Page 53 of Ruthless Serenade

I slam the car door shut and grip the steering wheel. The engine roars to life, matching the fury pulsing through my veins. I’m done playing games with Destiny. I’m going to find out everything about Mindy’s current situation. Where she lives, who she’s seeing, and if that kid is hers.

I pull out my phone and dial my second-in-command.

This cannot wait any longer.

Chapter Twenty

Mindy

I open my laptop and stare blankly at the screen.

I’ve been working from home for the last few days. I can’t bring myself to return to the office after that disastrous presentation and Albert’s sleazy proposition. There have been no calls or emails from Christine or Albert since, but I’m sure they already started looking for my replacement. The only reason I still have a job is that they haven’t found the right person yet.

My days have been the same this week: waking up, getting Sharon ready for school, driving her there, and returning home to bury myself in work. But today is Saturday, and I have fallen behind on my tasks. A looming deadline hangs over me, urging me to work over the weekend.

Sharon pokes her head into my makeshift home office, clutching her favorite stuffed animal. "Mommy, do you want to play?"

I glance at my never-ending Excel spreadsheet, then back at my daughter’s cute little face. Guilt washes over me. "I'm sorry sweetie. Mommy’s got to finish some work first."

Her shoulders droop as she mutters, "You're always working, Mommy. And I'm bored."

Ouch. She’s right on the money and it stings. So, I come up with an idea. "Okay, how about this: I'll work a little more and then we can go to the zoo this afternoon. What do you think, sweetie?"

Her eyes light up. "Really? The zoo?"

"Sure thing, baby," I nod, feeling determined to make it happen. "You’ll get to see all your favorite animals."

She grins mischievously. "Even the stinky ones?"

I laugh. "Especially the stinky ones!"

As Sharon runs off, chattering about penguins and lions, I turn my attention back to my computer. The Excel sheet hasn’t gone anywhere and is still looming in front of me.

I’m about halfway into the report when my phone starts buzzing. My heart rate picks up a little – maybe it’s Christine, calling to tell me that I’ve been fired. Can I get fired on a Saturday?

But as I glance at the screen, I realize it’s not Christine. It’s my sister, Alexis.

"What the…" I mutter, not really knowing what to do or how to feel all of a sudden. It’s been years since we spoke. We haven’t exactly been on good terms after she betrayed me by using confidential information against Maron during his launch party.

She did come to see us after Sharon was born, but even that was strange. Our relationship was strained, to say the least. She was high on pain meds, and acted irrational. And then, one afternoon when she was supposed to come over, she didn’t. I tried to reach out to her, but her phone was off. I got scared. So,I called StarDust, her workplace at the time, to see if they knew anything. All I was told was that she was not at the office. That she was forced to go to rehab and she doesn’t want me to contact her. That was the last time I heard of my sister.

It was hard at first. Sure, our relationship was already in tatters, but she was still my sister. The only family I had left besides my daughter. It was tough to not have her in my life anymore, especially after losing Emily. But between my job and trying to be a good mother for Sharon, I didn’t have the mental capacity to try and pursue contact with her. After everything she’s done, it seemed like a hopeless case anyway.

My phone keeps ringing and I find myself hesitating. Why would Alexis try to reach out after all this time? Could she be in some kind of trouble? Before I can think better of it, I pick up the phone from the desk and answer the call.

"Alexis?" I wedge the phone between my neck and shoulder and decide to head to the kitchen to prepare a salad for Sharon in the meantime.

"Hey… Mindy." Her voice is softer than I remember and it’s tinged with nervousness. "I know it’s been forever, and frankly… I wouldn’t blame you if you hung up on me."

I pause, knife hovering over a carrot. "It’s good to hear your voice, Lex. How are you doing?"

She clears her throat. "Well… I’m calling from rehab. I’ve been here for a few months now."

My eyebrows shoot up as I resume chopping vegetables. A few months? That’s definitely an improvement, compared to the Alexis I remember. "And… how is it going?"

"I’m getting there," she says, her voice cracking slightly. "Listen, Mindy, I won’t beat around the bush. I’m calling to say sorry."

The knife stops in my hand again. Surprise of the day. Scratch that. The year. Maybe rehabisdoing something positive for her. "I… thanks, Alexis," I tell her carefully.

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