After reading a letter from someone she has never met, Gemma Moreno is offered a once in a lifetime opportunity that could change her life forever. Torn between accepting an offer she knows she will never be able to repay, Gemma needs to decide if...
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The brisk night's air hits my warm, tear-covered cheeks as I slam the door behind me.
How dare they fire me!
My skin crawls as I remember the vile sensation of that bastard's unwanted touch. The moment his calloused fingers made contact with my skin, his onyx eyes were dark with lust. Working his way up my thigh felt as if hundreds of bugs were crawling across my skin. Above all, I felt degraded.
All I did was remove his hand and ask him to stop. He and his friends made it seem as if I took a gun to his temple with the way they talked to my manager.
They're garbage, all of them.
The wood stairs that lead up to my apartment creak with every upward step I take. Once I am in front of my door, I jam the key into the lock with a growl.
When the door slams against the paint-chipped walls, my brother jumps from his seat.
Trying to wipe the evidence of my disastrous night, my hand quickly rises to remove any stray tears. "I'm sorry, Dom. I didn't mean to startle you."
He walks over in his Captain America pajamas and wraps his ten-year-old arms around my waist. "Gemma! You're home early!"
Not wanting him to sense my unease, I plaster a fake smile on my face. "Surprise! Did you eat something?" I ask, trying to change the subject of my early arrival. "Did you finish your homework?"
Dom's proud smile shines bright. "I made a grilled cheese sandwich after I finished my homework."
My heart drops to the floor and shatters into hundreds of pieces. I wish I could provide more for my brother than a loaf of bread and some cheese. "Do you want me to get you anything else?"
"No, I'm okay. Mrs. Markus brought over some chocolate chip cookies." Pointing over to the counter, he says, "I left you a few."
I ruffle his thick brown hair before making my way over to the plate of dessert. "Thanks, Kiddo."
Walking into the small galley kitchen, I open the refrigerator door and grab the gallon of milk. The white liquid stops flowing once my glass is half full, and I slam the jug on the counter.
Great, another thing I need to pick up tomorrow.
Thinking about my checking account sends my heart rate into overdrive. My anxiety begins to rise when I start making a list of the basics I will need to purchase. It looks like we are going to have to keep it simple until I find a new job.
Eggs for breakfast. Peanut butter sandwiches for lunch, and some damn ramen for dinner, what a treat.
After dunking my cookie in milk, my sadness disappears as soon as the chocolate morsels hit my taste buds.
Damn, I'm grateful for Mrs. Markus' baking.
Mrs. Markus is the elderly woman across the hall and helps me keep an eye on Dom while I'm at work. I hate that he falls asleep alone most nights, but my worries are somewhat put at ease knowing she is there.
