Filed to story: Watch Out, I’m The Lady Boss (Eleanor & Sebastian) Book PDF Free
Maybe it had something to do with the confined space. There was nothing else to focus on except him, except the moment.
Then I remembered what led to Yvaine and Cassian’s one-night stand.
“God, I hope I didn’t throw up on you.”That would be beyond embarrassing.
“No, you didn’t.”
“Good.” I breathed out.
“Was that all you wanted to say?” I asked.
Sebastian paused a beat, then: “Never mind.” The car slowed.
“We’re here.”I leaned over, kissed his cheek.
“Thanks. See you later.”I got out and waved goodbye.
I texted Priya from the pavement outside the building. [You free today?]
Nothing.
I waited. Checked my phone again. Still nothing.
I went upstairs. Knocked twice.
No answer. But I heard loud noises from within. TV and people talking.
I pulled the spare key out of my bag, shoved it into the lock, and stopped inside.
My jaw locked.
The entire flat reeked of stale smoke and fried snacks. Air heavy with that cheap, acidic cigarette stench that clung to the back of your throat.
The coffee table was surrounded by men I’d never seen before-edly twenties, all of them smoking, shouting over one another, playing cards.
Wrappers, pistachio shells, orange peel-trash scattered across the floor and cushions.
Priya’s brother Rohan was in the middle of the chaos, slouched low with one arm draped across the back of the sofa. I recognised him from court.
Nobody looked up.
Some guy whooped, slammed a card down, then shoved his chair back with a screech and shouted, “Pay up, losers!
Another peeled off his hoodie and threw it onto the floor I scanned past the mess and spotted a man near the window, his back to me.
Neal Sharma. Priya’s father.
He was on the phone, voice loud and smug.
“It’s a proper flat! Big windows, new floors. I’ll send you pictures, you’ve got to see the height on this place. Her rich friend said we can stay as long as we want… No, she wouldn’t kick us out. What kind of person would do that, after everything we did? Priya testified for her. Without us, she’d have lost that case, end of story. And another payout’s coming soon, so pack your bags. Rohan’s mates are already here.”Unbelievable.
This was the same man who’d smiled at me, shaken my hand, and thanked me, with tears in his eyes, for getting justice for Priya.
When I moved out, Sebastian’s staff had scrubbed the flat spotless. Not a mark on the floor, not a crumb left behind.
Now the place looked like a squat. Rubbish everywhere, stained walls, sticky counters, broken biscuits ground into the rug I started to step inside.
A voice cut through from the kitchen.
“Why are you just standing around? Everyone else is helping. You can’t even sweep the floor?”
“I’ve got a cold… my head’s spinning…” That was Priya’s scratchy voice.
“You’re useless. Can’t even help when family’s here. Make a proper lunch-we’ve got guests.”
“This isn’t even our flat. We’re just staying here-“
“Your rich friend made you testify, so she owes us! What, does she want us out on the street?”
“You still shouldn’t trash the place.”
“Shut your mouth and start cooking.”I’d heard enough.
One of the men at the table looked up and squinted.
“Hey. Who the hell are you? How’d you get in here?”Another twisted around and whistled.
“Who ordered a call girl?”
“Not me.”
“You stupid fuck, that’s not a call girl. Not dressed like that.”I walked in.
A guy with patchy facial hair stood up and waved a hand.
“Alright, seriously, who even are you?”I kicked aside a banana peel on the floor and said, “I’m the one who pays the rent.”The laughter came immediately.
“This place belongs to Priya. You her stalker or something?”I stared at the ceiling and exhaled hard through my nose.
“Funny. No one told me the flat changed its last name to Sharma.”That finally got them quiet.
Neal had turned around, gaping.
Leila Sharma rushed out of the kitchen.
Rohan popped up from the sofa, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
Leila threw on a wide smile.
“Eleanor, darling! You should’ve called. Come, come, sit-“She shoved the guys aside and started brushing off the sofa cushions with both hands like it’d make any difference.
I didn’t move.
“When the landlord asks for damages, the money’s coming out of your pocket.”Leila blinked at me.
“What damages? It’s just a bit of trash-“Neal was blunter. You’re seriously going to make us pay? You’ve got all that money and-“
“I’ll clean it.” Priya stepped out from behind her mother timidly. She barely looked me in the eye.
“I’ll fix everything. We’ll be gone once the compensation comes through. I swear.”Leila shoved her back with one hand.
“Don’t be stupid. We’re staying, This is our home now.”
“Staying?” I crossed my arms.
“Fine. Stay. But rent’s on you from now on,”Neal’s smile dropped like a curtain.
“You brought us here, Eleanor. You said you’d look atter everything. Food, rent, clothes. And Priya, she’s your key witness. Without her, you wouldn’t have won shit. My daughter handed you that verdict. This is how you repay her?”I dug my nails into my palm to keep from throwing something.
Talready wired you money before you came to Skyline. A lump su Enough for food, bills, taxis, all of it. The case is long over, and you’re still squatting in my flat. I’d done more than enough. But I’m not your damn sponsor.
Rohan mumbled something under his breath.
“We helped you. You should help us. It’s only right…
I spun to face him.
“Priya wasn’t just a witness. She was part of these. She testified to her own sake as much as mine. You think one courtroom appearance earns your whole family a free ri for life?
Silence. Even the guy who’d been chewing loudly stopped mid-crunch.
Priya swallowed hard and looked at her feet.
“We’re not trying to feeload. We won’t stay. Mum, Dad, stop saying that stuff.”Leila turned and slapped her on the shoulder.
“Shut your mouth! You don’t speak for us.”Priya flinched.
I grabbed Priya and yanked her away from Leila. Her wrist felt thin and damp in my hand.
“Are you insane? You don’t hit your daughter.”
“Exactly, she’s my daughter.” Leila snorted. And I didn’t hit her. It was just a tap. Didn’t even hurt.”
“She’s got a busted leg and you still make her do everything. Cooking, laundry, scrubbing floors. While the rest of you sit around. That’s how you treat your daughter?”
“She’s a girl. That’s what girls do. I’m just training her for when she gets married.”My jaw clenched so hard my temples started to throb. I turned to Piya.
“The money I sent you. You didn’t keep any of it, did you?”She didn’t speak. Just stared at the floor. Tears dropped straight down onto the front of her sweatshirt.
That was my answer.
I already knew her backstory-grew up poor, got into Skyline on a scholarship, parents took a payout from the Brookes and ran.
I’d sent her money so she could buy herself a decent meal every now and then.
Clearly, none of it stayed in her account.
“Right. So the whole family’s been living off you like leeches.” I tried not to raise my voice. They weren’t worth it.
“You’ve got one day. Clean the flat. Pack your shit. Be out by tomorrow night. If you’re still here, I’m calling the police.”
“No!” Neal scowled.
“You brought us here! You used us! Now you want to kick us out like we’re trash?”
“You ARE trash. And the lawyers spelt it out at the start. We wanted Priya to testify. None of the rest of you were actually invited. And we sure as hell didn’t promise you a permanent address in Skyline.”I turned to leave.
Priya tugged at my sleeve.
When I looked back, her eyes were bloodshot, and her nose was runing. She wasn’t saying anything, but I could read the panic written all over her face.
If I walked out now, they’d take it out on her.
I grabbed her wrist and pulled her with me.