Chapter 13: Chapter 13

I knew what I had to do but that was easier said than done, with a sigh I dialled his number.

"Hallo," James answered

"Hey, James, are you available for a long call about now?" I asked

"Ya sure, what's up?" He asked

"So turns out two of our MDMA medication pop-top vial bottles are gone," I gravely said

"Oh, nothing to worry about must've been Sarah," he said

"Oh, so she got them for free?" I asked confused

"No, but since she's an ex-drug addict it gets kind of hard to work there when you're surrounded by drugs so I discovered she usually takes those pills without notifying anyone," he said

"And you allow that?" I asked in shock

"Well I'm not completely heartless but yes I did allow that but since it's your place now you do as you please," he said

"Damn straight I will, she can't just get away with this for free," I said in disbelief

"About time she learned her lesson anyway," he grunted

"So how are you, what type of cancer do you have because Sarah didn't tell me much?" I asked

"Oh just testicular cancer is all, getting them removed next week," he casually said

"Oh god I'm so sorry," I said covering my mouth with my hand in shock

"Don't be I don't need them anymore, I've had my fair share of children and now it's my turn to go on vacation," he said

"Of course all the best for the surgery, I'll keep you in my prayers," I said

"Thank you, much appreciated now get back to work," he joked making me smile

"Will do sir send a greeting to your wife," I said

"Will do, bye," he said

"Bye," I said, poor guy. I hope all goes well with him, now to deal with Sarah, this was going to be one of the hardest things I've ever done. I left my office and walked down the corridor with my heart beating out of control, this was it I had to put my big girl pants on and get it over with.

"Hey, Harley is everything alright?" Sarah asked me as I entered her office with a grim expression

"No, not really," I said closing the door behind me

"Oh, what's wrong?" She asked fidgeting with her hands knowing what this was about

"It's best if you take a sit," I said sitting down on the chair opposite her desk

"Did something happen?" She asked me

"Yes, James tells me you're an ex-drug addict, and I'm all for supporting people with differences but for this store to thrive I can't have my staff stealing from me," I said

"Oh I understand but please just give me a second chance and I won't ever do it again," she pleaded tears welling up in her eyes

"That's the thing you told James the same thing over and over and you didn't change what makes this time different?" I asked blankly

"I can't say what but please look deep in your heart and give me another chance I know you're a good person," she begged

"Me being a good person has nothing to do with this Sarah long story short you're an addict own it and find a way to change before you start digging your own grave," I said

"I promise I will just please don't do this I'm begging you," she cried tears streaming down her face

"No matter how much you plead, my mind is made up and I have to let you go, I've sent you an email of some great drug addicts anonymous groups you could join. I'm truly sorry to do this but you have to know what you did was wrong and can not be undone by a simple apology and begging that's not how life works," I said

"You fucking bitch how can you be so cold-hearted," she angrily yelled startling me by her change of emotions

"Sarah calm do-" I began

"Don't you fucking tell me what to do you whore," she yelled

"There's no need for name-calling here," I said standing up to stare her dead in the eyes

"What are you going to do about it bitch?" She asked, I didn't answer but gave her one good slap of a wake-up call

"Grow up you cow, this isn't kindergarten. You're thirty-five for christ sake so grow a fucking pair and get your damn life together. If you don't I'll happily hand you over to the cops for theft are we clear?" I coldly stated

"Crystal," she softly said still shocked from me slapping her

"Good now pack your shit up and start sorting your life together once you're in good shape which could take years or months then you can have the right to call me a bitch because we'll be on the same level because right now you're nothing more than a whiny child, even my nephew doesn't throw tantrums as you do," I said

"Yes ma'am," she said sniffing

"Good I'll let you pack then," I said with a sigh

"Wait!" She quickly said

"Yes?" I asked

"Thank you, not for the slap but the wake-up call. It's not like I'm going to quit just because of your little speech but you gave me a new sense of perspective and I do need to sort my life out so thank you again," she sincerely said

"Anytime, and whatever you're going through stay alive no matter what got it," I said

"Will do," she smiled

"Good you have my number if you need anything except drugs of course," I smiled

"Thank you," she said once more

"Don't mention it," I said with a small smile and left so she could clean her office.

