I eventually picked up the phone when I got home. “Remi, what the hell was that?” “I told you I needed space. I thought you understood?” I asked nonchalantly. I'd learned from the best. “I–I… I did. But still, you should have picked up. What if I had something important to tell you?” “Did you?” “I could have!” He boomed. “That's the point. It could have been an emergency.” “Thankfully it wasn't,” I mumbled. “Yeah, this time.” I could picture his shaking his head disdainfully. “Anyway, what are you doing tomorrow? Let's get dinner in a special place. I'll send you the details.” He didn't give me a chance to respond as he immediately hung up. I chuckled. This damn clown never changed his game. I honestly couldn't blame him. I think back on my younger self and facepalm because how could I have fallen for this obvious scam? No. That was good. If he still thought I was that young dumb girl then this would be easy. Maybe I could even push the limits a bit. The next

“You need me to drive you home?” Jesse asked. I snapped out of my head and stared questioningly at him. “Why would I need that?” “You just look… never mind. I'm sure it's nothing. I'll file a police report anyway.” I remembered the trouble Debbie got in at my swearing in party. She got a bit too drunk and acted out. I'm not sure how long she was held or if any charges were filed but I didn't want to be one more reason for her to be miserable. She hated me enough already. “Is that necessary?” I asked. “We all know Debbie is a toothless dog. She's not going to do anything and–” “I understand that Remi. But this is your life were talking about. I think I would be best if we didn't take the chance. I'll file a police report. There usually isn't an investigation if that's what you're worried about. It'll just be on record.” I rolled my eyes. “Fine. I'm sure you'll just hate to love your amazing working relationship with me.” He stopped writing on his planner and glanced a

His darting eyes zeroed in on me. “Go get your things we're leaving,” he barked. I just wished the ground would have swallowed me up right there and then. I glanced at Jesse and he had an eyebrow raised at me. “You called him here?” he asked calmly, but I could see the anger brewing beneath the surface. “No, I didn’t.” I shook my head profusely. “She did. I saw her talking to him,” Ashley yelled from behind Oscar. “I didn’t call you here,” I scolded Oscar. “You didn’t need to. I got your message loud and clear baby. You wanted me to show you that I care more. That’s why I’m here.” I felt like running away to hide somewhere. How the hell was I supposed to answer that? He said it as if we’d had a discussion and that was the conclusion. “I didn’t ask you to come here!” “But Remi–” he took a step towards me but Jesse stood in his path. “Since she didn’t tell you to come here, I'd suggest you leave,” Jesse said. “I’m not leaving without her,” Oscar growled. “Just

“Is that all you want?” Dad asked.“Yes.” I nodded. “The sight of him disgusts me. I'm surprised it was this easy to convince him to try and win me back.”Dad grinned and nodded his head as he mulled my words over. “Revenge huh? So many options. We could get him on the hook for counterfeiting; I know a guy. Or conspiracy against the state; he and his mother will be accomplices. Maybe terrorism charges; I also know a guy for this…”Mom and I watched in shock as dad casually prattled on about atrocious things we could set Oscar up with that would definitely get him thrown in jail with the key thrown away.“Dad, no,” I said. “I don't know what I'm going to do to him but I want to do it and I want him completely destroyed after.”“Remi!” mom exclaimed as her eyes darted to me. “Why don't you just let it go? You said his wife's ex threatened him. Leave him be and let karma keep doing its work.”“No!” Dad thundered, startling the both of us. “If she wants to shred him apart limb from limb,

“Don, they're talking about removing her,” Tristan said, clearly alarmed.I was sitting in dad's office next to Tristan. Sitting was too broad a term.I was shaking. I tried to get Tristan to not show up because I didn't want my dad to know but he had anyway.Dad appeared surprisingly calm after getting such news.“Can… can they do that?” I asked.Tristan shrugged his shoulders then glanced back at my dad. “Now would be a good time to say something.”Dad chuckled and leaned against his desk. “I'm surprised you're this worried, Tristan.”“Did you hear anything I said? They're talking about firing her.”Dad scoffed. “Let me guess, O’Hearn is leading the charge?”“Yes,” Tristan said. “Obviously it's him. But he's gaining traction. They might get swayed by him.”“And how many times has he gained traction? How many times did he try the same thing with me? You should have learned by now that he is a toothless dog.” He glanced at me and laughed. “You were getting all charged up just now, you