Forbidden

Chapter 5: Brooklyn

Monday, February 25

"Jason, wake up. We're going to be late, if you don't get up now," I tell him with a frustrated growl slipping out. He went out again last night and didn't come back until three something.

"Babe. I'm too tired. Catch a ride with dad or drive yourself, but leave me alone." He pulls the covers back over his head. I look down at my phone in my hand, it's six-ten. I quickly google the address for the company and hit the directions on the map. It's a forty-five-minute drive, so I will need to hurry so I won't be late.

Running over to the other room, I pull my hair back into a low ponytail then grab the heels that Jason bought me on his twenty-six thousand dollar shopping spree. Once I'm completely dressed I head downstairs and find Ms. Montego is already fixing breakfast.

She smiles when she sees me. "You look very pretty today."

"Thanks," I say sitting at the counter where she just sat a steaming hot plate of eggs, pancakes, and sliced banana.

"You're welcome." She turns and opens the refrigerator and grabs the orange juice and my bowl of leftovers from dinner last night. She had to find me a bowl to use since no one here takes leftovers.

As I eat I scroll through Instagram, then I check the balance on my checking account: one hundred three dollars and eleven cents. Once I realized I never got my debit card back from Jason I reported my card lost and ordered a new one. Hopefully, it will be here this week. This time I will guard with my life.

"Where is Jason?"

"He's still sleeping. He said he was going in late." Her smile drops as her mouth turns down just a little and a sad but disappointed smile comes over her face before she turns back to the stove.

Checking the time on my phone once again, I see that I need to leave asap, so I quickly finish eating. Once I'm done, I jump down off the stool and hand my plate to Ms. M before grabbing my purse and food. When I step into the garage I stop and stare at the gray Range Rover that is sitting over there large and imposing. My hands shake a little. "You can do this. You won't wreck this ninety thousand dollar car," I whisper to myself as I walk over to the car.

"You don't mind if I drive you today," I say running my hands over the steering wheel. Pulling down the visor I look at myself in the mirror. "You look great." I smile, pushing the visor close. "Today is going to be a great day. You got this girl," I say as I hit the push to start button, and then press the button to open the garage. I inhale in a deep breath, as I slowly back up to start the forty-five minutes drive for my first day of work.

🚫

When I arrive at the entrance I pull up to a guard's gate. A short, round fifty-something man sits in the small guard's booth dressed in his all-black uniform. "Good morning Miss, how can I help you?"

"Today is my first day," I say with as much confidence as I can muster. Which isn't much because I'm as nervous as a virgin in a brothel.

He nods and reaches over and grabs a clipboard. He clearly can not tell I'm over here about to start sweating bullets. "What's your name?"

"Brooklyn Tomlin."

He reaches down and grabs a hand tag and visitor badge. "Keep this in your windshield and once you get your regular badge please stop by here and turn in the visitor's badge."

"I will. Thank you."

He lifts the gate and I pull in. The parking lot is already full. I look at the time and see it's ten minutes to eight. I find the first parking spot and jump out of the car and rush into the building. When I step into the door cold air immediately hits me and I send up a quick thank you for remembering to grab a sweater.