“Morning,” I said, keeping my tone light, even though I felt anything but.
“Who is your ‘other half’?” he ask, without muttering so much as a greeting back.
I frowned, wondering just how much of the conversation he heard. “That would be my twin sister, Krissy.”
His brows lifted up his forehead. “I didn’t know you had a twin.” I didn’t talk about my personal life, so I’m not surprised about that. “Should I be scared there are two of you?”
He smiled as he said it and butterflies filled my stomach. I shouldn’t be lusting over my boss. I’m sure there was a special seat reserved in hell for assistants who did.
“Believe me, we’re nothing alike.” I handed him his schedule. “You have a meeting in twenty minutes with the head of finance and HR wants to talk to you whenever you have a free moment.”
He grumbled about the latter. He hated dealing with HR and all the red tape they insisted on.
I left his office and returned to my computer. For the next hour I scrolled through reports and the tasks I had to complete. I was just starting to get into my stride when my phone vibrated on the desk next to me.
Glancing around, I saw I was alone and Mr. Black’s door was closed so I ducked out into the corridor and I answered the phone.
“Hello?” I said quietly.
“Hi, is this Jessica Bennett?
“Yes.” My stomach twisted. The caller sounded official and official callers usually wanted money from me.
“This is Myra from the billing department at St Augustine’s Hospital.” My stomach sank. I didn’t expect the hospital to get in touch so soon. “You’re listed as the next of kin for Krissy Bennett.”
Of course I was.
“I need to discuss payment for the hospital stay and the rehab center she’s a patient at.”
She rattled off a figure that made my entire body jolt. There were a lot of zeros in the amount she gave me. More zeros than I could pay on my currently salary, or even if I took on another job.
“Will that be okay? We can arrange a payment schedule as soon as you confirm.”
No, it’s not okay.I bit my bottom lip, trying to work out where this money was going to come from. “Yes. It’ll be fine.”
“Great! Have a good day.”
She hung up and I resisted the urge to sag against the wall. My phone started buzzing almost immediately. With trepidation I glanced down at the screen and saw it was my best friend, Kyra.
I answered it. “Hey.”
“Where’ve you been, stranger?”
I winced. I’ve been a little distance and my hectic schedule meant I’d ducked out on meeting her the last few times.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, just meet me for lunch.”
I really didn’t feel like putting on a front, even though Kyra wouldn’t expect me to, but she had no idea how bad things were for me. “I don’t know…”
“Girl, I haven’t seen you in forever. Don’t make me come down to your office and drag you out of it.”
I snorted, because she would do it. “Fine. I get off in thirty minutes. Meet me in the usual place.”
I finished up what I needed to and then grabbed my purse and jacket. Mr. Black was still in his meeting and would be for a while longer, but I ordered food for him before I left.
As soon as I stepped foot inside the restaurant, I saw Kyra sitting in a booth. She looked amazing. Her hair was perfect, her makeup pristine and her clothes looked expensive. Kyra never hurt for money before. She came from a well off family and she had a decent job, but the jewelry, designer clothes and accessories she wore reeked of wealth.