The Billionaire's Pet - Cassandra Dee Page 0,2

a new job tomorrow, he wouldn’t be paid for two weeks, and we need money now.

I sigh and put my face in my hands. I hate the feeling of desperation, but there’s only one solution I can think of to get us a temporary way out.

“We’ll go to management and ask for an extension on rent,” I say, turning back to face my father. “Tomorrow. So, clean up and go to bed. We’ll need to go first thing in the morning, and basically, we’ll need to beg.”

Randy nods his head and takes one more drag off his cigarette. I reach to pluck it from his lips and dab it in the ashtray and he shoots me an angry look.

“What the fuck did you do that for?”

“Go to bed, Daddy. I’m serious. We need to be cleaned up and on our best behavior for tomorrow.”

Randy rolls his eyes and huffs before standing and trying to walk to his bedroom. The man has become so accustomed to drinking that he can actually walk somewhat straight even though he’s totally loaded. Once he’s is in his room, I hear the mattress creak as he plops down, and then snores erupt seconds later.

Meanwhile, I collapse onto the small kitchen table. I put my face in my bent elbows and cry silently. I need to get these emotions out because they’ve been bottled up for too long. Day after day I wake up and pray that Daddy makes it through work and that we’ll be fine until next month’s rent is due, but my faith in him has basically evaporated by now. We’ve got to find a way to come up with this rent money, but how?

I have a good cry and feel a bit better afterwards. It still doesn’t help the situation at hand, but I feel a little less empty now. I walk to the bathroom to quickly shower and brush my teeth before climbing into bed. But it’s hard to fall asleep with this hanging over my head.

Meanwhile, Randy sleeps like a log. There’s a steady stream of snoring coming from his room, like he doesn’t have a care in the world. Meanwhile, my eyes are wide open as I stare at the ceiling and try to calm my thoughts. Sadly, my mind spins out of control, and the silent tears start again. A hot trail runs from the corner of my eye and down my cheek vertically before making a wet spot on the pillow. This is my life, and I can’t bear the thought of living like this forever.

2

Jessalyn

* * *

The next morning, I wake Randy up for our meeting with management. I make him a good breakfast of eggs and pancakes to soak up all the beer he drank last night, and try to get him to dress in something other than his saggy work pants and crumpled work shirt. Sadly, he doesn’t listen, and looks like a gaunt scarecrow with dirt under his fingernails and an unshaven chin.

I wear a nice red skirt and white blouse in hopes of making a good impression, but I also pack my work uniform in my bag so that I can get to my shift afterwards. Purcell Development, the company that runs our trailer park, has an office in town about ten minutes away from the diner, so it shouldn’t be too hard to get to work. On our way to the meeting, I look over at Daddy in his truck and beg him to let me do the talking at the meeting. It’s our only chance at getting the extension we need.

“What, you don’t think I’m capable?” Randy asks. I can detect the hurt in his voice. I roll my eyes.

“Dad, calm down. I just think I’ll have a better shot at getting an extension. You know, being a young girl and all,” I say, somewhat truthfully.

After all, Randy doesn’t know how to talk reasonably to others or how to talk to others in general, come to think of it. If we have any chance of getting the extension, it falls on me, and if my dad opens his mouth, who knows what will happen? They might kick us out on the spot if he says something really stupid.

Once we pull into the parking lot of Purcell, my nerves increase by a million. I’m blown away by the building. Located in a nicer section of town, the office is a gorgeous white stone building with a dark grey roof and an