Lily pointed at the cut on my face and couldn’t hold back–she went through Harrison’s entire family tree again.


    I nodded immediately: “Mr. Harrison, I was actually about to tell you–this job’s way too dangerous. I’m quitting.”


    I handed Pearl, who <b>I’d </b>just calmed down, back to Harrison.


    The second Pearl left my arms, she started having another meltdown.


    Harrison aged like twenty years in that moment, his voicepletely shot:


    “Evelyn, if it’s about money, I can raise your sry. Look at her–Pearl can’t function without you.”


    “Whatever you need, just name it. I’ll make it happen, but please… don’t quit…”


    I’d never seen the always–in–control Mr. Harrison grovel like this before.


    More importantly, Pearl wasn’t just any kid–she had autism. We’d worked so hard to build trust, and <b>if </b><b>I </b>just ghosted


    her now, would that really be fair?


    My brain was total soup. Before I could figure anything out, Kira went full psycho.


    When the cops weren’t looking, she broke free and came at me screaming:


    “You maniptive bitch! You actually got my husband on his knees begging you to stay!”


    “But I’ll never let you win! I’m gonna mess up that face–let’s see how you seduce my husband with that knockoff look when it’s all jacked up…”


    Of course Kira didn’t get her shot.


    The cops body–mmed her onto the floor immediately.


    Her face was twisted with pure crazy, still running her mouth.


    This time even Harrison was done with her.


    He just held his daughter, looked away, and let the cops haul Kira’s ass out.


    Lily and I bounced,


    Next morning Harrison called to apologize and wired five million to my ount for medical bills.


    “Evelyn<b>, </b>I’m so sorry.”


    “If–and I mean if<b>–</b><b>I </b>get my home situation under control, would you maybe consider helping me with Pearl again?<b>” </b>


    13:24


    Hell Yeah. Forget the Other Woman. My Smart <b>House </b>Was Cheating On Me<b>! </b>


    24.2<b>% </b>


    Chapter <b>5 </b>


    <b>I </b>didn’t answer.


    Harrison’s beat–down voice came through:


    “Sorry<b>, </b>that was way out of line.”


    “I owe you huge for all this shit. If you ever need anything, anything at all, just hit me up.”


    I kept it polite and agreed.


    Kira made bail after three days, which had Lily seeing red.


    But honestly, no real damage was done.


    I was the only casualty–just a scratch on my face–and for five million bucks, I signed off on it.


    Lily was throwing air punches:


    “If it were me, no fucking way would I settle. I’d make sure that psycho bitch did hard time.”


    I sighed: “This little nick barely counts as assault. Forget prison–they couldn’t even hold her for a week.”


    “Might as well bank that goodwill with Mr. Harrison. Plus, he just made me five million dors richer.”


    Kira might be certifiably insane, but her batshit breakdown got me paid.


    I just felt awful for Pearl.


    Even though Lily hooked her up with another specialist, word was it was going terribly.


    Seeing me all mopey, Lily pped my shoulder:


    “Alright, I know what’s eating you, but cut it out.”


    “Life’s gonna life. Some things are totally out of your hands.”


    “So what’s the game n? Wannae work with me?”


    I shook my head: “I’m going back to school.”


    When I first took the Pearl gig<b>, </b>it wasn’t just because Lily hooked me up–I was broke as hell.


    But now I was sitting pretty, so obviously I wanted to get back to my studies.


    What I didn’t expect was walking into my advisor’s office on day one of my PhD program and seeing someone I never thought I’d run into again.