It All Started With Hate

langley

Lowen shook his head, his stubby arms over his chest. His expression grew annoyed. "It'll be paid. And, when you get back, I need you to join me in my office, immediately. We need to discuss a couple things." Without another word, his scowl built until he turned, and strode off into his office.

I stared after him, even after his footsteps fell into nothing. My blood pulsed in my ears as I tried to gather what the hell just happened.

Was I fired? He hadn't said the words directly, but a week off of work? And, we need to discuss 'a couple things' once I return?

Despite refusing his perverted moves, I had done nothing to upset him. I came in on my schedules times, I never called in, I came when others called out, and I did my work effectively. There was no reason to be fired unless—

My entire body twitched with anger. That motherfucker.

I wasn't sure of how he did it, or what he said, but he fucking did it. He had his father's money, he could do as he pleased, and of course, he didn't recognize or respect that others' weren't able to do the same.

I was so wrapped up in my anger, I hadn't noticed the phone even ring. I made no move toward it. Fuck them, and their needs.

I clocked out, even while the phone continued on. I hurried, and grabbed whatever I had out of my locker, and rushed to my car. I needed to get out of here before I exploded into pieces.

The cool air stung at my skin after I swung the door open. For a moment, I inhaled the winter wind, shoving a hand through my hair. I needed to breathe before I did something I regretted.

But, with what Luke had done, I didn't think it was possible.

I slammed the car after me, not even bothering to turn it on just yet. I needed to think.

"Okay," I rushed out, clenching my jaw. I could feel the reasonable side of me slipping by the second. He didn't deserve reasonable.

I stared back at the sign of the building with a glare. I hated this damn place, and everyone in it, but I didn't hate the paycheck. It wasn't the best, but it was pretty well for my position. Now, Luke had ruined it.

My fingers tightened around the wheel as I shoved out another breath. I needed to do something, now. I needed to ruin Luke Vaudest.

***

"You're probably the worst shuffler the world has ever known, Mags," my grandmother chuckled at me.

I rolled my eyes, despite the laughter. "You're the one who requested to play." I'd been attempting to shuffle these cards for the past minute.

I stood when I saw her attempt to shift in the bed. With one hand behind her back, I helped her until she appeared comfortable.

Her elderly face scrunched up at me. "I told you to invest on that shuffler, sunshine. Besides—" before she could finish, her body was overtaken by the coughs and wheezes. I felt my expression fall as I watched her frail, weak chest suck in.

It was getting harder, much harder than I liked to admit. I knew that she had set Jax and I up financially after her death, but that didn't help soothe me, not one bit.

A year ago, my grandmother was diagnosed with stage-three lung cancer. Since she was older, it was much more difficult for her body to undergo the treatments. But, my grandmother was a fighter, and she never let us see that it got to her.

I was a strong bitch; sometimes a little too heavy on the bitch part but, when it came to my grandmother, the one who had raised us...I felt like a little girl all over again. The one who still had it in her to hurt. The one who had been dealt the wrong hand, the one who I swore never to be again. The one that no else other than my brother knew about.