Under the Cornerstone Read Online Free PDF Page A

trash can. Then, I make sure all my doors and windows are locked before I go to bed. I check my phone before I lay down and find over sixty texts. Thirty are from Johnny. I don't bother responding to any of them. What happened to me is none of their business. 
    I hear Johnny talking through the door, but I can't make out his words. I stick my foot out and slam my bedroom door shut, and then I go to fucking sleep. I’m not staying up all night arguing with him. I have a job I love as a marketing associate at the biggest firm in Manhattan. I got the dream job. I’ve always planned to stay at Kohler & Kohler for my entire career and climb the corporate ladder. I love what I do and I can’t afford to drag ass tomorrow after I called in sick today.
     

    I wake before my alarm goes off and begin the tedious task of covering my face the best I can. I don’t need to be the center of office gossip. Picking out a wardrobe in cool weather makes the task of dressing for concealment easy. 
    When I open my door, Johnny is slumped against the wall, but he springs to his feet.
    "I've been waiting for you all night,” he says with a sleepy voice.
    I turn away from him to lock my door and then walk towards the elevator.
    "Noe, wait up."
    I press the call button and stare straight ahead. We stand in silence and wait. I step into the car when it arrives and he follows.
    "Look, I know you're pissed at me, but I told you everything last night. I swear to God it’s the truth.”
    “I wasn’t concerned with what you had to say. Didn’t hear it. I went to bed,” I respond.
    “Shit,” he says and runs his hands through his hair. “I fucked up. I wanted to be the one to tell you that your name was leaked in the story about our arrests. I'm so fucking sorry,” he says with genuine regret in his voice.
    They know my name? 
    “Who leaked my name?” I ask from behind clenched teeth.
    He shrugs, but I know just as well as he does what vile creature threw my name in the ring.
    “I’m going to poison Leo the next time I see him. You may want to give him a head’s up,” I warn.
    The elevator doors open, he whispers my name, I turn to him and raise my hand slapping the shit out of him. Then I turn on my heel and get the fuck out of dodge.  He tries to follow me through the building’s front entrance, but I turn on my heel and stick my finger in his face.
    "Do not fucking follow me. Do not show up at my house or my job. Do not call me or text me. Do not send news from a friend. I'm done, Johnny. You did this. It's all on you.  I'm going to work, so please leave me the fuck alone!" I end in a shrill scream that paints shock across his face.
    "Noely baby..."
    Using both hands, I push my hands into his chest with all my might and send him back two steps.
    "Are you fucking deaf?!! Leave me alone!" 
    His eyes well up with tears and it's almost enough to break my resolve, but then I remember what he told me in the elevator. 
    They know my name. 
    That's enough for me to stay strong, turn around, and take my ass to work. He apparently got the message at some point because he doesn't follow.
    When I get to work, I find an email from my supervisor asking me to report to her office as soon as I arrive. I take a deep breath, wonder if I have time for coffee, realize it probably isn’t a good idea, and then suck up my nerves as I walk to her office.
    I know why I’m here when I arrive. Sheila looks up at me with her long, manicured nails. She looks like she should work in the fashion industry instead of marketing. She’s a bitch. I usually don’t pay her much attention.
    “I’m glad you could make it in today, Noely,” shelia sneers at me.
    What the fuck is her problem?
    “Okay?” I respond.
    “When you called me yesterday to advise you wouldn’t be at work due to food poisoning, you should’ve covered all your bases,” she arches her perfectly shaped eyebrow at me.
    “I’m sorry?” I play dumb.
    “Your name is in the Village