“Don’t worry, I will. You pretend to be this helpless little girl so everyone takes care of you. You think that because you’re pretty everyone should jump through hoops to keep you happy.”
“That’s not true.” Lily tried not to let Georgia see how her cruel words hurt.
“It is true. I have two kids to support; I need this job. Every one of the workers here needs this job except you. You don’t need it and you’re taking it from someone who does. My brother was supposed to be the next one hired when a position opened. He’s been laid off from the mines for a year and has three kids and a mortgage. I bet you don’t even have a car payment for that fancy vehicle you drive.”
Lily paled. Her words brought back Beth’s words from the summer when Lily had first asked for a summer job, that it was unnecessary for her to work since Beth herself provided her with money. It was only after she had been hurt that the job at the factory had been offered.
She felt terrible, understanding Georgia’s predicament at wanting her brother to have a job he desperately needed. To then have to see Lily daily was understandably difficult.
“I’m sorry,” Lily said, miserable that a family was doing without because of her selfish desire for a job.
“I don’t need or want your pity, just stay out of my way. When you get bored with this job, my brother will get hired and I won’t have to see your sanctimonious face anymore.” Having said her piece, Georgia turned, giving Lily her back.
Lily went back to work, thinking on the altercation. If she mentioned this to Beth or Razer, she had no doubt after Razer’s warning that the woman would be fired. Lily didn’t want to be responsible for more kids losing their breadwinner.
Coming to a decision, she went to Shade’s office. She was going to get Georgia’s brother the job he needed. All she had to do was quit.
Chapter 21
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” Lily stuck her head in the door after knocking briefly.
“Come in.” Shade was sitting at his desk going through papers. Lily came inside, closing the door as Shade laid the papers down and leaned back in his chair.
“I want to quit.”
“Why?”
Lily didn’t want to lie, however she didn’t want to tell the truth and get Georgia in trouble either.
“Well?” Shade asked after several minutes of continued silence.
“Give me a minute, I’m thinking.”
“Shouldn’t you have done that before you came in here?” Shade asked, studying her closely.
“You’re right. I’ll be back later.” Lily turned to go.
Shade sighed in frustration. “What’s up, Lily?”
“I don’t think it’s fair that I take a job from someone who needs it,” she blurted out.
“I see. And who needs a job?”
Lily waved her hand evasively. “Most of the town are unemployed.”
“That’s true. Do you have someone in particular in mind for your job, though?”
When Lily remained silent, Shade gave a long suffering sigh, getting to his feet and going to the cabinet, opening a drawer. Pulling out a green folder, he opened it as he moved to sit on the corner of his desk, reading it silently. It didn’t take long before he closed it and then laid it on his desk.
“Come here.”
Lily didn’t want to move closer, but her feet carried her near to him anyway.
“What did Georgia say to you?” he asked, reaching out to twine a lock of her dark hair around a long finger.
Lily sighed; she wouldn’t evade a direct question, and Shade knew that. “That her brother needed a job because he has three kids and a mortgage.”
“Is that all? That’s a big guilt trip.”
“Not if it’s true. I have some money saved up until I graduate. I don’t need spending money. I can wait on the new clothes I was going to buy. I don’t have any bills and he needs the job.”
“You’re right; he is the next to be hired. I’ll give him a call and tell him to come in.”
“Thank you.” Lily was going to miss her job. She had been pleasantly surprised by how much she’d liked it.
“Send Georgia to my office,” Shade said, releasing her hair.
Lily stopped. “Why?”
“Because she stepped over the line. Razer warned her about that yesterday.”
“But…” Georgia had kids also. She didn’t want them to have an unemployed mother.
The hard look on Shade’s face had her mouth snapping shut.
“The reason we didn’t hire her brother was because we didn’t want two family members working together, especially not those two, not because you were hired. They both have attitudes, and working together wouldn’t be conducive to a cohesive work environment, but since I plan on firing Georgia, that will no longer be an issue.”
“I didn’t take anyone’s job?” Lily asked in relief.
“No. You’re a fill-in for days when Bliss wants to sleep late, or Raci wants to go shopping, or Jewell won’t get her ass out of bed, or any one of the many reasons they give me. It gives them time off without worrying about getting our orders out.”
“Oh.” Lily was relieved she hadn’t kept someone from a salary they needed.
“Send Georgia in,” Shade repeated.