Page 24 of Runaway Girl
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.”
