Chapter 6 - The Broken Glass
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A sharp shard of glass bit into my thumb as I gathered the broken pieces. A bead of blood welled up, bright red against my pale skin.
"Careful, rat," Stella mocked from her velvet chair, sipping a mimosa. "Bleed on my rug and I'll have you scrub it with a toothbrush."
I didn't react. I just wrapped a tissue tightly around the cut and continued sweeping up the shards. Leandro had warned me she would be brutal. He hadn't warned me how exhausted she looked. Up close, without the harsh restaurant lighting, the dark circles under Stella's eyes were obvious. Her skin was sallow, and she was jittery, her leg bouncing restlessly against the chaise.
"Where did my brother find you anyway?" she sneered, tossing her empty glass onto a side table.
"I was applying for waitressing jobs, Miss Perry," I lied smoothly, keeping my head down.
"You're a nobody," she muttered, rubbing her temples as if a headache was starting. "A nobody who doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut."
Suddenly, her cell phone buzzed. A custom ringtone—sharp and grating.
Stella snatched the phone from the cushions. I watched from the corner of my eye as the color drained from her face. Her hand started that familiar, terrifying tremble.
"Get out," she snapped at me, her voice suddenly frantic.
"Miss Perry, I haven't finished—"
"I said get out!" she screamed, throwing a throw pillow at my head.
I scrambled to my feet, grabbed the dustpan full of glass, and backed out of the room. As the heavy oak doors closed, I lingered in the hallway, pressing my ear against the wood.
Her voice was a panicked whisper, muffled but desperate.
"I told you I need more time... no, you can't come here. Are you crazy? Leandro will kill us both. I'll get the money. I swear on my life, I'll get it by Friday."
Friday. Today was Tuesday.
She had three days.
I quietly stepped away from the door just as a shadow fell over me.
May you like
I gasped, spinning around to find Leandro standing right behind me. He moved silently for such a large man.
"Eavesdropping on your first day?" he murmured, leaning down so his lips brushed my ear. "You're a fast learner, Maya."
