Page 37 of Juliette and the Billionaire Boss

“Thank you.”

I go out, and close the door behind me.

*

When I get to my car, I’m shaking, and I sit there for a few minutes, trying to recover. While I’m there, my phone buzzes with a message. My heart leaps as I think it might be Henry, but it’s just my mum, sending me a song on Spotify that she thinks I’d like. She adds a message, How did the party go?

I let out a long sigh, then text back, Um…

Mum: Oh dear. What happened?

Me: Cam and I had an awful fight, and he left the bar.

Mum: Oh no. What about?

Me: Oh, just stuff. But I was miserable, and I got drunk, and…

Mum: AND WHAT?

Me: I went back to Henry’s hotel.

She knows all the guys I work with, and I think she’s also guessed that I like Henry.

Mum: OMG what did you do?

Me: You want me to draw a picture?

Mum: JULIETTE!

Me: Don’t shout. I have a hangover.

Mum: Are you okay?

My eyes water. Not really.

Mum: Aw, taupuhi.

It’s Maori for darling, and it’s what she always calls me.

Me: I’ll be okay. I’m just nervous about seeing him at work.

Mum: Was it… you know… good?

Me: It was pretty terrific, Mum. He told me he’s not going to let me go easily, either.

Mum: How do you feel about that?

Me: Mixed. I went home thinking it was all over between me and Cam, and he was there.

Mum: Did you tell him?

Me: No. I couldn’t. He said he’s sorry for making it hard for me, and he wants us to try to work it out. Now I don’t know what to do.

She doesn’t come back for a minute. I sit resting my elbow on the windowsill and my head on my hand, feeling miserable.

Eventually, a text pings up.

Mum: You remember what I told you when you were a teenager?

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