Corrupt Love

by Cee Perkins

  Chapter 22

  Dan

  I arrived home Sunday evening and had my first shower in days, shaved only enough to make the stubble neat, deciding to see if Permanent Dan minded facial hair, and what looked best. My time away bolstered my resolve to change my life, just like I had three weeks ago when I started therapy. Except this time, I was not going to second-guess my gut instincts. Playing it safe my whole life didn’t protect me from the monsters in the dark. It had literally put me in bed with them.

  I spent Monday cleaning since I missed my regular laundry day and there was a thin layer of dust on my furniture. I found the cleaning and laundry routines soothing, but there was no urgency, no panic that a missed corner of dust was going to lead to the deterioration of my home. A little mess wasn’t the end of the world.

  A novel idea.

  I returned to work on Tuesday, and it was uneventful. I’d missed two and a half days, but, miraculously, my clients hadn’t pulled their business and the firm wasn’t going under as a result.

  Another novel idea.

  I tucked back into my accounts, methodically entering numbers, comparing, creating graphs, and preparing profitability reports. And I felt content. I felt...valuable, but not under crushing pressure to do everything right or to exceed expectations. I was fulfilled, if only in this one aspect of my life. It helped to anchor me deeper into my Permanent self. Surprisingly, I found myself not even worried about a promotion or if Jason’s vacancy had been filled.

  “Dan.” Mr. Whitman’s firm voice sounded from over the wall of my cubicle and I looked up.

  “Sir?”

  “Come with me, please,” he said, and turned to his office.

  Old Dan would have been panicking, afraid he was about to get fired. New Dan would have simply not cared. Permanent Dan was curious.

  Ha and I was concerned that Corra had multiple personalities.

  We entered his office, and he gestured for me to sit down as he closed the door. He rounded his desk, “Glad to see you back and in good spirits. I trust all is well?”

  “Of course, sir. Family emergency,” I said simply.

  “Hm,” he said and opened a file. He flicked through and finally said, “You’ve been with this firm for six years. You’ve taken on account after account handed to you by that moron Jason and you’ve cleaned up the messes he made out of each one. You’ve taken hardly any time off, even, from what I understand, when your father passed away a month ago. You’ve proven time and time again that you are one of our best assets. I don’t want you in a cubicle anymore. I’m offering you the management position that has recently opened up.”

  Jason’s job? That’s good for me. I almost started laughing. What were the odds that the exact day I’d stopped caring about career advancement would be the day I’d get promoted?

  “Thank you, sir. When should I expect to transition?” I asked.

  “I’ll need you to look around the office this afternoon and get a list of things you’ll need to make it comfortable and give it to your assistant. Then tomorrow, you’ll take over.”

  “Assistant?”

  “Julie,” Mr. Whitman replied, standing. He extended his hand and said, “Congratulations, Dan. I know you’ll do a bang-up job.”

  Well, Old Dan sure would have. Permanent Dan isn’t so sure. Still. “Thank you, sir.” I left Mr. Whitman’s office and entered Jason’s old office. I looked around, taking in the space with new eyes. Based on the toys in the drawer, Jason not only wasn’t good at his job but didn’t have the emotional maturity to do it. Treasure Trolls, Chinese handcuffs, Pez dispensers, and G.I. Joe filled the bottom drawer where frequently-used documents should be. It’s all I could do not to roll my eyes.

  I’ll donate these to Mack.

  After deciding on a new chair and some specific pens I like, along with a new keyboard, mouse, and desk phone (because there’s no way even Permanent Dan is ok with touching those things of Jason’s that were touched by his mouth, hands, or...god knows what else), I gave the list to Julie and went to pack up my desk.

  “No way they canned you,” Mack said from behind me.

  I looked up and shook my head. “Nope. Promoted me instead. Starting tomorrow.”

  “No shit?”

  “None,” I said, grinning. It seems I can only cuss when I’m angry.

  “Well, fuck me,” Mack said, clapping me on the back. “Maybe now I don’t have to worry about getting half-assed files and shit.”

