Chapter 15
ALICIA
“What the fuck, Alicia?! Who the hell were you dating for four years?”
My head was shaking on autopilot. “It’s not true…”
I was on a video call with Alexis, her screech ringing in my ears. She had called me as soon as the interview aired.
In the middle of my TV screen was a beautiful, teary Audrey Collins. A mother who had signed away all respect and fucking dignity in exchange for a measly bag of money.
And what did the network want in return? Just the absolute evisceration of her son broadcast on national television—which she was delivering on-brand.
Revulsion crept over my skin as I continued to watch the mindless drivel as strategic tears ran down her cheeks. Oh, she’s good.
“My son deserted me…” Sniffle. “I loved and raised him with everything I had, then, he left me destitute. Ethan Harris will always be my baby boy, but he has grown into a cruel man…”
“I don’t know, Ali,” Alexis said. “She seems pretty genuine.”
“What she is is fucking delusional.”
“But doesn’t this fit into his whole narrative? How do you know she isn’t telling the truth?”
I gave a defeated sigh. “Because I’ve met her.”
My phone had been ringing off the hook, and I had officially missed lunch.
If Felix didn’t start fielding my calls, the whole damn office was about to be introduced to an Alicia they had never met before—a hormonal, hangry woman who required chocolate, stat!
With a few minutes to spare before my next meeting, I raided the vending machine, downed some water and raced to the conference room.
I set everything up in rapid-fire sequence, laying out paperwork and linking my phone to the video conferencing system. As I was about to turn on the projector, Heather barged through the door, eyes bulging.
“We have a situation, Alicia.”
I rubbed my temples. “Will today never fucking end? What is it now?”
“Ethan Harris’ mother is here, and she’s demanding to see you.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. She said she won’t talk to anyone except his personal financial advisor, and she’s not leaving until she gets what she wants.”
“I’ve got an important meeting that I’m now late for. Tell Felix to kick her ass out.”
Heather flushed. “Well, ahh, he wants you to see her. Before she escalates and makes a scene.”
Great. Ethan Harris had been my client for all of two months, and he was already driving me nuts. First, I had to work with that bigheaded, obnoxious, sexy extraordinaire. Now, I had to deal with his mother? I do not get paid enough for this shit.
I continued to mutter curses under my breath as Heather looked on with panic. “Well,” I snapped. “Go and get her.”
Tone down the bitchiness, Alicia, before you lose your job.
I rolled back my shoulders, trying to distract myself from the menstrual pains cramping my abdomen. Today is the day from hell.
A beautiful middle-aged woman stepped into the room, and there was no denying her resemblance to my client. Those piercing blue eyes drilled into me with the same intensity, but hers seemed to have a sketchy gleam to them.
She offered her hand, which I accepted.
“Audrey Collins,” she said as introduction. “Thanks for meeting me on such short notice.”
“Alicia,” I replied. I didn’t say it was fine because her toddler behaviour fucking wasn’t. “What can I do for you today? You requested to see me?”
We both sat on opposite sides of the table, her fake smile reeking of deceit—which was proven by her next statement.
“I’m here to discuss Ethan’s account.”
I plastered on a serene expression. “And what exactly do you want to discuss?”
“Everything.”
This is a test, right? There is no way this is real. “Unfortunately, I cannot discuss any client details with you.”
“This is your field of expertise, is it not? So do your job.”
This bitch did not just—
Bypassing the bullshit altogether, I discreetly swiped open my phone, which was on my lap beneath the table. Then I called the man himself.
If he wanted mummy dearest to come and fight some arbitrary battle for him, he could be in the firing line because I would not bow down to anyone.
Unfortunately, I had forgotten that my phone was linked to the camera system. But since I hadn’t turned on the projector, the receiving end could hear and see everything in the room, yet we couldn’t see or hear them in return.
So, in other words, Ethan was getting a prime-time reality episode for free. And I was about to put on the best performance of my life.
If I was in my right mind—or maybe if I’d ingested more sugar—I probably would have realised how unethical I was being. But after the day I’d had, I just couldn’t bring myself to give a single fuck.
“I don’t know what to say, Audrey—”
“Miss Collins.”
Are my teeth cracking? I thought I could hear them grinding together. “Like I said, Miss . I cannot give you information on your son’s account. Now, if you want to book a meeting and return with him, I would be happy to oblige.”
“Can you at least tell me the percentage I’m entitled to?”
I was almost speechless—almost. “You will have to discuss that with your son.”
That seemed to piss her off, based on the way her eyes snapped with an underlying harshness. Then, her mouth turned into a grotesque sneer to match.
“ Exactly . He is my son, and as his mother, I am entitled to something.”
What came next, I was not proud of—a knee-jerk reaction to her unhinged demands.
“Unless he deems it so, you’re entitled to nothing. ”
“Now, look here, you little—”
I stood abruptly, my phone skidding to the floor.
“It’s time for you to leave. I have a client waiting.
And let me make myself clear. I will ensure you don’t receive a single dime without the explicit knowledge and consent from Mr Harris himself.
” Then, I bent closer and whispered, “Because something is telling me you don’t have either. ”
I left her flabbergasted, her mouth gaping as I made for the exit and opened the door, ensuring there was no misinterpretation. This meeting is over, lady.
Audrey huffed and stomped through the doorway before she paused just outside. From her features alone, I knew she was about to let loose, but it wasn’t in my nature to let her.
“Well,” I said. “It was really… something meeting you, Miss Audacity.”
“It’s Audrey.”
“You sure? I could have sworn…” Before I could finish, I closed the door in her red, blotchy face. She was seething.
I turned and slumped back against the closed door. Is it time to go home yet?
That’s when my gaze caught on my phone screen, shining up from the ground—the timer ticking on as Ethan remained on the line.
Fuck. All of this is his fault.
And since I had already fucked up in monumental proportions, I decided to go for broke.
My spine straightened as I stared directly into the tiny lens—until, I swear, I could feel his eyes on my skin—then I raised my middle finger high.
Who knew my aggressive hormonal reactions would spark the beginning of our story? Not me.
“Is it bad that I kind of feel sorry for him?” Alexis asked.
“I—I don’t know?”
“Does he have anyone to turn to while this psycho tells the world how much of a bad person he is?”
I rubbed a hand over my face. “His dad. But I don’t think he would want to involve anyone else. Ethan was always closed off about his mother. And you can see why… She’s batshit crazy.”
Alexis’ features fell in concern. “I can see the wheels turning in your head. What are you going to do?”
“I don’t… Ah, what should I do? Do I have to do anything?”
Alexis paused, a contemplative look taking over. “You don’t owe him anything, Ali. But… if you wanted to reach out to him, that doesn’t mean you’re giving in.”
“Yes, it does.”
She didn’t know him like I did. If I gave Ethan an in, even a sliver of a chance, he would take that as my admission and bulldoze me to the ground. He was not subtle or someone who took things lightly. He was emotive, passionate and fully jumped without thinking of the consequences.
But, despite my best efforts, I still cared for him— hurt for him.
Who wouldn’t? His own mother was completely unbothered in how her actions were going to decimate him.
And they would.
Am I willing to sacrifice my own well-being for his when he has been so frivolous with mine in the past?