39. Hailee
Chapter thirty-nine
Hailee
“I ’m here to meet Dr. Aiden McKamey,” I say, greeting the hostess with a confident smile.
Today, I’m feeling unstoppable. I’m rocking a sleek black power suit, with bold red lips that match the soles of my stilettos. I’m ready to take on the world.
“Right this way, your guest has arrived.” Grabbing two menus, she leads me to a table where the esteemed Dr. McKamey is waiting for me. I suppress the urge to squeal with excitement. I want him to take me seriously, therefore fangirling over him is not going to cut it.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Dr. McKamey,” I say, eagerly shaking his hand. “Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me; I’m very grateful. I have to admit, I’m a bit starstruck.” A nervous chuckle slips out.
The doctor’s smile crinkles the corners of his eyes. With his rounded stomach, white hair, and beard, he resembles a charming, teddy bear version of Santa.
“It’s wonderful to meet you, Hailee. Please, call me Aiden.”
I reluctantly release his hand and settle into the booth across from him. The five-star restaurant is bustling with entrepreneurs and corporate types engaged in lunch meetings and negotiations. It’s the new hot spot of the city, the place to see and be seen. Dameon probably comes here all the time . And that thought can fuck right off.
“When Sophia called and mentioned she had someone dying to meet me, I was intrigued. It’s not every day a young, beautiful woman like yourself wants to hang out with someone like me,” he says with a laugh.
“Are you kidding? I’ve read all your books and dissertations. I’ve been a huge fan for years. I’m really grateful to Sophia for setting this up. She’s been looking out for me and my sister since we arrived in Australia.”
“She’s a good woman, and I could never say no to her. She’s been a close friend of my wife’s for years.”
“Thank you. I’m incredibly appreciative of your time.”
I take a deep breath. Dr. McKamey is a luminary in the field of psychology, revered for his sharp intellect and contributions to the community. I’ve avidly followed his work for years and of course, I’ve stalked his social media. While he’s gained influencer status with a substantial following, he never takes it for granted—he utilizes his platform to empower people to become better versions of themselves. He’s also a professor at the University of Sydney, overseeing its highly regarded psychology degree. And that’s why I’m here.
“What can I help you with, Hailee?”
In this moment, everything feels perfectly aligned, as if I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. It’s the start of a new chapter in my life—as long as I don’t blow it.
“I’ve been reflecting a lot lately, trying to figure out the path I want to carve for myself,” I begin. “Your work has been incredibly helpful to me. I’ve seen several psychologists and therapists over the years, and I still value regular check-ins—ongoing maintenance, if you will.” He nods, encouraging me to continue. “I owe much of my progress to the support I received. Your work has been a huge inspiration to me as well. I want to pay it forward and help people confront their traumas, empowering them to thrive no matter what may have happened to them in the past. We all have trauma to varying degrees, and it takes time and effort to acknowledge it and not let it affect our present or future. My dream is to study psychology so I can help others heal.”
“That’s wonderful, Hailee. I can tell you’re passionate about this, and coupled with your empathy, and what Sophia tells me is a formidable intellect, you’re destined for great things in this field. If you harness the full force of your brain, there’s no limit to what you can achieve.” He pauses. “I’d be happy to be your mentor if you’re open to it?”
“Really?” I squeal, my palms pressed together. I had hoped to pick his brains for guidance on navigating this industry and charting the best way forward. But what he’s suggesting is beyond my wildest dreams. A mentorship with him is like winning the lottery. I’m certain thousands of students must compete for the opportunity to have him as their mentor.
“Yes, I’d be delighted to help. If you’re serious about study, I’ll arrange a meeting with the university’s entrance board. Our psychology course is considered the best in Australia. You’ll need to come prepared with any previous university transcripts, a résumé, and a letter of recommendation. It wouldn’t hurt if you’ve done community service work as well.”
“Oh my goodness. Thank you so much!” I shake my head, placing my hands on my cheeks to cool them down. I’m flushed—I never get flushed.
His phone begins to ring and he pulls it out of his jacket pocket, lighting up when he sees the caller’s name. “I’m sorry, I need to take this,” he says. “My daughter is pregnant, and it’s almost her due date. Do you mind?”
“No, not all. Please, go ahead.”
He nods his thanks and steps away.
I take the opportunity to compose myself, still barely able to believe my luck. I had an undeniable feeling of being in the right place at the right time when I arrived here today. It’s all coming together: I’m finally doing something for myself. Not for Beth, not for my clients. For me.
Being a psychologist is probably similar to being an escort, I muse. I’ll still be providing emotional support and connection—except I’ll be keeping my clothes on. Fanning my flushed face, I glance around the restaurant looking for Aiden. A loud cackle of women laughing draws my attention to their table.
