Good Karma (39 page)

She parked at the table by her dad, who was
paying eagle-eyed attention to the conversation, ready to jump in
to rescue her at a moment’s notice. Which, of course, was what
Johnny wanted him to do and what Karma wanted to prevent.

“Work’s fine,” she said casually.

“I hear a consultant has come in to
restructure the company and lay people off.” Johnny exchanged
glances with Jolene, who sneered.

Of course Johnny would have heard about that.
But what bothered Karma even more was to hear Johnny talking about
Mark with that self-righteous tone. “I suppose our esteemed Jolene
told you that, huh?” Karma pointed her beer bottle Jo’s way. Karma
was no longer the quiet one who kept her mouth shut. A couple
months ago, Karma wouldn’t have been confrontational. She would
have taken their shit and let Johnny cut her to the quick. But that
was old Karma. Johnny had yet to meet Karma, version
two-point-oh.

“Is it a secret?” Estelle said innocently.
Too innocently, which was confirmation that Jo had been talking
about Mark. And probably her, too.

“If I were you, I’d get my résumé ready and
start looking for a new job,” Johnny said. “We recently let go two
of our administrative staff. They’re simply not needed, anymore.
Unemployment statistics show that administrative employees are on
the endangered species list. Their jobs are becoming obsolete, with
management taking on more of the tasks typically done by
administrators. This consultant guy is probably going to axe your
job, sis.”

“That’s enough, Johnny,” her dad said,
jumping to her defense.

But Karma could fight her own battles now.
“No, Dad. It’s okay.” She placed her hand on his arm.

Estelle leaned forward and tapped her bony,
cold fingers on the back of Karma’s hand. “Don’t worry. If you lose
your job, I know the Director of Human Resources at the University
Hospital Downtown. I helped decorate her new home. I’m sure I can
get you in for an interview.”

“First of all,” Karma said to Johnny, “shut
up.” Then she turned on Estelle. “And
don’t worry
, Estelle,
I’m not going to lose my job. I don’t know the first thing about
working in a hospital, anyway, and wouldn’t want to.”

“Look, Karma,” Estelle said in that quiet,
fake-concerned tone of hers, “Jo told us all about the consultant
you’re working with.” She nodded between Jo and Johnny then looked
back at Karma. “We’re just trying to help.” The way Estelle said
the word
help
made it clear that Jo had gossiped about how
she thought Karma and Mark were an item.

She wasn’t going to give them any more fuel
for that fire, but she could sure turn on the fire hose.

“You know,” she said, looking at Jo.
“Johnny’s right. Administrative staff
is
becoming obsolete,
and one or two of Solar’s admin staff just might get the axe before
Mark’s job here is done. So, Jo, has Johnny suggested that you get
your
résumé in order and start looking for a new job, too?
The way I see it, I outrank you, and since I already do half your
job while keeping up with my own, I figure that if I go, you go.
What do you think? Wouldn’t that make sense to you?” She glared at
Jo, then Estelle, and then Johnny.

All three looked a bit stunned. She had never
doused them with their own vitriol before. Always in the past, she
had taken their crap in near silence.

But this was the new her, and she was ready
to unleash a little payback.

“Uumm…” Jo’s yap opened and shut, but no
words came out.

Johnny started to say something, but Karma
cut him off.

“No. You shut up for once, you self-righteous
little shit.” She got up and shoved her finger into his chest.
“I’ve had enough of your crap,
little brother
. Emphasis on
little.” She dropped her gaze to his crotch and let it rest there
long enough to let everyone know what she was referring to. She had
grown up with the weasel and seen him in his birthday suit a time
or two—after which she had wanted to burn out her eyes. But he
wasn’t exactly packing heat in the meat department the same way she
wasn’t packing it up top. She suddenly wanted to kick herself for
not realizing that sooner. Using that against him when they were
kids might have shut him up. Better late than never, because he was
certainly quiet now, with a red face to boot.

Karma pointed at Jo then glared at Johnny
again. “I suppose she’s tried to tell you that the consultant and I
have a thing going on, too. Am I right? She’s trying to pass that
shit around the office, too.”

Estelle averted her gaze. Johnny set his jaw
uncomfortably.

