When We Fall (Take the Fall, #2)(38)

“She’s lucky to have you.”

Serena rolls her eyes, then walks away.

Good riddance.

Ebony pulls out a huge binder and begins to tally up the clothing. “This is way underpriced.” She frowns. “I have to apologize. Serena didn’t follow procedure. She admitted that she didn’t use the pricing guide and went by memory only.”

“Mistakes happen.”

“How do you feel about this?” She writes down a figure on a sales slip and hands it to me. “Does it seem fair to you?”

It will more than cover what I had to take from savings in order to pay my rent, my phone bill, my doctor’s visit, and my prescription. I had been shocked to find that my parents had kicked me off their insurance plan without letting me know. But maybe that’s why my mother had called so many times before.

Guess I should have answered.

“That works for me. Thank you.”

She finishes filling out the sales slips and asks me to sign it at the bottom, then she counts out my money and puts it into an envelope before handing it to me. “If you have more where that came from, we would love to have it, but can you wait until next month? We usually don’t get this caliber of fashion pieces all at once.”

Next month, I would most likely be in the red again. No matter how carefully I save, something always comes up, and an oil change alone for my BMW is almost as much as what I spend on rent each month. Plus, Rowan mentioned that I would need a new set of tires soon.

“I’ll be back next month.” I carefully place the envelope in my purse and then head outside, feeling a little better about my financial situation. Neither job had paid me yet, and I wasn’t sure how many hours Jase and Emmett would need me now that I was almost done with their books. They hadn’t used me at all to greet customers, so I assume they don’t need me for that.

I probably don’t have the right look for the shop.

Tipping up my chin, I get in my car and refuse to feel sorry for myself. However, I can’t help the guilt that pricks at me. I didn’t tell Jase the entire story about why I came here.

For one, I don’t want him to feel sorry for me, or attempt to pay for my things like Rowan did while I lived with her and Seth. Two, I want to be my own woman, and if that means I have to give up some things to do it, then that’s how it has to be.





Chapter 12





Piper


Later that day at Jase and Emmett’s place, I finally finish my two-week task of updating their books and setting up an automatic bill-paying schedule as well as automatic deposits for paychecks. Thank goodness Rowan is only a phone call away because the information became rather confusing when taxes had to be taken out of paychecks.

“Piper, you got a minute?” Emmett calls out.

Jase isn’t at the shop this afternoon. He had to do community service work around town as part of his parole deal. It can’t be easy picking up trash and scrubbing benches, but I admire him for taking responsibility for his actions. If I could help him do those jobs, I would.

“Piper!”

“Coming,” I say, closing out the program and walking to the front desk. It’s wide, bright red with chrome accents. Very eye-catching and modern. Jase picked it out, which doesn’t surprise me. He has a really good eye. “What’s up?”

Emmett hands me two envelopes. “The postman just delivered these. They’re from the health department. Says we’ve had complaints about unsanitary conditions and tool reuse. We have thirty days to correct the problem. They’ll be out one day later to inspect.” A scowl appears on his face and I’m slightly intimidated by him. Most of the time, Emmett is very easygoing and likes to joke. He’s popular with men and women alike: the men because he’s funny and the women because he’s very good-looking, with dark hair and gray eyes that seem to draw you in.

I frown. “You’ve never had complaints like that before?”

“Not since Jase came back. When my old man ran the place, yeah, he wasn’t the best about keeping things up-to-date, but never when it came to his equipment. This complaint is bullshit.”

Nervously I lick my lips. “What do you want me to do? Call them?”

He tilts his head to one side. “I think the reason we’re getting them is because of you.”

Shocked to my core, my mouth drops open. “Me? But I’ve only worked here for two weeks.”

“Your start date and the date of the complaint are one and the same.” He lets out a thick sigh. “Jase piss you off that day and you went running to Daddy about it? It’s okay, you can tell me.”

Anger replaces the shock and my blood begins to boil. “One, if Jase did piss me off, I would talk to him about it. Two, my daddy doesn’t know I work here.”

“Mighty coincidental, Piper.”

Crossing my arms, I glare at him. “That’s why it’s called a coincidence in the first place, Emmett.”

He grunts. “You’re done for the day. Go home.”

My mouth drops open. Again. I can’t seem to help myself. “B-but I’m supposed to work until six thirty.”

“It’s six o’clock—close enough.”

Not for the first time in my life, I bite my tongue and keep the retort that springs to my lips safely in my mind. Even though Emmett is accusing me of something completely insulting, he’s still my boss and I don’t want to get fired. Better to let things be and do my job than to keep protesting. He’s not going to believe me anyway.