Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband

394 My Friend Mia (Cass)

I pull my jacket on. Ziggy leans against the counter, arms crossed, his face a mix of disappointment and frustration.Text content © NôvelDrama.Org.

"What the fuck is an extended break anyway? Fucking stupid," I spit out.

"It's the next step of being fired. You were late again. Third time this week." His voice is quiet but firm, and it cuts through me, hitting harder than I want to admit.

I shrug, forcing a smirk, trying to make it seem like I don't care, like this doesn't sting as much as it does.

"Yeah, whatever. It's just a few minutes here and there. Not the end of the world, right?" My tone is flippant, but Ziggy's not having it. He doesn't even try to soften his expression. "Heads up their fucking asses."

"It was thirty minutes, today, Cass. Then you're busted smoking pot before you started your shift late, Cass. During a shift. I give up." He sighs, running a hand through his hair. "This isn't you. I thought "Thought what?" I snap, standing a little straighter. "That I'd be perfect? I didn't sign up to be anyone's role model."

"You didn't, but I thought you cared about this job, about our friendship," he says quietly. His words land like a punch, but I don't let it show. Instead, I roll my eyes, brushing it off.

"I don't need a guilt bomb, Ziggy. Just back off," I mutter, grabbing my bag and turning away. I don't need his pity, his judgment, or the look in his eyes that says he thought I was better than this. I'm not. Outside, the wind bites against my skin as I pull my jacket tighter, heading towards the tiny apartment I spent all mom's inheritance money on. I'm not surprised to see Mia leaning against my door.

She's been blowing up my phone all week. This day has already gone to shit, may as well keep the good times rolling.

"What?" My voice harsh.

"Cass. We need to talk," Mia's voice is cold, all traces of the casual, friendly Mia I knew fading away." Where's my money?"

I grit my teeth, feeling a wave of resentment bubble up. Every single friend I have hates me today. "I told you, I don't have it right now. I've been trying to pull together what I can, but-"

"I've been nice, Cass. I've been patient." Her voice hardens, and I can feel the shift, the chill. "I covered you when you were low, got you weed, you promised to pay me back. A few thousand isn't just pocket change. I have people that need to be paid too."

A shiver crawls up my spine. She didn't sound this way when she handed me that stuff, acting like she was doing me a favor, like my best friend helping out. "Mia, I'm trying. I really am. But everything I have bills, all that stuff. People owe me money too." "Excuses," Mia snaps. "Your sister and brother-in-law are billionaires, don't act like you can't get money."

I'm not asking Winona. No way. "That's not an option for me. You know that."

394 My Friend Mia

"You knew what this was. Now, if you're stuck, I've got a solution for you." Her tone is smooth, like she's offering a simple fix to a trivial problem.

"What kind of solution?" I ask, wary.

She pauses as she pulls something from her bag. "Here," she says, holding up a small plastic bag filled with pills. "Sell these. You know the crowd. Some of your work buddies like a little extra kick, right?"

I recoil, staring at the bag. "Are you serious? If I get caught with those, I'm done. No job, no chance of getting hired anywhere else."

Mia shrugs, unfazed. "Then maybe don't get caught." She slips the bag into my hand before I can protest, her expression unreadable, cold. "You owe me, Cass. This isn't a joke. The people I get this from aren't exactly forgiving."

My heart pounds, a mix of fear and anger tightening my chest. "You didn't say any of this when you handed me the weed."

"Did you ask?" She tilts her head, raising an eyebrow. "You seemed happy enough to take it when you wanted it. Now it's time to pay up, one way or another. Either find the cash, or you can work it off. Simple as that."

My hands shake as I grip the bag, what she's asking sinking in. "Mia, this could ruin everything. I need this job. I—"

"Lose your job, or lose something in your life," she interrupts, her tone flat, final. "Trust me, Cass, you're not special to the people I get this from. You're a face, a dollar sign. And they don't care if you're desperate. They just care about getting paid."

'It's like a punch to the gut. My mouth goes dry, and I feel the weight of the pills in my hand, the pressure closing in on me. Ziggy's disappointed face flashes in my mind. I'll do it just this once, and then I'll get myself straight again. Mia's gaze hardens. "So, what's it gonna be?"

I swallow, the knot in my throat almost choking me. I shove the pills into my bag. "I'll figure it out."

"Good," she says, her smile sharp and cold. "Because, like I said, excuses aren't gonna work. Clock's ticking."

Without another word, she turns and strides away.

It's okay, just this once. Pay her back and get clean again.

I can do this.