“And you believed her, didn’t you? Even
though you know she lies and gossips about everything. Everyone
knows it. She’s a big, fat, lazy liar, and you both think she would
be telling you the truth about…what? An affair? That I’m sleeping
with some guy that could ‘axe my job’?” She made air quotes at
Johnny. “Really? You think I’m that stupid? You’re such an
ass!”

Technically, she wasn’t lying. She and Mark
hadn’t slept together. Not yet, anyway, in either the literal or
figurative meaning of the phrase.

But so what if she was? She hated lying, but
if lying was the only way to put Johnny and Estelle in their place
and get Jo off her trail, she would lie her ass off. She wasn’t
going to let Mark get in trouble for what they were doing with one
another. He was the best thing that had ever happened to her, and
she would do whatever it took to protect his job and his
reputation.

By now, Mom had rejoined them on the patio.
She held a plate of corn on the cob wrapped in foil, and Dad was
standing behind her like a sentry.

“I’ve had it with all three of you,” Karma
said. “I don’t want to hear one more word from any of you about my
job, my personal life, or anything else. Got it?” She looked at Jo.
“And if I hear any more rumors or gossip you’ve spread that I’m
being inappropriate with Mark, I’m going to HR and filing a report,
and I don’t think you’ll like what I put in it.” She thought about
Jo’s affair with Jake. “You hear me, Jo? I’m finished with your
shit.” She turned toward Johnny. “And as for you, pencil dick, my
name is Karma. From now on, you call me by my given name or risk
this being the only child you’ll ever have.” She pointed to
Estelle’s belly. “Because your nuts will be too far up your ass to
give you a second. I’m done being your punching bag.”

The Three Stooges remained speechless.

After several long, awkward moments, Dad
stepped forward. “I think the three of you should go.” Dad squared
his shoulders and gestured toward the door. “You weren’t invited
today for a reason, Johnny, and until you can behave like a part of
this family, maybe you should keep your distance.”

Mom nodded, even if the look on her face
showed she was still trying to process Karma’s smackdown.

“Fine.” Johnny gestured toward the sliding
door and followed Jo and Estelle as they disappeared inside. He
stopped and glared at Karma. “We’re leaving,
Karma
. Enjoy
your dinner.”

“Oh, we will.” Her own glare never wavered,
and she held Johnny’s gaze like her eyes had claws. Johnny finally
broke the contact and left.

“Okay, where did that come from?” Dad said,
sitting down at the table.

Karma turned and looked at her parents. “I’m
just done, Dad. I’m done being the victim. Especially Johnny’s
victim.”

This was the new her. The empowered, strong,
confident Karma. Okay, so she had a way to go before she was
totally transformed, but standing up to Johnny, Jo, and Estelle was
a major first step.

Mom hugged her. “I’m proud of you, honey. I
mean, he’s my son, and I love him, too, but I understand where
you’re coming from. He’s made your life pretty miserable for a long
time now.”

Why couldn’t she and Johnny have the kind of
relationship other people had with their siblings? At one time, she
had tried everything to get along with Johnny. All she’d done was
tear herself into emotional shreds. Until Johnny grew up and took
his head out of his ass, she couldn’t be around him.

She headed inside to the bathroom.

The door opened and Jo stepped out, her face
flushed. When she saw Karma, fire rose in her eyes. “That was a
nice show out there,” she hissed, crossing her arms.

“Are you finished? I have to pee.” Karma was
so done with this bitch.

Jo grabbed her arm, refusing to let her pass.
“You might have your parents and everyone else fooled, but I know
the truth.”

“Let go of me and get out of my way. I’m not
playing your games, anymore.” She tore her arm from Jo’s grasp.

A smug grin plastered over Jo’s face. “I saw
Mark pulling into your apartment complex the other night.”

Karma’s heart nearly stopped. “So? Big deal.”
Jo could have been bluffing. Doubtful but possible. Karma began to
shove past her only for Jo to block the hall.

“I couldn’t believe it was him, of course. I
couldn’t imagine why he would be pulling into
your
apartment
complex unless he was going to see you.” Jo looked way too
imperious. “So I turned around. I had to know for sure, because, I
mean…” Her gaze strolled down Karma’s body then back to her face.
“Look at you.” She curled her upper lip. “You’re so…plain.” She
said the word like it was another name for the plague.

Karma cocked her head to the side, her heart
hammering. “You’re not going to get to me, Jo. You’re just trying
to cause trouble. I’m not the only one who lives in those
apartments. If it was Mark, he could have been there to see someone
else.”