  Shaking my head again, I chuckled and turned back to the box I’d filled. I picked it up and started toward my new office. “Come with me, I’ve got something for you,” I said to him.

  “You got something for me? Aw, you got me a souvenir from your trip to who the fuck knows where?”

  “No,” I answered and set the box down, then opened the drawer. “Entertainment,” I said, gesturing to the toys.

  “Sweet!” he said, then collected the toys. “Productivity, zero,” he said as he turned and headed back to his desk. I chuckled again and spent the rest of the afternoon reorganizing.

  When I got home that evening, I debated about checking in with my mother, but ultimately decided against it. When I last talked to her, she said she was feeling better and wouldn’t be home, so I assumed that she was still out. I didn’t really feel like chasing her down, so I made myself some dinner and listened to the nightly news.

  And for the millionth time that day wondered what Corra was doing.

  Corra

  I was watching Isla and Ash spar when Cay called on Thursday afternoon.

  “Yo,” I answered, half-watching the girls and half-listening.

  “I got a call this morning. Margo Smith is my target...again.”

  Dammit. “When?”

  “They wanted it done tonight, since they’re not expecting her to pay the dues in time.”

  “What’s her deadline?”

  “9 p.m.”

  “Do you know the amount?”

  “No, sorry, Corra. They don’t ever tell me what’s owed,” Cay said.

  I sighed. “Ok, just...hold off for a night if you can. Where can I find them?”

  “59th and Main.”

  I almost laughed out loud. “Loan sharks have an office downtown?”

  “Yeah, I know. I guess it’s an ‘in plain sight’ kind of thing?” Cay snorted. “What are you going to do?” she asked.

  “I’m going to talk to Margo and pay the debt,” I said.

  Cay paused, then said, “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

  “No, but I’m not going to let her get the shit kicked out of her again. It’ll absolutely come with strings, and it will be the only time I ever do it, but I’m going to give her an opportunity.”

  “Are you going to let Dan know?”

  “Why would I?”

  “Because it’s his mother. And you’re helping her,” Cay said, like it was obvious.

  “So? Dan is too good for me, Cay. He deserves a woman who wears actual pearl necklaces and bakes the world’s best chocolate chip cookies and we both know my idea of a pearl necklace can’t be worn in public. But that doesn’t mean I’m not still going to love him and try to keep him happy from afar.”

  Cay blew out a breath and I could hear the jangle of her chain bracelets over the phone like she ran her hands through her hair. “Just spit it out, Cay,” I said, getting impatient.

  “I don’t think that paying the debt is going to fix her problems,” she said finally.

  I scoffed. “Duh. I know I’m not going to fix her problems. I’m going to give her an opportunity to become a decent person.”

  Again, Cay was silent. “Look, I know you’re not on board, ok. I’m not expecting a miracle. I know Dan isn’t going to come running back to me because I saved his mother. Fuck, he’s not even going to know about it. I just...I want to give the tiniest chance I can for Dan to have the family he deserves,” I said, leaning back against the wall of the gym.

  “Just be careful d
ealing with these guys. They’re dicks of the worst shape and they will try and trap you,” she said.

  “Got it. Short dicks with deep curve.”

  She hung up laughing.

  I turned back just in time to see little Ash sweep tall Isla and pin her by the throat. “Isla! How did you not see that coming?”

  Ash backed off and Isla sat up. “Sorry boss, I got distracted,” Isla said, looking at me, then across the gym. Colin, an associate of mine, had walked in and was scanning his card, flirting with the chick behind the desk. I rolled my eyes, then turned back to her with my arms crossed.

  “Man whore. Player. Big dick. There, questions answered. Get back to work,” I said. Ash reached her hand out to help Isla up, and I knew what would happen before it did. Isla took Ash’s hand, grinned, and pulled Ash down, rolling on top of her and pinning her to the mat.

  “God, I’m training airheads,” I mumbled to myself.

  “But fuck me, they look good like that,” Colin said from behind me. I turned to him

  with a smirk.

