Porter's Reward

Anxieties

My head shot up. “How do you know I am?”

He didn’t look up from the desk though he pushed his glasses up again. “Everything you’ve snacked on for two weeks has KETO written on it somewhere.”

I blinked at him. Rather surprised he’d noticed. “Fair assessment.”

He grunted but said nothing more. Putting in a few more numbers.

I eyed Porter, vaguely impressed that he’d noticed. I didn’t think he even looked up from that desk.

Ever.

I sat back in my seat, watching him scribble. Not seeing the potential for a bouncer of the most dangerous club in town. Seeing the broad rimmed glasses wearing nerd that barely made it out of his house without stumbling over his shoelaces.

I crossed the distance across the room, my heels clicking and my tight skirt swishing as I got there. Leaning over the corner of the desk to peer down at him.

He paused his scribbling to eye me over the top of those thick rimmed glasses.

Who made those things?

NASA?

“The Meridian account.”

“Yes.” He said slowly. Sitting back in his chair and swaying as the back bobbed forward and back a moment. He twisted his pen between his fingers.

“What happened to the money.”

“The money you’ve been sliding over to an account linked to your mother’s name before moving it to yours?”

My jaw gaped. Brown eyes widening in shock as I stared at him.

How’d he know?

“Look.” He said flatly. “It’s simple. Just put it back.”

“How the hell would I do that!” I blurted before realizing that I’d admitted to it.

Shit.

What the hell was I thinking?

I was so startled by the fact that he knew that I’d lost track of all my defenses.

He shrugged and leaned back over the ledger. “Pull it from some investments. I have well over that in just savings. Any good financer does.”

I don’t.

I wish I could do that so easily.

I eyed his profile. Realizing how rudely he’d dismissed me.

But worse on that was the glaring revelation I was suffering.

He does know...

***

I walked the few blocks to the bus stop. Heels clicking. Ignoring the few catcalls that chased me. Tossing my blonde hair to my right side to block my face from their view.

It tended to help detour some of the bullshit.

I couldn’t even think about them right now. I was busy thinking about the Meridian account. And that the most efficient accountant in my building had caught me.

Red-handed.

He’s safe. I told myself. Who’s he going to tell?

I’m his boss. I swallowed. Letting that wash over me.

If I got fired for fraud, wouldn’t someone hold him accountable for not catching it for so long? I told myself so.

It did make me feel better, actually. Some confidence returning.

I rode the bus back home and hailed a taxi to take me over to St. Andrew’s Hospital. I stared at the towering tan brick structure.

It looked so cold and unfeeling. A bland color with bland people. It made my chest tight that this was where my mother was.

What if she can’t ever go back?

Every time she started to recover, another vessel would rupture, and they had problems controlling the bleeds since she no longer clotted.

I chewed my lip as I walked up to the double doors. I passed the front desk and through the cold hallways until I reached a giant living area with worn couches and walkers. Several elderly people sat there, their eyes glued to the blasting television. I walked under it to the third room on the left. Knocking softly before I turned the hand.

Her head rolled toward me. Her blonde hair now streaked with white at the root. Her vibrant green eyes waning to bleary gray.

I could feel dampness jump to my eyes.

“Hey, Sweetie.” She greeted with a tender smile.

“Hi, mom.”

“How was work.”

“It was fine.” I lied.

He’s safe. Don’t worry about it.

Kane Porter was the least likely of anyone to cause a stir at work.

He won’t even drink the last cup of coffee.

No matter how hard Rita urges him to.

“That doesn’t sound very convincing.” She said dryly.

“You know me too well.” I sighed as I stepped around to the front of the chair next to her. Holding her frail hand in mine.

“That ass of an ex-husband still hassling you.”

“No.”

“Yes.” She corrected. Shaking her head sympathetically. “Why don’t you just tell H.R.”

“He owns the company, mom.”

“I’d own his tail if he did that to me at work.”

“He probably would.” I snorted.

I don’t think there’s anyone Logan won’t touch.

I sat down to a nice visit with my only parent.

We talked awhile and she tried really hard to hide that she was in pain. Which broke my heart.

“Are you ready for surgery tomorrow?” I finally

asked.

She gave me a long look. “I can’t take much more of these, Honey.”

“You have to.” I said, voice tight.

I can’t lose you.

I’d have no one when she was gone. And she’d always been my rock.

“I’m worried about all these bills they’re imposing. Eventually they’re going to catch up to us.” She gave me a long look that told me she meant they’d catch up to me.

When she’s gone.

I hated that thought.

Her words had been just as upsetting as Porters’ today.

I can’t have anything more go wrong today.

I passed the nurse’s station. Walking a little faster as I saw the head of billing, Elizabeth peek over her computer at me.

I tried to make it to the doors, but she caught my arm. “Angelina!”

“What?” I blinked at her.

“I was calling you.”

“I didn’t hear you.”

Her expression softened and she crossed her hands over her pelvis. Giving me a soft look. Her salt and pepper hair pulled into a bun atop her hair.

“I’m sorry. I know you’re going through so much, so I hate saying this. But we’ve got to have $5,000 down before surgery tomorrow.”