Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 887

Evening settled in, the sky turning a deep blue as streetlights blinked on one by one. Inside the repair shop, Emmy had practically fixed everything that could be fixed. She set her screwdriver aside and rubbed her aching neck, trying to work out the tension that made her feel like her head might just fall off.

“Boss, I’m done here. There’s nothing left,” she called out, standing up and glancing at the owner with hope bubbling in her chest. “Can we settle up?”

They had an agreement. With today’s commission, she should have a few hundred bucks coming her way. That would be enough for a cheap room somewhere, maybe even a ferry ticket to finally leave this island.

The owner sat behind the counter, counting a thick stack of bills. When Emmy spoke, he looked up, his face suddenly hard and cold, nothing like the man who’d been smiling earlier. He peeled a single, crumpled note from the pile and tossed it lazily onto the counter.

“Here. Take it and get out.”

Emmy stared at him, then at the bill. Five Fijian dollars. Maybe two US dollars, if that. On this expensive tourist island, it wouldn’t even get her a bottle of water and the cheapest bread roll.

“Boss, did you make a mistake?” Emmy tried to keep her voice steady, even as her frustration simmered. “We agreed on a split. I fixed at least thirty things today. That satellite phone alone sold for a thousand bucks.”

He gave a snort, his cheeks shaking. “A mistake? I gave you five bucks and you’re still complaining? If I didn’t feel bad for you, I wouldn’t even give you that much.” He snatched the bill back before she could react. “You think you’re worth that much? I can hire a local university kid for even less, and they’d do a better job. And don’t forget, I bought you lunch. That wasn’t free, you know. Came from a nice restaurant.”

Emmy’s hands were shaking. “You’re cheating me,” she said, voice low and tight. “Give me what you owe me, or I’m calling the cops.”

He laughed like she’d told the world’s best joke and shot up from his seat, shoving her toward the door. “You’re not even legal here, and you want to call the police? Get out. Don’t make me call security to drag you off this street.”

“Give me my money!” Emmy gripped the doorframe, refusing to let go.

Emmy ducked down the nearest alley and ran, heart pounding, lungs burning. She didn’t stop until every bit of air was squeezed from her chest and the only sounds were her own ragged breaths. She leaned against a mossy wall, gasping, her throat raw and tasting of blood.

Slowly, Emmy slid down to the ground. Everything was silent except for the distant crash of waves. Night had fallen, and the sea breeze cut through her thin clothes. She hugged her knees, curling up in the damp, moldy corner. She’d worked all day, pushed herself until she could barely stand. In the end, she was left with nothing but an empty pocket and exhaustion.

A bitter laugh slipped out, and fat tears rolled down her cheeks, splattering onto the dirty ground. No money. No ID. It didn’t matter how hard she worked or how good she was at fixing things. It was never enough against people who played dirty.

She buried her face in her knees, shoulders shaking until there were no more tears left. After a long while, Emmy wiped her face, eyes burning with a stubborn sort of fierceness in the dark. She’d figure something out when the sun came up. For now, she just needed to rest.

She leaned back against the damp wall, closed her eyes, and before she knew it, exhaustion pulled her into a restless sleep.