Wife Wanted (A Billionaire Bad Boy Romance)(10)
“When I can take her home?” she asked when the crying stopped.
“In two days. I want to hold her and make sure there was no severe head damage from the fall.”
Phoebe nodded as she stood and grabbed her purse. “Thank you, Doctor. Really.”
“I’ll try another prescription for you. It might hold off any attacks, but Phoebe, that surgery is going to be the only thing that saves your mother.”
She knew it, but what could she do? She kissed her mom—who was still asleep—goodbye and headed out the door. Charlotte was waiting for her in the hall. “How’d it go?”
“She’s not doing well,” Phoebe said. “I have to get the money for that surgery.”
“You can’t work anymore,” her friend argued. “You’re already barely getting any sleep at night! Why don’t I loan you the money?”
“No way, and no offense, but you don’t have that much,” she said as she pressed the button for the elevator. “I lied to Doctor Chambers about the insurance. They won’t cover Mom, not anymore. They’re getting ready to drop her.”
“What? They can’t do that.”
Phoebe hung her head. “Apparently they can, and I can’t get her on mine.”
She’d been working for her company for years, barely making ends meet. She was just an office monkey really, working in the archives room. The assistant to the big wigs who actually made the money. But when the time came for her to need help and ask for it, they’d told her she could either find a new job or stop whining about her salary. That was Monday. She’d taken a week of vacation just to piss them off.
“Doesn’t matter, I’ll just have to go back to the bank and plead for a loan somehow.”
“Actually…why don’t I come over after my shift? I have something that might help you out,” her friend said. “And I’ll bring the wine?”
“Another one of your crazy schemes?”
“Maybe, but this one actually might work. See you in a bit.”
Charlotte hurried off as the elevator doors opened and Phoebe stepped in. She wondered how many others right beside her were in desperate situations. What were they doing about it? What could any of them do about it?
Chapter 5
Around six, there was a knock at Phoebe’s door. Charlotte was right on time and, as promised, came in toting six bottles of wine and a bottle of tequila. “I didn’t know what you’d want, so I brought both,” she said as Phoebe laughed.
“I think I’ll start with the wine, for now.”
“Good choice.”
“So, mind filling me in on this great idea of yours?”
Charlotte grinned as she pulled out two wine glasses from the kitchen cabinet and opened a bottle of deep red. “First you need a drink.”
“That bad, huh?” Phoebe laughed as she took the glass and sipped the liquid. It went down smooth and fruity. “You waste this expensive stuff on me.”
“You’re worth it.”
They made their way, bottle of wine in hand, to the couch and plopped down. Not that there was anywhere else to sit, really. Phoebe’s tiny little place had been perfect for her, but when her parents moved in, the walls seemed to close in. Maybe she’d try to find a new place. Yeah? And with what money are you going to do that? Quit dreaming.
“Phoebe, you okay?”
“Yeah, sorry, just…I don’t think I like this place anymore.”
“Hmm, I think you just need a man in your life,” her friend said, twirling her blonde hair around a finger. She glanced around the living room, then her eyes landed on the suit jacket hanging on a peg by the door. “Speak of the devil.”
“What?” Phoebe watched her jump up and grab the suit jacket. It’d finally dried out in the tub so she’d hung it, hoping to stop it from getting wrinkled. “Oh, that.”
“Yes, that. Who’s is this?”
“It’s not what you think, promise.”
Charlotte laughed in disbelief. “Whatever. You’re just holding out on me.”
“No, some nice guy at the cemetery gave it to me when it started raining,” she said, getting up to try and take it back from Charlotte. “I don’t even know the guy’s name.”
“Well, whoever he is, he’s got money. Did you feel this material? It’s like butter! And tailored, too. Damn, why couldn’t you have gotten a number?”