“Of course. But don't forget, Anna, you can make things happen if you play your cards right.”
“I'll keep that in mind.” I'm out the door and back in the dining room as fast as I can.
Don't be alone with that guy. He's a creep.
Maybe he's just harmless. A lonely man who doesn't know what he's doing.
I'm not going to worry about him. He's my boss. My mother never complained about what was thrown at her feet, no matter how deep the shit was, I'm not going to either.
This man was nice enough to give me a chance. No other place would even think about hiring me without an interview in person beforehand. Who knows, maybe all bosses are the same. Just as crude. Just as gross. Just as sleazy.
I can handle him. It's not a big deal.
My mother, for her all strength, always told me never to be afraid. She never seemed to fear anything. She didn't fear what the day would bring. She didn't fear a horse that was out of control. She didn't fear the bank when my parents almost lost everything.
But, one day she opened up to me and told me she did fear one thing. . . The unknown.
She never knew what was outside of our town. She never took that leap because she was scared of not being able to control it. The saddest thing about that is she wanted to. She wanted to go out and travel. She wanted to visit Paris and Rome and see the pyramids in Egypt. She showed me pictures in a book she had gotten when she was younger.
I'm not giving up on this. It doesn't matter how much my boss bothers me, or if things get harder, because I'm doing this.
I don't want to spend my life like my mother, wondering what if. What if I had bought that ticket and gone when I had the chance? What if I had hopped in the car and driven until the gas was gone?
What if I let fear control me and I never let myself feel nervous or scared?
Is that really living? Is staying comfortable and having no stories the legacy I want to leave to my children or my grandchildren?
No.
I won't let fear tame me. I won't let fear keep me from standing on my own two feet.
I never let it control me before, I won't start now.
Giovanni Scaramuchi can do his worst. He can threaten me. He can try and use his leverage to see how far he can push me before I break.
I won't break. I'm not giving up on this dream.
I came too far to let him scare me away.
And there's Dash.
My brain tumbles with thoughts of him. His lips almost touching mine. His hands on my skin. His eyes as they tear me open, and leave me breathless, unable to speak.
Fear can go fuck itself.
Dash makes being here far more exciting than the fear that might try to drive me away.
I'm willing to take this risk.
6
Anna
“Hey, stranger,” he says as he drops his keys on the counter. “I feel like I haven't seen you in days.”
“Yeah, my asshole boss made me work two doubles this week, plus all my regular shifts. I'm exhausted.”
“He made you?”
I shrug my shoulder as I slip on to the stool at the center island in the kitchen. “He asked while implying that I didn't have a choice. But who am I to say no? I need the money.”
“I don't like your boss,” Dash says as he grabs a couple beers from the fridge and slides one over to me.
I twist the top open and take a long sip. “Yeah, I don't think many people do. I bet his mother can't stand him either.” I giggle and wink.
Dash chuckles as he holds up his bottle. “To the weekend,” he says, tapping the glass neck against mine.
“To the weekend,” I repeat. My fingers fumble with the label on the beer. “So, you have big plans this weekend?”
“I do, actually.”
My eyes expand, and I know I make a face. I just hope he didn't notice. “A hot date?”
“Yup. Hottest date I've ever been on.”
“Oh,” I answer, my voice dimming. “That's cool.” My eyes stay down, and I keep picking at the label.
“What time can you be ready?” he asks.
“What?” My eyes shoot up and I arch a brow. “Me?”
He grins and nods. “I told you I had a hot date.”
“Yeah, but I wasn't thinking it was me.”
“And why not?” he asks, taking a small step around the counter so he's standing right next to me. “You have beautiful eyes, gorgeous red hair, and a body that kills. Plus, you're smart, you’re the whole package.”
“Oh, my brains come in last. Thanks.” I roll my eyes and stick out my tongue.
“All of it comes in first. There's no rank here. It's all important.”