Rock Hard Love by D. H. Cameron Page B

phone and told me, “I’ll have your personal items sent to your address along with your last paycheck. For now, just hand over the credit card you conned Human Resources into giving you and be happy I don’t dock your last paycheck for the unauthorized expenditures.”
    I was speechless. How did this happen? My mind whirled with theories. Did Josie talk and it had already gotten back to Victoria? Was James really staying with Roland even if they fired me? Was I just being used? I fought the urge to cry and fought harder to keep from punching the smug bitch across the desk from me. I waited silently refusing to look at the woman that had just fired me and moments later a security guard appeared. I went with him willingly hoping to preserve some of my dignity. I looked at Peter as I passed his office and he looked at me with concern. It wasn’t as if the walls were so thick he couldn’t have heard every sordid detail. I mouthed, “Thank you,” to him as I passed and he smiled and nodded.
    Two minutes later, I was standing on the sidewalk in front of the building. I broke down right there, dropping my head into my hands and crying. People walked by staring but no one said a word or offered help. I felt utterly alone. After a minute, I composed myself enough to walk to the parking garage and get my car. By then my anger had taken over and I managed to make it home without crying. But it wasn’t long before everything hit me again and I curled up on my bed and sobbed. The events overwhelmed me and I was unable even to form a coherent thought as I cried on my bed.
    I don’t know when I fell asleep, but Josie woke me up when she got home from work. I must have slept for at least six hours but it felt as if I’d run a marathon. I immediately accused Josie of talking about James and me. I stood up and got right in her face, “Who did you tell?”
    “What’s wrong? Why are you here? I can tell you’ve been crying,” she said.
    “Who did you tell about James and me?” I asked again even more forcefully.
    “No one. I swear I didn’t say a word. I promised you and I meant that,” Josie said. I collapsed on her and she hugged me tight as I cried again. She held me for a moment until I composed myself.
    “I’m sorry,” I offered and Josie led me out to the living room and sat with m e on the sofa.
    “Tell me what happened,” she asked gently. I did, able to keep my emotions in check for the most part. I told her all of it. Victoria firing me, her assertion that James was staying with the agency and then about Victoria taking the contract I’d negotiated and promising to claim it as her own.
    “What a bitch! You don’t believe that James is part of this do you?” Josie asked.
    “I’m not sure what to think. I don’t want to believe that, but…,” I answered not wanting to finish my thought. Part of me wasn’t so sure. I wondered if maybe James was using me in some way, though I couldn’t figure out why. If this was somehow designed to secure a beneficial contract, there were certainly easier and less convoluted ways to do it.
    “Have you called him?” Josie asked.
    “No, I’ve been asleep since sometime this morning. I guess I should,” I said though I was afraid of what he might say. I hated myself for not trusting him but I hadn’t known him for that long. I didn’t want to believe he was using me but I was in Los Angeles and he was a celebrity. He wouldn’t be the first rich and famous person to lie to get what he wanted. I retrieved my phone and dialed. I got his voicemail. I hung up and called again and like the first time, I got voicemail. I didn’t want to dump all this on James in a message so I only asked him to call me.
    “Hopefully he’ll call and straighten this all out,” Josie offered. I hoped she was right but I didn’t feel like talking about it. Josie was sweet, telling me everything would be OK, offering to get me dinner and telling me she could cover the rent until I found