“Eleanor, look at you, working so long your eyes are red.”
“Mom feels bad, come, drink some hot milk and rest,” she added, reaching for the power switch without asking.
I quickly hit Save and snapped the laptop shut.
“No, there’s a mistake in the report. The boss told us to work overtime.”
“I probably won’t be back tonight. I’ll have to stay at the office all night.”
I couldn’t stand being in that house another second; I had to get out fast. But just as I reached for my coat, Mom blocked me with a quick, firm move.
“You’re my everything. After working late for half a month, do you still want to go? How could I let you?” she said, her eyes full of fake concern.
“Give me your phone. I’ll tell your boss you’re not coming in, let’s just rest at home!” She reached for my phone.
Ever since I started working, whenever Mom wasn’t happy with my hours or tasks, she would grab my phone and complain to my boss. Because of that, I had been scolded again and again, forced to change jobs over and over.
I valued this job, especially this proposal. If it went well, I could get promoted, earn more, maybe even transfer to the Palmer headquarters, finally breaking free from this family.