Chapter 12

Coy's voice was ice-cold as he said, "Please leave. Now."

Charlene's eyes brimmed with tears, her hands trembling as she held the tray. The coffee sloshed out of the cup, scalding her fingers. Despite the pain, Charlene didn't make a sound and turned to leave.

But she had only taken a few steps when Thorne's voice followed her from the office. "don't bother coming to work again if there's a next time."

She had resigned. Even without this incident, she would have left the company when they found someone to replace her.

But she knew no one there cared about her story. Speaking up seemed pointless.

Without a word, Charlene turned and walked away, carrying the tray.

Before she left, she overheard Vesta soothing Thorne. "There, there, dear Thorne. I'm sure she didn't mean it. Let's not stay angry, okay?" Charlene dumped the coffee down the sink, ran cold water over her reddened fingers, and skillfully applied ointment from her purse to the burn. She scoffed in her heart, 'It's funny. I'm now quite the cook and barista.