“Yes, I’ll get the first flight out that I can.” She bursts into tears. “Honey, please. It will be okay. We will figure it out.”
“Okay, thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me. This is what family does,” I remind her. She’s said those words to me so many times over the years. She’s always been my rock, and now it’s my turn to return the favor.
“I love you, JJ.”
“I love you, too. I’ll be there soon, and we’ll get Travis out of this mess,” I reassure her before I end the call.
“You’re leaving? Right now?” I spin around at the sound of Mr. Lawson’s deep voice. He’s standing by the door, but it’s closed. I didn’t hear him come in and close it behind him. How long has he been standing there listening to my conversation?
“I have to go.” It’s as simple as that. I know there will be consequences to me leaving, but I would do anything for Rae.
“You know what that means?” I nod. I’m so fired. Mr. Lawson is quick to let people go for far less than this. “Who was that on the phone?”
“My best friend, Rae. Actually, she’s like a sister to me. We were placed in the same home when I was in foster care.”
“Foster care.” He says the words like they taste gross in his mouth. “Who is this Travis guy?” he asks next.
What is with all the questions? I’m pretty sure this is the most I’ve heard him talk outside of meetings in all the months I’ve been here. He hasn’t asked me one personal question in my life. Still I answer. Maybe it’s some sort of miracle and his cold heart is starting to defrost. I mean, is it possible that he’s going to show me some compassion and understanding, and let me go without firing me?
“Travis is her twin brother.” He cocks his head to the side but doesn’t say anything.
The quiet stretches for what seems like forever, and I’m about to tell him I have to go, but a knock sounds at the conference room door a second before it starts to open. Eva pops her head in. Her nose scrunches when she sees me.
She’s never liked me. I know it’s partly because of how quickly I got a position as one of Lawson’s assistants, and also because of where I come from. I don’t wear fancy, expensive clothes. She thinks I don’t belong, and honestly, I’m not sure I don’t agree with her most days.
“Sir, downstairs alerted me that the Stone Brothers are here along with—” She stops talking when Mr. Lawson raises his hand. I always hate when he does that, but it’s kind of funny when he does it to her. She fights to keep a sour look off her face, but it doesn’t matter. He’s not even looking her way.
“Cancel the meeting and tell Mitch to prepare the plane. I want to leave in an hour to…” He looks at me. I’m so shocked by his words, it takes me a minute to answer him.
“Charleston,” I finally blurt out. I must be dreaming. There is no way that Frosty Lawson, as Rae so often calls him, is canceling a meeting and offering to take me to Rae. I pinch my arm, just to make sure this is reality. Ouch. I’m definitely awake.
“Sir, I don’t understand.” That makes two of us, Eva, I think to myself.
“I didn’t ask you to understand, I gave you an order.” He finally turns to face her. “I need a car downstairs to take Ms. Jones to her home. They’ll wait for her to pack a bag and then take her to the airport. Also, tell James to pull the car around.”
“Anything else sir?” Eva asks, sounding like she swallowed something bitter.
“If there was something else, I would have said it. Now go, you're wasting my time.” Eva turns, leaving the conference room like her ass is on fire. I don’t blame her.
“I’ll see you at the airport.”
“Why are you doing this?” I ask. Furthermore, why is he coming with me?
“Do you want the plane ride or not?” I want to smack myself. Why am I questioning him at all? He’s going to get me to Rae quicker than I would be able to on my own.
“Yes, sir. Thank you.” He turns, leaving me standing in the conference room all alone. My head is spinning. But it doesn’t matter why he’s doing this, and he also hasn’t said I’m fired. I’m going with it. I’ll worry about the rest of it later. All that matters right now is getting to Rae. I can tolerate Frosty Lawson for however long I have to in order to do that.