Building Her Throne Burying My Heart (Claire) novel Chapter 16

I could feel it in my gut. If I didn’t get out soon, I had no idea what would happen next.

“Catherine, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head out.” I turned, already halfway to the door, but she called after me, her tone sharp and playful.

“Where do you think you’re going? I never said you could leave.”

She grinned, a little too wide. “It’s my birthday. Stay. Have a few drinks with me and the girls.”

Suddenly, I understood the look the manager gave me earlier. This was the kind of trouble I’d been warned about.

“Sorry, Catherine. I don’t do drinking with customers. If you want company, I can find someone else for you.”

Her smile dropped. Her voice got icy. “Is that so? Well, I want you. I’m not interested in those other losers.”

Her friends started chiming in, voices loud and smug.

“Catherine picked you, and you’re turning her down? You should feel lucky.”

“Seriously, the tip you’ll get tonight is probably more than your whole month’s pay.”

The temptation was real, but I just couldn’t do it. My pride wouldn’t let me.

“I’m sorry. My job is to serve drinks and recommend bottles.”

Catherine didn’t back down. She laughed, pulled a wad of cash from her bag, and slapped it onto the table.

“One thousand for every drink you have with us. Bet you don’t even make that in a night.”

I stared at the pile of cash. It was more than tempting. I really did need the money. But I remembered what I’d just said, and honestly, my stomach couldn’t handle it.

“Thank you, Catherine, but I’m sorry. I really can’t...”

“If you walk out that door, I’ll make sure you never work in Cabinda again. You’re really something, you know that? Jumping from job to job. Are you that desperate for cash?”

I stood there with my back to her. Of course I was desperate. Why else would I keep hustling for these jobs?

“Yes. I need money. That’s the only reason I’m doing any of this.”

She let out a short, cold laugh. “Unbelievable. Lost your delivery job, lost the hotel gig, and you managed to land this one right after. But if you upset Catherine tonight, you won’t just lose this job. You’ll be blacklisted everywhere in Cabinda.”

I knew she wasn’t lying. With the Lane and Gates families running things here, one word from them and I’d be shut out of every job in town. If that happened, I wouldn’t even be able to breathe here anymore.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. If I didn’t give in, my life would get even harder. I just couldn’t believe the person I used to love was now set on pushing me into a corner, making sure I had nowhere left to run.

My hands balled into fists, nails digging into my palms, but I kept my voice steady.

“Claire, what do you want from me? What do I have to do for you to finally let me go?”