<h4>Chapter 5: The Battle of Independence</h4>


    The attorney who most definitely would have been briefed about our situation looked between us like a couple of lunatics. I am sure we were the most interesting but infuriating clients he was about to have.


    Junior gestured to him. "Go ahead." We followed him quietly into his office and sat across from him. He slid a document across the table and asked me to go through it as Mr Numero had done so already. I carefully studied each page. I finished studying it and decided to make adjustments as it seemed to be the source of our most recent argument.


    "I want a use added that says I have the right to a job."


    "Fine," Junior said. "Add it." He gestured to thewyer. This seemed too easy. I should probably push my luck a little bit more.


    "And," I added, "I get a couple days a month to myself, anywhere I want to."


    "Done," Junior said, "Anything else, Princess? A private ind, perhaps?"


    I ignored him and turned to thewyer. "Also, if this arrangement ends, I want the option to disappear with zero strings attached."


    Thewyer scribbled on his notepad, his sses sitting low on his nose.


    Junior raised an eyebrow. "You nning your escape already?"


    "Just being thorough," I said sweetly. "You know, like a good ountant."


    After two hours of editing and re-editing, the contract was finished. Junior signed and then handed the pen to me. "Your turn,"


    I signed my name across the paper and pped it shut. "Done. Now, if you''ll excuse me, I have reports to finish."


    Junior walked me to the car, a pissed look on his face. "You think you won, don''t you?"


    "I don''t think. I know."


    As I got into the car, he leaned in and whispered, "I''ll see you tomorrow. Wear something <i>eptable,</i> ountant." There was a wicked glint in his eye and I had the feeling, that I had won the battle but lost the war.


    I gave him the finger and shut the door. It was immature, but ooooh, so satisfying.


    *****


    I walked into the office the next morning, still fulfilled about my little victory from the day before. It felt like it gave me extra energy to face the day. I smiled at the receptionist, heading to my desk – ready to be badass.


    I sat at my desk and found an envelope, a letter from my boss. He could have sent an email, wouldn''t that be more convenient. I picked up the envelope, opened it, and read the contents. What the fuck is happening?!


    I got up angrily from my desk and headed into Mr Jenkins''s office. I found him seated at his desk and ced the letter on the table.


    He put on his sses and scanned through the note like it was his first time seeing it.


    "Miss Williams," he began, clearing his throat "I... uh... I''m sorry. It''s the way it has to be."


    I stared at him, confused and surprised. "You''re letting me go?"


    "Well, it''s not personal, you are a hard worker and good at what you do. We are undergoing some budget cuts and as much as I would like to keep you on the list of retained staff, we just can''t afford someone with your qualifications anymore." He kept looking at the letter I had just given him, refusing to make eye contact.


    "Budget cuts?" Is someone messing with me? "You gave the receptionist a raisest week!!!"


    "I-I''m sorry, Miss Williams. Truly." This time his eyes met mine and I knew. He truly was sorry but someone else was about to be.


    That overgrown idiot just sabotaged my job.


    "Fine." I left his office back to my desk, grabbed my purse, and left the building. Junior had no right. Not everyone had Daddy''s empire handed to them. Some of us worked our asses off!


    Outside the building, I bought a cup of coffee from the mobile café across the street. I pulled out my phone and called Mama Numero, she was always eager to meddle.


    "Darling! What a lovely surprise!" Her voice was charming as always.


    "Hi, Mrs. Numero. I was just thinking..." I hesitated, thinking if I really wanted to lie to this woman but when I nced at my now former office building, every sense of novelty went out the window. "Maybe Junior and I need to spend more time together. You know, bond as a couple."


    "That is a splendid idea, Darling! I am so d you are handling this elegantly!"


    "Uh-huh," I said, a bit of guiltced in my voice. "Could you tell me where his office is?"


    "Of course, darling!" She gave me the address and gave me a few tips to be even more appealing. I hung up before she could offer to give me a makeover.


    *****


    Walking into Junior''s office building, I realized two things. The Numeros weren''t millionaires, they were multi-millionaires. No, scratch that, billionaires. Two, they had terrible customer service. The receptionist red at me like I was in the wrong ce at the wrong time.


    "Can I help you?" she asked, looking like her makeup was stered twice on her face.


    "Yes. I''m here to see Mr. Numero." I gave her my most professional smile.


    "Do you have an appointment?"


    "Oh, I don''t need one. I''m his fiancée, just pick up the phone and tell him Nita is here," I said sweetly. She gave me a once over, clearly unimpressed, and picked up the phone.


    When I finally burst into Junior''s office, he was sitting at his desk, feeling all-powerful. He was waiting for me and he knew exactly why I was there.


    "Ah, Miss Williams. To what do I owe the pleasure?" He said, his smile victorious


    "Cut the crap, Junior," I snapped, "You got me fired."


    His eyebrows shot up, "Sweetheart! I am in the process of taking over an empire from my father. I have hundreds of thousands of employees, I have thousands of investments, hundreds ofpanies to manage and you think I have the spare time to interfere in your <i>little job</i>."


    "It wasn''t <i>little</i>! I put my blood and sweat into it. I worked my ass off! Not all of us out here have hand-me-downs from Daddy!" I shot back. "If you are so powerful, be man enough to admit that you pulled strings because you always have to have your way. What''s the matter? Couldn''t handle me having some independence?"


    Heced his fingers on his knees. "Why would I want to take away your independence? You''re free to do whatever you want, as long as it aligns with the Numero name. You expect my wife to be being bossed around by someone not qualified enough to clean my shoes?"


    "Numero name?" I threw up my hands. "Did you forget I have it for a year only? Tell me what will happen after a year and we go our separate ways? What will I fall back on?"


    "You''re acting dramatic. Of course, you will be handsomelypensated. You wouldn''t have to do anything your entire life. I thought ountants were financially smart."


    "You were insufferable as a teenager, and you''re still insufferable now, <i>Junior</i>."


    The moment the word left my mouth, his face darkened. It seemed like he was in my face in a sh. I staggered backward until my back hit the wall. "What did I say about calling me that?" His voice was threatening and dangerous.


    "Don''t. Call. Me. Junior," he growled.


    For a moment, I was a teenager again, the one who cried while being bullied in school. I saw the face I once feared, as in the past few days, I had allowed myself to forget that this man had once terrorized me. I had allowed myself to wish that maybe he had changed. My throat tightened, and I could feel the tearsing.


    "Get off me," I whispered shakily.


    His expression softened, but it was toote. I had nothing to say to him again. I shoved past him, running out of his office, ignoring his calls after me. The elevator ride down felt like it was never going to end, and by the time I got outside the building, I was gasping for air.


    I hurried home ensuring there was no one home. I curled up on the couch and let the tears flow. I thought I had outgrown it, I thought that I could stand up for myself, turns out – I haven''t.


    If I was going to heal from the trauma he caused me, I couldn''t let him win. First thing tomorrow, I am going job hunting. Our contract clearly states that I can have a job. I would get a job even if it was as a janitor.