I felt a little bit lighter when I closed the door behind me but nearly got a heart attack when Gary came out of nowhere

"Gah, what is your problem are you trying to give me a heart attack," I angrily said clenching my shirt where my heart is.

"Sorry I didn't mean to scare you I just heard yelling and thought to come to check it out," he said

"Everythings fine now, please get back to your consultation office. This isn't a freelance workplace," I ordered, pissed at him. Sure Gary was a creep but he was the best, most dedicated worker here and James trusted him with his life but that didn't mean I did.

"Yess boss," he smiled embarrassedly as if the thought of me commanding him turned him on, gross. I watched him walk away before I headed to my office to check on our stock files to make sure everything was in order. About ten minutes into working Sarah came to tell me she was leaving and all I did was wish her the best on her journey. I wasn't going to tear up for a woman I barely knew from a bar of chalk, and the moment she left Gary knocked on my door making me grown.

Now what

"Uhm Sarah just left with her things is everything alright?" He asked confused as the first unsexualized look crossed his face in ages.

"Ya I just fired her is all," I said

"May I ask why?" He asked

"You know why," I said wondering why he asked me when he already knew the answer to it

"Drug addict right should've never hired her bringing her hopes up of having a normal life then firing her when she's pregnant," he awkwardly rambled on

"Hold on, she's pregnant?" I asked in shock

"Ya, five months," he said

Shit

Now I just felt like shit for firing her, now I look like the bad guy.

"Thanks for letting me know," I tiredly told Gary who looked concerned for me

"No problem on an unrelated note, are you ok?" He genuinely asked

"Ya I'm fine thanks," I said even though my head was killing me and now I just felt even worse

"Alright take it easy," he said and left, the guy did have his good days when he wasn't a total creep and today was one of those.

I spent the rest of the afternoon getting up to date with our stock management and going through some old sale graphs. I also had to look for someone to replace Sarah which wasn't easy considering a lot of people wanted this position, now I had to schedule a free day to start finding a god damn replacement and my damn headache wasn't helping in the slightest. So when the closing time arrived I was beyond ecstatic to head home and roll into my blankets,

"Enjoy the rest of your evenings," I waved to my staff who waved back, I couldn't get into my car fast enough as I sped back home. As I walked up the stairs my phone rang and I cursed who could that possibly be and what did they want, after seven it was no work rule for me.

"Hello," I answered the unknown number

"Hey it's Randall the guy from the park," my ears perked up and my heart skipped a beat

"Oh hey how are you?" I asked with a smile on my face, a wave of giddy washed over me.

"Better now that I'm talking to you," See Gary that is how you say it, the sentence alone sent butterflies swimming in my stomach and I nearly forgot about my pounding headache.

"Flattery will get you nowhere my friend," I teased unlocking my front door,

"Is that so well forgive me for my forwardness then but what are you doing tonight?" He asked

"Nothing much, what do you have in mind?" I asked nonchalantly even though I was dying of excitement inside.

"How about you, me down at that pizzeria Napoletana place I hear it's an amazing place," he said

"Mhm let me think about it, no," I hummed

"Ooh you wound me," he chuckled

"Aw poor baby want me to kiss it better," I said waving at Lila who was playing some shooting game on my console

"Please do," he excitedly said making me laugh

"In your dreams," I chuckled

"A guy can only dream," he said

"Yes," I finally put him out of his misery

"Yes for?" He asked hopefully

"Yes I'd love to go to dinner with you," I said biting my lip as I tried to contain my wide smile

"Hot diggity dog well if it isn't my lucky day," he excitedly said

"Well I'll be ready in thirty minutes so you can come anytime after that," I said

"Right I can't wait to see you then," I could practically imagine the smile on his face

"Me neither, bye," I beamed

"Bye," He said and hung up, I squealed on the spot making Lila jump

"Is there a spider here cause I swear I will jump out that damn balcony," she quickly stood on the couch looking around trying to find a spider

"There's no spider dumbass and get off my goddamn couch," I angrily said since she had shoes on

"Cool your jets, why are you so happy then?" She asked me

"Nothing just going to dinner with this guy I met at the park," I said excitedly

"Oh ok make sure he isn't a serial killer first," she advised getting back to shooting zombies left and right, I went to take two painkillers and a quick shower before dressing in a white shirt, satin cropped seamless blazer with loose-fitted blue jeans and beige square heels, I left my hair down and curled the ends with some light makeup on and my shoulder bag.

