“Are your parents divorced?”
“Nope.” I shake my head and cut another piece of waffle. “He just left. They’re still married. Mom thinks he’ll come home to her when he’s got it out of his system. She’s just patiently waiting. Meanwhile, she’s stuck with the house and all the bills and a daughter who can’t support herself.” I laugh lightly.
“You’re working on that.”
“I am. But she doesn’t get that either. She’s the practical one in the family.”
“No brothers or sisters?”
“No.” I make a face. “Spoiled only child.”
“You’re not spoiled.”
“Oh, I am. Or was.” I let out a gusty sigh. “I didn’t realize how much until I was out of work. My family wasn’t wealthy, but we were comfortable. I had a part-time job as a teenager, and I used it for expensive makeup and cellphones and designer clothes. I got a good job right out of college and I kept spending money on those things. I didn’t have much saved up when I lost my job, and I thought I’d find something right away. I didn’t realize what a mess I was creating for myself with the lawsuit, and I was pretty bitter that I couldn’t buy new shoes and go out to clubs and spend fifteen bucks on a cocktail.” I keep my tone light, but I’m not proud of the way I was. I don’t even like talking about it, but he told me about his sad story, so what the hell. We’ve seen each other naked, might as well bare everything. “I learned some hard lessons, but it took a while.”
He’s watching me, his face relaxed again, his mouth soft. “At least you learned.”
I nod, his support bringing on a rush of warmth in my chest.
“Why did you decide to sue? What did they do that was so bad anyway?”
“Ugh. The company I worked for is a big chain of resorts and time-share properties. Lexington Resorts. They have operations all over the world. I got to travel a lot to some really gorgeous places. Anyway, they sell a lot of time-share to seniors, and when I got more involved in that side of the business, I started to see that they were using some very unethical practices. Reps were preying on older time-share owners to get them to increase their holdings and told them that the company would buy back their ownership stakes if they didn’t want them anymore. They opened credit card accounts for buyers without their knowledge or approval. They verbally told them all kinds of things that were totally different than what was in contracts, and the seniors believed everything they were told and handed over their money.” I close my eyes, remembering the devastation and heartbreak of some of those seniors. “The company set sales goals that were impossible to meet if reps were actually following policies and regulations. They were breaking laws.” I pause, that anger flaring again inside me.
“Wow.” Easton tilts his head. “That’s shitty.”
“It was awful. I saw the lives they were ruining by taking those poor seniors’ life savings, knowing they’d never see that money again.” I pause, then say regretfully, “My own grandma got sucked into it. I felt horrible. I wanted to do something about it. Only I didn’t realize how high up the corruption went. When I first approached my boss about my concerns, he brushed me off. He knew what was going on. They wanted more business and they didn’t care how they did it. Then I complained higher. And they started to retaliate against me. They said I wasn’t supporting their agenda, not being a team player.” Bitterness edges my tone.
“Shit.”
I nod. “Then I got fired.”
“Bastards.”
A quick smile pulls at my lips. “Yeah. I was pissed. At first three of my colleagues joined me in my lawsuit. But then the company settled with them and they dropped out. I was the only one left, and when they offered me a settlement, I told them I’d only take it if they changed their policies to help protect customers. They refused.”
“Wow.” He stares at me. “That takes guts.”
I lift one shoulder. “Not sure if it’s guts or stupidity. Everyone was telling me to take the money and get on with my life. Like I said, I had no idea how far they’d retaliate. They smeared my name in the hospitality business, and as soon as potential employers heard what I was doing, there was no way they’d hire me. I didn’t know how bad things would get. But…” I pull in a long breath and straighten my shoulders. “That just made me more determined to make them pay. And to try to stop them from doing it to other people.”
He moves his head slowly from side to side as if finding it hard to believe what he just heard. “That’s amazing, Lilly.”
Tension unexpectedly releases from my body, tension I wasn’t even aware had gathered while I talked. I suck on my bottom lip and hold his gaze. “Really?”
“Yeah…”
“You don’t think I’m a money-hungry troublemaker?”
His lips twitch. “Uh. No.” He tilts his head, as if thinking. “Maybe…idealistic?”
I frown. “Because I think businesses should have principles and ethics?”
He grimaces. “Of course they should. But that’s not realistic.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Oh, here we go. This is what everyone told me. ‘Get rid of those rose-colored glasses.’ ‘You can’t fix all the injustices in the world.’ I don’t want to fix all the injustices in the world, but maybe this is something I can fix.”
He sets down his fork and holds up his hands. “You’re right. And that’s not what I’m saying. I admire your principles.”
I eye him skeptically.
“Really.” He leans over and smooches my mouth. He meets my eyes. “I do.”
“Thank you. Not everyone has.”
“I get that. And I’m sorry.”
“Thanks.”
“I also think it takes a lot of strength to do what you did. Maybe you didn’t know all the consequences, but you wanted to do the right thing.”
“Yes.” My heart is pattering wildly.
“That’s really brave.”
Oh my God, I want to toss the food aside and jump him again. He’s making me all soft and squishy inside. I drop my gaze to the plate on my lap. “Thank you,” I say again. This man’s opinion of me…matters.
At that moment, Otis makes himself heard again. We both turn toward the door, back to each other, then laugh.
“Poor Otis.” I lift my plate. “I’m done. How about you?”