Jo’s smile turned sickly sweet with a hint of
poison. “Oh no, he was there to see you.” She paused as if she
wanted to prolong the suspense.

Despite the panic awakening her fight or
flight response, Karma held herself together. It wasn’t as if she
was completely uninsured if Jo had seen her with Mark. She still
had a powerful ace in her pocket. If she had to play it to keep
Jo’s mouth shut, she was ready. “Do you think you might get to the
point sometime today, Jo. I really do have to pee.”

Jo puffed out a derisive breath. “I pulled
around to your apartment and saw Mark’s car outside your building.
Then I looked up to your window and saw you open the door and let
him in. He kissed you.” Jo’s blue eyes burned with jealousy and
arrogance. “So deny it all you want, Karma. You’re fucking him.
You’re fucking our consultant.” A venomous half-smile widened her
mouth. “He must be pretty hard up if you’re the best he can get.”
She chuffed. “Just wait until I file a complaint with human
resources about this. He’ll be gone like that.” She snapped her
fingers. “And you won’t be the little do-gooder, anymore.”

Jo began to walk past, but Karma caught her
arm and yanked her back, spinning on her.

“Well, if you do, make sure to tell them
about how you’re fucking your boss while you’re at it,” she
said.

Jo’s face drained of color, and the air in
the hall plunged into ice.

“Oops. I guess I wasn’t supposed to know
that, huh?” Karma offered a sugary grin. “Oh well, surprise!”

“You have no proof.”

“I have all the proof I need. I saw you with
him. The same way you saw Mark with me.” She let that sink in. “You
were at the store. In the condom aisle. I think you told him—and
this is a quote—’I’m going to ride you so hard.’ And I think you
might have also said you would fuck him right there if you could.”
She paused to let Jo mentally catch up. “I was there, hiding behind
the hair brushes, you unbelievable idiot.” She shook her head.
“Jake. What are you thinking, Jo?
Jake
. He’s
married
.
To the
owner’s daughter
. Talk about colossal fails. This
takes the cake.” She offered Jo a half-shrug. “I wonder what would
happen to you and Jake if someone were to let HR know you two are
fucking each other? In the office, no less. Don’t think I haven’t
figured that out, and I’m sure plenty of others have, too, and
would vouch for my story if I came forward with what I know. I
mean…” Karma sucked her teeth. “I’m not known to be a gossip like
you are. I haven’t pissed off half the office with my backstabbing
lies like you have. So, when I open my mouth about something this
scandalous, I think I’ll have a lot more ears than you will. People
might actually pay attention to what I have to say and not brush me
under the rug as a frivolous troublemaker. Regardless, if this gets
out, I don’t think it would be good for either of you, Jo. Jake
would lose his job. Probably lose his wife. And you’d be shunned if
not fired.”

“You bitch.”

Karma smiled. “Well, I’ve been called worse.
By you, no less.”

Jo continued to seethe, but she seemed lost
for words. Apparently, she hadn’t expected a rebuttal to her
threat.

“So, you go ahead and turn Mark and me in,
Jo, and I’ll be sure to do the same to you.” She crossed her arms.
“Now, are you sure you saw Mark at my apartment, or do you think it
might’ve-could’ve-been someone else?”

The color had returned to Jo’s face, and it was the
deepest shade of crimson Karma had ever seen. The
defiant-but-defeated look in Jo’s eyes made it clear she knew Karma
had her by the throat. Her hands were tied. If she even whispered a
hint of what she knew about her and Mark, Karma would have her job
within the hour. And not just her job, but Jake’s, too. As well as
Jake’s marriage. Karma would only get a slap on the hand, because
at least she wasn’t involved with a married man—the owner’s
son-in-law, no less. Jo’s crime was far worse than Karma’s, and Jo
knew it. She stood to lose a lot more than Karma did.

“Fine. It was someone else.” Jo spun and
marched away.

A moment later, the front door slammed
shut.

Karma ducked into the bathroom, her hands
shaking. She had revealed her ace. But at least now she had secured
an unlikely ally in keeping her secret. And she had finally
silenced Jo once and for all. Not to mention her brother. It was
sort of exhilarating seeing the two of them finally get what they
deserved. For so long, they had dished a nasty spew of insults at
her, but today, in one empowered moment, she had turned the tables
and shut them both down.