Page 133 of The Unraveling

“We can go anywhere. Let’s just make sure you’re happy this time. It’s completely up to you. Paris, Madrid, Sydney, the moon, I don’t care. As long as we go together.”

I beam at him. It doesn’t matter to me at all that he has money now. I’m happy that he’s having success. I know that he’s worked his ass off and he’s been buffeted by the winds of his career for too long. We both were.

But now we both have control. I don’t have to panic.

After eating, I kiss Jordan goodbye and take off for the long walk to the theater.

I think about my mom with every step. The heels of my shoes click against the pavement.

My mom was always so obsessed with status and wealth, always looking for a way to move up in the world. She was flawed, no doubt about it. She made so many mistakes along the way, chasing after the wrong men and getting caught up in her own desires, being distracted from any of her own potential and greatness by either assuming she needed the help of someone else or by putting all of her energy into me.

I feel a sense of acceptance, shrouded in sadness for my mom. I never got to be a peer to her. I never got to be a fellow, flawed woman beside her. I never got to give her compassion. I never got to ask her what she wanted. What she wanted. Not what she wanted for me. Not what she thought she couldn’t have, but what she wanted.

I step into the theater and take a deep breath, the smell of old wood and dust filling my nostrils. It’s a familiar scent, one that I’ve grown to know well over the last few months. I can hear the faint sound of music in the distance, the orchestra rehearsing for later tonight.

I make my way toward the offices, my heart pounding in my chest as I climb the stairs.

When I get to the office, I knock on the shut door, hesitating when I hear voices on the other side.

Inside, I find Arabella, Clementine, and Alistair with Charlie.

What the fuck?

I was prepared to find Charlie, of course, and I feared that Clementine and Alistair might be here. But Arabella being here is just a bridge too far.

I remind myself that Jordan is waiting for me at home. That he has promised me ramen and cheap beer tonight. That we have started to plan our lives together again. That the world is our oyster.

“Please, come in,” says Charlie.

I do, and I shut the door behind me.

Alistair won’t meet my eyes. Clementine looks livid. Arabella looks overall tragic, but I can see the devilish look behind her eyes.

“I assume we’re all here because I’m promoted,” I say, not caring that my joke falls like an uncaught water balloon on the floor between us all.

“Jocelyn, there are some very serious allegations at play here. I’m sure you already know what they are.”

I hang my head and prepare to take responsibility.

“Yes,” agrees Alistair. “I think we need to talk about your completely inappropriate behavior.”

I look at him and then feel my mouth open in shock. He still won’t meet my eyes. I see that he has a hand on Clementine’s leg. This absolute wimp.

Oh my god, really? He’s going to pin this whole thing on me?

“You have allegations, Mr.Cavendish?” I ask, my tone bitter and full of rage.

He shifts uncomfortably, and then says, “I have felt very uncomfortable at times around you, Ms.Banks, and—”

But that’s when I realize…I have a few allegations of my own.

“You know what, Charlie? You’re completely correct, there are some very serious allegations that need to be made. Firstly, Arabella. I would like to acknowledge that it’s with her help that I arrived here and secured a donor.”

After briefly tensing up, she visibly relaxes and says, “You’re welcome.”

“Yeah, thanks for that. But on the other hand, Arabella has also assaulted me. She bit my ear so hard that I still have a scar, in fact. I can show you if you want. It’s also on the cameras, since it was on company property. On Saturday night, she also drugged me. I was incredibly sick. Of course, I still managed to perform last night.”

The room has turned tight and strained. This isn’t what anyone expected.

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