Mother 7Mother 7
Chapter 7
eves across the list before lifting my gaze to meet my mom’s overly cheerful expression. “I can’t believe I skipped having lunch with my
akes her brows, her expression dark with disapproval. “You spend all day with them. I’m just asking for a few hours.”
wesome lame list? Mom, I don’t care about these parties. You know that.”
da, but it doesn’t hurt to try dragging you into it.” She perches on the corner of the desk, crossing her hands. “So, what do you think about the
study going over the guest list for the party my mom is hosting this week. They got back late Saturday night and I didn’t expect to see
until later in the week.
are my daughter and you must do this with me. Your dad is looking at expanding to Australia. We need investors, partners, and advisors. This party is strict for business.” She goes on to say.
Then make it a conference meeting or a press release. Why a party? You just got back from a long trip, Mom.”
She pulls her shoulders back and beckons me to move closer. I oblige. At 41, she’s still a sight for sore eyes. Her gray eyes are warm and her smile is still as beautiful as ever. I’ve never seen my mother frown.
It’s cute competitive out there, Astrid. This party is our way of giving to society and taking back what we want from it. We invite these people, and sell our ideas to theth as they mingle and merry. Convince them to trust us and everything is set.”
release a sigh. “I know the drill. We’ve been over this a million times.”
wonder why you’re still nagging about it. You should be used to it by now.”
Igwe her a humoriess laugh. “I will try.”
Ste Chuckles, pulling away from the seat. My gaze drifts to the door again. She told me Dad stepped out to grab something and it’s been over thirty minutes Isofle a yawn. If she perceives the slightest hint of fatigue, she’ll quiz my brains out and my mother is the last person I want to talk about my wild night with a stranger with.
we spent long hours trying to forget the hulk of a man who made my toes coil Saturday night. The conversation was lit, and the sex was the best I’ve had neons but the aftermath, gosh, I would not wish such a repugnant attitude on my worst enemy. Why the fuck did he just up and leave like that? No phone contact information and i don’t even know his name!
Has scrunching your face and it’s unattractive. What’s eating you up?”
“B” sot exactly a lie. Being a financial consultant is no walk in the park and the new client isn’t an easy man to please.
Fite Bachop working you too hard? Do you want your…”
Mom, nor don’t want Dad interfering in my affair.”
“How to and only child. If you’re under pressure, we must relieve that.”
Can handle it. love it!
She smiles. “To be silly to expect any less from you. You’re your father’s daughter after all.”
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Chapter 7
She slips her arms around me and gives my shoulder a light squeeze. “Ready to talk about Tristar now? How was your birthday party?”
I gulp. I might be tough but certain things weaken my resolve and make me want to puke–like talking about my ex–boyfriend. Morn’s questions are all the signs I need to know that she’s not aware of our breakup- maybe Dad too.
“I trust you’re in the mood for some grilled filet mignon with truffle butter?” Dad intones as he walks into the room.
Tucked under his right arm is a medium–sized box. My face lights up and I hurry across the floor to hug him.
“Hello, Daddy.” I peck his cheeks and take the box from him. “What’s in here?”
“You don’t age at all. See you, looking like a sixteen–year–old. And your eyes, my God, you sure took after your mother. Nothing of mine at all.” He cups my face and brushes my jaw with his thumb, “Happy birthday, Champ. We couldn’t get away faster but we made it here before midnight. Where the hell was your cell phone and that boyfriend of yours, he didn’t take his calls either.”
True. Dad called me that night. I was busy getting fucked to hear my phone ring. “I wasn’t with my phone and I didn’t hear it ring.”
“You don’t sleep until 1 am on your birthday and I called at midnight. Were you incredibly inebriated?” Dad asks, taking my arms as we move to the
couch at the center of the room
“I was watching a movie.”
“That has never stopped you from answering your phone. What happened?”
Apprehension tweaks my insides as mom tosses me confused a frown. I know how this is going to end if I don’t find a way out. I don’t know why we’re talking about Tristan when she invited me over to talk about the party. Perhaps they’ve noticed something and are waiting for me to admit it? I make an inaudible excuse and turn to the bookshelf instead of the couch Dad is trying to tug me into. I run my finger through the books, focusing my mind on the days I spent curled up on the couch and flipping through the pages of Harlequin novels.
I had the perfect picture of the kind of man I wanted to date. I imagined I was only going to date one man, that’d lead to a happily ever after. I was wrong.
Stuff like that only exists in paperbacks. They are never real.
I heave a deep sigh and grab one of the books. “1971 – An Ace up my Sleeves.”
“Are you hungry?” Mom asks, her eyes strained on my face.
I quickly avert my eyes before she deciphers the emotions I’m shielding. I don’t want to think about what their reaction will be when they find out I’m no longer dating Tristan.
“I should head back to work. I have a meeting with this new client at 3 pm.”
“Is it someone we know?”
I smile at Dad. Drop the book back on the shelf and lean down to kiss his hair, “I don’t think so, Daddy.”