  “Stop eye-fucking my bitches, you used condom,” I said.

  Colin brought his hand to his chest. “You wound me. But at least you know I take precautions,” he said with a wink, then turned to the treadmills. I heard a yelp behind me and watched Ash take Isla down, again, because Colin distracted her.

  I rolled my eyes again but chuckled at her. I knew how easy it was to get distracted by Colin. He was tall, built, tattooed, and his smile could melt the panties right off a nun. Unfortunately for me, Colin would never be a distraction for me again.

  The title of “Distraction” would belong to Dan from here on out.

  Chapter 23

  Corra

  I flung the door open to Walker Investments and walked in like I owned the place. What? I don’t knock. And anyone who walked into a place ran by shady shits like the Walkers without swagger is asking to get shot.

  A young man with close-cropped brown hair and light brown eyes in a gray suit stuck his head out of the office closest to me, then a slick smile crossed his face. “Can I help you?”

  I stared at him long enough for that stupid smile to slip before I finally said, “Yeah. I need to make a deposit for Margo Smith.”

  His jaw dropped and another man hurried out of a back office. He was about my age, maybe a little older, with close-cropped brown hair and light eyes. The family resemblance was uncanny. He was wearing a navy suit and he was built heavier than his younger counterpart. He stared at me suspiciously for a moment, then reached out to shake my hand. Scars crisscrossed his knuckles, and I idly wondered why he’d hire Cay when he was obviously capable and experienced.

  “Drew Walker. I handle Margo’s portfolio. You are?”

  “Corra Parker.”

  Drew kept his eyes on me, studying me for another minute before looking over my shoulder at the boy behind me with a warning in his eyes. “Lovely to meet you, Ms. Parker. My office is just this way,” he said, gesturing me to pass him.

  We entered his office and instead of keeping up pretenses, he said, “What’s Margo to you?” his voice suspicious.

  “Friend. What does she owe?”

  Drew scoffed. “You want me to believe Margo is friends with a hitman?”

  “I don’t give a rat’s ass what the fuck you believe. What does she owe?” I wasn’t surprised he knew of me; Cay was a recurring contractor for him, and— let’s face it— I’m damn good at what I do and I have a name.

  “$150.”

  “You let a woman with no job, living in a rundown piece of shit shack borrow $150k? Do I look stupid to you?”

  Drew sat down in his chair, leaning back, and steepling his fingers in front of him. “You want to get her out of debt, that’s what you’ll pay.”

  “Fuck you. I’ll pay her debt and no more or you’ll be the one with cracked ribs.”

  “What do you get out of it?”

  “None of your fucking business. What does she owe, or you’ll get what I give you and take her off your list.”

  “$50.”

  I quirked an eyebrow. He sighed and said, “$12. Jesus, Corra, you’re killing my business.”

  “Better than killing you, though, right?”

  He ran his hand through his hair and blew out a breath. “Yeah. Am I to assume I’m no longer allowed to assist her?”

  “I don’t care if you do or don’t. This is the only time you’ll see me.” I reached in my pocket to get my phone and tell Ash to bring the case in after taking out five grand.

  His eyes wandered over me, and I could see them heat. “What if I don’t want it to be?” he asked smoothly, licking his bottom lip.

  “Too bad,” I said as the knock came on his door. Ash came in and set the briefcase on his desk and stood next to me. “There’s fifteen there. Call it a bonus for not pissing me off.”

  I turned and started to the door, Ash hot on my heels. “Corra,” he said, and I turned.

  “She’s going to keep coming back to me.”

  I shrugged, “That’s on her.”

  “You gonna keep bailing her out?”

  “What the fuck did I just say, Drew? This is the only time you’ll see me. If she does end up owing you again, don’t fucking come to me, either, or you’ll leave with your testicles in your stomach,” I said, and turned and left the office.

  *****

  I knocked on Margo Smith’s door after leaving Walker Investments. I heard hesitant steps coming toward the door before a woman said, “Can I help you?” through the door.

