Page 52 of Playing the Game
“I guess we’ll wait and see how that turns out. In the meantime, tell me everything I need to know about Dori Fisher and Jamison Stone.”
“Before I tell you that, you need to understand she would never do anything to go against Efron Worldwide. She consistently prioritized her job over our relationship. She genuinely cares about our business.”
“Understood, but what does that have to do with her and Jamison?”
I pause for a moment but then figure I need to get the truth out into the open. He can’t help me if he doesn’t have all the facts.
My eyes dart away, an icy dread seizing me as I can’t bear to meet his intense stare. “She loves him.”
My dad shakes his head. “Just how much worse does this get?”
“On a scale of one to ten, it’s probably a solid ten.”
He stops and peers at me like my answer to his next question will determine how the rest of my life plays out. “Then tell me, how do you plan to fix this?”
“That’s why I’m here. I need to figure out what she wants from me. If I don’t do that, I’m not sure how I get everyone involved with me out alive.”
“Meaning, Dori.”
My shoulders sag in hopelessness. “Yes. She seems to be the target right now. The problem is, none of this makes sense.”
“Why do you think Dori’s the target?”
“Right before Jamison was shot, Dorothy saw two red laser beams pointed at her heart. Jamison stepped in front of her to protect her. He saved her life.”
“Like I said before. You need to start playing on your mother’s level or else you won’t stand a chance.”
I glance down, taking a moment to come up with something to go on. As usual, I can’t make sense of it.
I study my dad. “What do you suggest I do? She works on a level beyond my comprehension. I don’t understand the rules anymore. I’m not sure I ever did.”
“There’s no way you would, but I’ve already told you what I think you should do.”
“But how do I do that?”
He pinches the bridge of his nose while he takes a pause. “Have you talked with Ava? She’s had the most contact with your mother.”
“Not yet. She’s next on the list.”
“Start there and see if something comes to mind. I’m willing to help you, Hunter, but we need to be cautious. Obviously, something happened years back that changed your mother.”
“There’s no doubt about that.” I gesture to the door. “Let’s go back inside and try to piece it together.”
“That’s a good place to start. My theory is twofold. She’s either trying to make her way back into your life like she always said she would, or there’s something huge at stake.”
We start back toward the house. “What’s your educated guess?”
He waits a bit too long. “Whatever it is, it’s going to be life-changing.”
With that proclamation, I can’t help but feel like I’m in a no-win situation. I just don’t know how many people my mother’s willing to take down to get what she wants. And with that, I know I’m fucked.
CHAPTER 12
DORI
I plopdown on Melanie’s couch. “Where’s your roommate?”
“Work, like usual.” Mel places a glass of wine down on the coffee table for me while keeping hers in her hand. “I never see her.”
