Page 22 of Unsuitable

“Make the call on your own time, not mine.”

Yes, sir.

I nod my head and finish filling the forms out.

I hand them and the pen back to him. He doesn’t even bother to look at them. Just opens a drawer on his desk and shoves them inside.

“So, I guess I should get to work.” I start to rise from my chair.

“One more thing.”

His voice halts me, and I put my butt back in the seat.

He sits forward, putting his elbows on the desk, and stares at me with those unyielding black eyes of his. “There are things of value in this house, but I’m guessing you already know that.”

I do?

“And I know the temptation might be great, but I have to ask you to try not to steal anything. I’d hate to have to send you back to prison.”

What. The. Hell?

I feel like he just slapped me. My cheeks sting with humiliation.

God, I hate that this stuck-up bastard can affect me in this way. I’ve known him for, what? An hour, and I despise the fucker already.

If I didn’t need this job as badly as I do and if assault wouldn’t land me straight back in prison, then I’d kick him right where it hurt—which would probably be his wallet because I’m pretty sure nothing else would penetrate his rhino skin.

My fingers curl into my palms, and I let the sting of pain ground me.

Come on, Daisy. You’ve heard…had worse than this. He’s just a stuck-up arsehole who clearly needs to get laid.

Says she who hasn’t had sex in…well, forever.

“Yes, Mr. Matis,” I grit out the words.

Really, what else could I have said?

Try to defend my honor? I almost laugh out loud at that absurd thought.

I tried doing that in a court of law, and it didn’t work out so well for me.

And this jumped-up prick believes I’m a thief because that’s what the law told him.

It doesn’t matter to him if I’m innocent or not.

I’m poor and a criminal; therefore, I’m beneath him.

I’m beneath everyone.

I’m branded for life.

I was always poor. Now, I have the criminal tag to go with it.

Well, aren’t I a perfect catch?

God, I hate Jason fucking Doyle. He ruined my life.

But I know I’m not a thief, and that’s all that matters.