"Hot damn is this guy Chris Hemsworth or what?" Lila cat whistled once she saw what I was wearing

"No, try Michael B Jordan," I smirked making her gasp

"No way," she asked

"Yes way," I smirked

"Then go get you, man sis," she beamed

"You bet your ass I am, just lock the door behind me there's being recent break-ins near my area," I warned her

"Ya ya now go," she urged practically pushing me out the door, the night was pretty chilly so I was glad for my blazer as I walked down the stairs. The front door of a Kia Rio opened and a very charming Randall walked out, he was wearing dark blue jeans, a white loose button shirt with a casual black blazer prom tux and closer cup toe black shoes, he was a sight for sore eyes.

"Well you clean up nicely," I said eyeing him up and down openly

"I could say the same thing about you," he smiled, "You look breathtaking," he said, took the words right out of my mouth buddy because that's how you look right now.

"Thank you, you don't look so bad yourself," I said

"Thank you," he smiled leading me to his car and opened the passenger door for me

"Well won't you look at that chivalry isn't dead after all," I joked making him chuckle

"I'm afraid not it's still alive here and then," He said starting his car up, "So how has your day been?" He asked

"The worst," I groaned

"That bad?" He asked

"You have no idea what about yours?" I asked him

"It was alright but kinda boring, went to work came home chilled with my dog and decided to call you," he said

"Sounds like my dream life," I sighed

"Penny for your thoughts?" He asked

"I had to fire someone today," I cringed at the thought

"And?" He asked like he didn't see the problem

"I've just got this opportunity to be in charge of this store that I'm still learning how to run and I feel so terrible for firing this woman," I said

"Why did you then?" He asked

"She's a drug addict and was stealing from the company," I said

"Oh dang well it's better than handing her over to the cops," he said

"Ya but that doesn't make me feel any better because she's pregnant I just fired a damn pregnant woman," I groaned

"Wow, you're having a shitty day," he said

"You can say that again," I frowned

"Tell you what, how about we don't talk about work at all and just enjoy the evening hm?" He asked

"Then what will we talk about?" I asked innocently

"Anything and everything let's just get to know each other and take your mind off work," he said

"Oh ok that sounds nice," I hummed

"Exactly so let's go," he said getting out of the car to open my door,

"You know I have hands right?" I asked

"I know," he smiled

"Alright then," I said walking to the pizza restaurant with him.

"Table for two," he told the waiter who led us inside to a secluded corner that was a bit more private, the place wasn't that busy but it had a nice atmosphere.

"Do you like the place?" Randall asked me

"Yes I do," I smiled looking around the place

"Ya me too it's quite cosy especially the make your pizza oven," he said

"They have that here?" I asked in shock

"What do you think the pizza ovens for," he said with a raised brow

"For the cooks of course," I said

"Then why wouldn't it be in the kitchen?" He asked with a smirk

"Oh I don't know, I'm not that smart," I shrugged

"I'm just messing with you," he chuckled, the sound alone made my heart flutter.

"Meanie," I huffed like a little kid

"Don't pout baby," Baby?

"Excuse me I am no baby sir and I think it's time to order because I am starving," I declared

"What do you feel like eating?" He asked

"Meat lovers of course," I licked my lips at the menu reading the different meat options

"You like meat?" He asked

"Like? I love it," I said not noticing his changed demeanour

"I'm not much for it," he said

"What are you vegan?" I asked getting down from my meaty cloud nine. Now I had to figure out how to make this work because I was a big meat eater.

"No, I'm a pescatarian," he answered

"Oh sorry if I was being too vulgar earlier about my meat pizza," I said

"No need, everyone has their preferences," he brushed it off even though it still seemed to bother him, well this got awkward fast.

"You don't need to change your order because of me, order whatever you want ok," he reassured me, now I just felt like something got clogged in my throat and I didn't feel hungry anymore I just felt guilty for being so insensitive.

"What about we share a Margherita?" I offered

"You sure?" He asked

"Ya I'm sure," I said with a relaxed smile

Maybe this night could still be turned around if I played my cards right.