My eyes go wide, and I slowly lower my hands to the table, freezing in place. Every muscle in my body goes still as my brain struggles to comprehend what I’m seeing.
The three women at the table are beautifully made up, their plumped faces animated in conversation. As one finishes her story, the others cheer and clink their champagne flutes together. It looks like a regular ladies’ lunch—except that these women, who shouldn’t know each other, are laughing like lifelong friends.
The world around me blurs, and my vision goes black around the edges as I narrow in on the table. The only thing I can hear is the steady thud of my heartbeat in my ears. As the pieces of the puzzle fall into place, I release a rush of breath, followed by a sharp intake of oxygen.
Suddenly Aiden appears in my line of sight, cutting off my view of the table.
“Are you okay, Hailee?” he asks, his bushy white eyebrows pinched together.
“Yes, I’m fine. Sorry, did you say something?” I manage to recover, swallowing roughly.
“I was just saying that I’ve got to head off; my daughter is in labor.” He’s still holding his phone in his hand, and his smile is infectious at the prospect of being a grandfather.
“Oh, congratulations!” I force a smile, though I doubt I’m fooling anyone, especially someone as perceptive as Dr. McKamey.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Not really, but I will be.” I blow out a breath and nod.
“Alright, then. I am sorry I can’t stay, but I’ll call you soon with the meeting details.”
“Thank you again for your support; you have no idea what this means to me,” I garble, my mind firmly planted on the women across the restaurant.
“Take care, Hailee. I’ll be in touch.” We shake hands, and he disappears out of the restaurant.
Should I leave? Should I stay? Or should I go over there and confront them? A server interrupts my musings. “Would you still like to order, ma’am?”
For fuck’s sake. I need a minute of uninterrupted silence to wrap my mind around this.
“Yes, thank you.” I open the menu and frantically scan the first page, selecting a dish at random. I don’t care what it is, as long as she pisses off and leaves me alone. In a way, she’s made my decision for me. I can’t simply leave without ordering something, it would be rude, especially in a five-star restaurant. And sitting here like a weirdo without eating or drinking is out of the question.
“And to drink?” the server asks.
Kill me now.
“Coke, please.” I smile politely and hand over the menu, reminding myself she’s only doing her job.
As soon as she leaves my head snaps back to the women’s table. Their entrées have arrived, but they’ve barely touched them—they’re too busy chatting.
What the fuck is happening?
A fourth woman appears and sits down, and it’s then that I realize there was an unoccupied seat with a half-drunk champagne and a napkin neatly folded on the table. She must have been in the bathroom. Though I don’t recognize this woman, there’s a nagging sense of familiarity about her. While I know the other three women well, there’s something about this newcomer that I can’t quite put my finger on. I discreetly take out my phone and snap a quick picture of the table and send it to Cora.
Me
Do you know this woman in red?
I tap my fingers on the pristine white tablecloth as I await her response. Minutes pass, and she still hasn’t even seen the message, leaving me on Unread. Come on!
Me
THIS IS AN EMERGENCY!
Cora
Okay, relax. I’m not attached to my phone like you are. What’s going on? Another rando stalking you?
Me
DO YOU KNOW HER?
Cora
Can’t see shit, it’s too blurry. Get a better shot of her face.
I roll my eyes.
Me
I can’t exactly shove my phone in her face. Hang on…
A plan forms and I turn around in the booth seat with my back toward their table, pretending to take a selfie but aiming the camera at their table. I hold the position, trying to appear casual, but the longer I wait, the more I look like a complete poser. Finally, the woman turns her head, offering me a clear shot. Gotcha!
Me
This better?
Cora
Yes, I do know her! That’s Piper. She works in finance at Hayes somehow, the car seems to speed up. I tug harder but my heel remains firmly stuck. Realizing there’s no sense in dying over a shoe, even if it is a Louboutin, I pull my foot free from the stiletto and fling myself onto the safety of the sidewalk.
The passage of time once again distorts. My senses sharpen and every detail plays out in high definition. I see the car rushing toward me, its driver wide-eyed in panic. I see the shimmer of sweat on his brow. I see his pupils dilate, swallowing up the color that surrounds them. I see the car inexplicably mount the curb before me.
In that split second, my body tenses, bracing for impact, and my mind races with succinct thoughts—it’s not my life flashing before my eyes, but rather the stark realization that this is it. I’m going to be hit.
A sharp pain shoots through my leg, and I swear I hear Dameon call out my name. My eyes flutter shut and my mind conjures up his smile and his beautiful dimples. With that vision lingering in my mind, one last thought filters through a haze of unconsciousness.
I always knew my laziness would get me killed one day… I just didn’t think it would be today.