Hooked #3 (The Hooked Romance Series - Book 3) Read Free Page B

to make
spreadsheet after spreadsheet that would iterate what I would need to do to get
this beautiful new studio above the bar. I imagined us dancing throughout the
day before Mel and I turned our attention to the beers and good conversation. I
imagined myself learning all of the regulars’ names, speaking to them daily,
developing a community—one I had been searching for throughout Chicago since my
arrival!
    Something tugged in the pit of my stomach, as I
thought about this new future. My old landlord—the one I hadn’t paid back for
all those months. If I could get a loan for the new studio—if I could make
everything work—then perhaps I could pay him back. I needed to pay him back. I
turned my head to the right as I walked, noting that I was only a few blocks
away from his new offices. Inhaling slightly, I turned toward the office to face
my demons.
    A light bell jangled on the door as I opened it,
peering into the small leasing office. His secretary stood up as I approached,
eyeing me with a bit of distrust. I supposed that was warranted; after all, I
hadn’t paid for rent since April. “Hi, Marcia,” I murmured. “Is he here?”
    “He’s in back,” she nodded. “Go on. He won’t mind.”
    I pushed to the back toward his desk. I found him
sitting there, looking up at me expectantly. His eyes were filled with guilt. “Hi, Molly. Please. Sit down.”
    I took the seat across from him at the desk. I
crossed my legs once before uncrossing them, shuddering in the sheer
awkwardness of my body. “Hi. I wanted to talk to you—“
    “It’s done, Molly. I already sold him the place. I’m
so very sorry.”
    But I waved my hand in the air. I knew everything
was done, that I couldn’t change the past. But I could make amends. “No. I
wanted to talk to you about all the payments I owe you. I know I owe you
thousands of dollars. I want you to know—that I’m going to pay you back.”
    The landlord’s eyebrow twitched as he peered at me.
His black eyes were like daggers. “You want to pay me back?” he asked, as if he
were shocked into disbelief.
    I nodded. I swallowed slowly, my mind racing. I was
sure that I could find the money. If not now, I could orchestrate a series of
payments. A hundred dollars here, a hundred dollars there. Perhaps it would take one hundred years, but I would pay him back. “I need to
pay you back. I always meant to. I wanted to let you know that our working
relationship can’t be over until I’ve paid my debt to you.” I felt the strength
of my words; I felt a sense of adulthood come over me like a wave. Perhaps this
was all adulthood would really be; standing up to your fears, to your mess-ups.
Standing, unflinching, and accepting them whole-heartedly as your own.
    But the landlord put his long fingers into the air
and arched his left eyebrow. “I’m so sorry, Molly. I simply can’t allow you to
pay me back.” His voice was direct, if a little soft. He was talking down to
me, I knew, even as I tried to rise to his level.
    “You don’t understand, I don’t think,” I said
hesitantly. I wanted to make things right! I wanted to make things even.
    “I do, Molly. And I appreciate it, truly. You’ve
been a marvelous tenant.” He said it so succinctly, like there was no dispute.
    I shook my head. “I don’t think you understand. I—I
didn’t pay you. I haven’t been marvelous, even for a moment.”
    But he shook his head, allowing his long, white
fingers to elongate once more. In my head, they looked like spiders—or long
snakes. “No, Molly. I don’t want to deal with payments until the final days of
your life. I’m cutting you off. You’re free. Everything that’s happened between
us will not follow you, will not haunt you. Go off, and start a new life
somewhere else. If that means you start a dance studio or a nudist colony, I
don’t care. Just go. Be. Live. Do well. I believe in you. I always have.” He
smiled at me and winked at me for a moment, his face