  “Open up Margo, we need to have a conversation,” I said, not even trying to put on a front.

  “I don’t know you,” she said shakily.

  “You know my partner, and trust me, you’d rather talk to me than her.”

  I heard the lock twist and the door cracked open. A brown eye shaped just like Dan’s peeked out, and she said, “What can I do for you?”

  “Open the door. You don’t want to have this conversation on your doorstep.” The door opened wider and she stepped back, eyeing me warily.

  I closed the door behind me and stood in front of Dan’s mother. I could see the resemblance, right down to the anxiety shining in her eyes. “You have a problem. Actually, you have several problems. Fortunately, I’ve solved one short-term problem for you. One time, and one time only, I’ve made it so that you won’t have a visit from my partner tonight. Your job right now is to get your shit straight so that my partner will never have to visit you again. Your gambling problem is going to get you killed, and I really don’t want to be the one in charge of that. I’ve paid your debt this time, but it won’t happen again.

  “If you don’t want to end up on the wrong end of my scope, I suggest you find yourself a meeting, a sponsor, and a schedule to stick to. I suggest you make things right with your son, the only person you have left in the world who might care about you. You’ve done him wrong his entire life and he deserves better. Get over your shit and build a relationship with that man, because he should be the only thing you care about. You may have lost your husband, but he lost his father, and even though neither of you were very good to him, he turned out to be a great man worth knowing and loving. Clean yourself up and give him the family he deserves.”

  I finished my rant and turned to leave before her quiet voice broke the silence. “Dan...is he ok?”

  I whirled back on her so fast I blew the curtains. “Is he ok? No, he’s not fucking ok. The people who were supposed to care for him, nurture him, help him flourish were fucking addicts who didn’t care for anything beyond their next fix. You know why you have never seen his house? Because he doesn’t want you to know where he lives so you don’t rob him or lead thugs like me to his goddamn door—”

  “Hey, you don’t—”

  “I do fucking know! And I do have a right to say this shit to you because you’ve been such a selfish bitch that you don’t even care what you’ve done to him! All he’s ever needed from you was love
and you couldn’t be bothered. So I’ll give you one chance at redemption, but I swear to fucking god Margo, if your name ever crosses my desk again I won’t hesitate to make sure you can’t hurt him anymore.” I turned and left, slamming the door behind me.

  Dan

  I sent my mother’s call to voice mail for the second time and placed my phone face down on my desk. I wanted to be concerned that something was wrong, but I wasn’t really. If something were wrong, she’d leave a message.

  I’d been in my new role as department manager for two weeks, and I have to say...I didn’t really feel any different than when I was just a CPA. Granted, I had to break up childish squabbles over clients, who drank from Anne’s mug, and I had to take away one of Mack’s new-to-him toys, but I was still working accounts and even trying to bring in more business. I had an office with a door that could close and lock, my name in block letters on the glass, a nice, large desk with client chairs in front of it, windows behind me, and plants on my windowsill. I was trying to make Permanent Dan someone I could be mostly proud of, and that meant contacting and networking with new people. Old Dan would have never had the courage to reach out to potential clients, but Permanent Dan was trying to be better. A rap on my door made me look up to see Alaina standing there, smiling shyly. She’d never been shy with me before, and in fact, often came across as very comfortable in her skin. Her sudden bashfulness would have made me curious had I not met Corra, but as it was, I felt indifferent toward her.

  “Can I help you, Alaina?”

  “Um,” she said, shifting on her feet. “I...some of the people on the floor are going out tonight, to Happy Hour at Cressil’s? I wanted to invite you.”

  I smiled tightly at her. “Thank you, Alaina, but unfortunately I have made other plans for the evening.”

  She glanced at the floor, then back up again and nodded. “Ok, well, just thought I’d ask. We’re all glad you got Jason’s job. Things are feeling much smoother out here on the floor, and, well...we like you as our boss.”

  My smile widened. “Thank you for that. I’m glad I’m making things easier on you guys.”

  Alaina smiled and turned, then hesitated like she wanted to say something else. “Anything else?”