Mom comes over and touches my arm, her eyes tender. “I’ll have your father’s secretary forward the list to your email. Will you be free for lunch on Thursday?”
I roll my neck backward. “Mom, I’ll go over the list and get back to you tonight. I’m sure it’s perfect so tell Betty to start sending them out.”
She scoffs. “I won’t do a thing until I hear from you. So hurry up and check them out, alright.”
I wrap my arms around her and nestle my face in the crook of her neck. Her scent hasn’t changed all through these years – lavender with a pinch of rosemary and mint. “You take care, baby, and if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call us.”
“Will do, Mom.”
With my parents now behind me, I will my nerves to relax as I walk down the long hallway to the front door. On a normal day, I would have peeked into
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Chapter 7
my childhood bedroom, to see if things are as I left them when I left for college six years ago.
“Ms. Volkov, I packed a plate for you.”
I hear footsteps hurrying to meet me. It’s the cook, Laura. She’s been working for my family since I was a kid. I stop as the fifty–year–old approaches, her steps are frantic.
“Laura, you didn’t have to.”
“And have you missed out on this deliciousness? I knocked myself out when your mother mentioned that you were coming over.”
After a deliberate hesitation, I reach out and grab the paperback. It’s warm and the scent of garlic sneaks into my nose. Laura always adds herbs to her meals.
“Thank you. I was just about to call my friend at work to order me a sandwich.”
Bah! A sandwich? I’m glad I came right on time.”
I hug her then walk down the front steps and get into my car. It’s sunny but the heat isn’t scorching. When I turn on the ignition, I stick my hand out of the window to wave at Laura, and then pull out of the driveway. I have nothing planned for the rest of the day. I lied about a meeting. I’m not meeting the client until later in the week, perhaps Thursday.
I’ll just head home, crawl into bed, and try not to think about the dark–haired forty–five–year–old man with the body of a twenty–year–old and eyes that made me swoon.
Heat burns beneath at the thought of him.
Blast him!
Blast him for saying all those things to me and doing the exact opposite. A one–night stand doesn’t necessarily mean a ride into the sunshine. So why do I feel like he left me out in the cold with my heart bleeding in pain?
I push aside the thought of my one–night stand as I make my way into my penthouse. I can hear muffled laughter from the direction of my bedroom. Tristan? I pull out my cell phone and place my thumb over the emergency contact. I’m going to have his ass thrown in jail but immediately stopped when 1 heard the lyrics of my favorite songs.
I hum the chorus under my breath as a smile curves the edges of my lips. It’s Lilly. And James Miller’s “no matter what” is her new favorite song. She didn’t have to force me to learn it so we’d sing together. I willingly browsed the lyrics myself because it kind of resonates with how I’ve been feeling lately.
She stops singing and nods approvingly at me as I lean on the wall beside the door. “I’ve been calling you, girl. Where have you been?”
Jsigh and walk into the room. After dropping my bag on the dressing table, I move to sit on the bed. “Mom called.”
“Oh. They’re back already?”
“Yup. Got back on Saturday night.”
Her eyes twinkle. I shake my head and avert my gaze. “I don’t want to talk about the stranger, Lilly. I’m trying to forget it happened.”
She plops down beside me and pulls a pillow onto her lap, resting her elbows on it. “Just because he didn’t stick around doesn’t mean he’s shit. You had good sex, right? That’s what matters.”
I did have good sex, but the fact that he buttered me up – said all those things about meeting up again and then just disappeared without telling me his name sticks in my mind like the stubborn thought that it is.
You were not there, Lilly. You should have seen the way we connected. The passion was like a fiery storm on a calm, sunny day. I – I’ve never experienced
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20:30 Sat 31 May
Chapter 7
something like that with anyone else.”
So what should we do now? Do you want us to contact an artist, get a picture of his face and-”
“God no! Jeez, Lilly. That’s extreme.”
She cocks her head, watching me lazily. “I don’t think it is. You’re acting like some teenage girl that got kissed by her crush and you think my idea is extreme?” She scoffs.
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I feel like I’m ten and getting a tongue–lashing for being bad. I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. I can’t go to some artist, that’s – he’s no missing person
and he’s not my man.
“You were not supposed to wear your heart on your sleeves. Just sex. Sex. You just got out of a shitty relationship and now you want to tie your heartstrings to a man that didn’t leave a name or a fucking card?” She leans forward, her gaze hard and direct. “If you go on like this, we’ll have to go out again this weekend, and trust me, I’ll be the one to pick a man for you so you don’t end up with some jackass.”
Sitting here and getting scolded by my best friend has pushed the thought of the stranger to the back of my mind. The details are almost becoming hazy.
“I’ll go make lunch, are you hungry?”
I sit back and blink. Laura packed me lunch. I left it in the car. And Dad, he gave me a box. A birthday gift. It’s in the car too.”
Lilly shrugs, unapologetic. “I wish you were smart enough to leave the thought of that man behind like that.”
I sigh. She’s right and I can’t deny the fact that I wish so too.
AD
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