. Miss Pearl agreed to watch the kids, and I knew they’d be asleep in an hour or so anyhow, so I changed and waited for him to pick me up. I didn’t know where we were going, but he’d said business casual, so I put on slacks and a silk blouse with heels. I tried to dress up the outfit a little with some sparkly jewelry, but when I looked in the mirror, I didn’t see much I was proud of. I was starting to look my age, maybe older. I felt haggard and the reflection matched that.

Holland arrived on time, looking dapper as usual.

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