NA'

Alina." The words echoed in my ears. Loud and clea

N

ith this contract, Monroe. We've got a new

seriousness to be found in his fea

, stepping close

ht now. After that, we check with their team to ensure no issu

h

no

ulse racing with panic. "Appoint someone else, N

's your excuse? Yesterday you fought for this project when I explicitly wanted otherwise. Somehow we've landed

r, don't want our agency to lose this deal. I'm not against it. I just don't wa

asy last time, you think you're something special? You have a right here? Better fall in line before I'll

wh

g to have me fi

eatening me right now? You're trying

es if we lose this? We'll be treated as fools! The damned joke of the city for losing a contract every agency is dying to

repare to resume at Oxygen by Monda

raging inside of me; anger, panic, confusion, fru

ow, not after coming this far

refuse to be cornered

I won't be doing as you want. I got the contract, but I won

leave anyway. I'd made my decision. He

Sound familiar Monroe? They're some serious shit loan sharks, people you don't want to m

door sliding shut, my nerves

to life. My life. "Ava did a little digging about you, back when I wan

er, leaving the door

wanting to be on this project, and yet, you have this kind of debt? I h

till causing me more problems. Always findin

in this industry, not after what I'll say about you. How will you pay your loans then? Feed? Help

sfied at my speechlessness and

aks, for your life, to just live. Breathe. Without feeli

e like a weapon. Grinning confidently like he'd won a medal and sat high

l over, I

in my chest. Helpless, frust

very

, enduring under an overly egoistic bastard! Barely even having a reason

t

name for himself! Owned an entire lounge

paid t

ve something worth holding unto, he shows up. Becomes

h

enever something good was about to ha

ually something fundamentally wrong wit

" Joe snapped me out from my thoug

o way out n

ose the le

o it." I said quietly, "I'll take the p

t's what I'm talking

h r

'd vowed never to have anything to d

et earth, surely he did this. He definitely did this, else

, back and then. Only difference now, he's not botheri

sta

oked up, offended.

r." I forced a smil

aptop, to inform Oxygen I agreed for sure. Could already pictu

though. "You won't get to ruin me

****

ers congratulated, some mocking. Especially those that la

Who's laughing

reminding myself. "No more buses. No more unpaid over

repayment deadlines, to

er one, with enough space for my bal

" I whispered, laying in

of my room making it easier, thoughts of that dream comin

I spoke to my body, "I own you.

ame from my phone. A text probably, and my e

o see yet another message from the b

eet a

u on M

u

Wha

ma

sta