Page 58 of Working For A Billionaire

"Gloria?" I repeat, confused. "Why would Gloria call you? Do you even know who Gloria is?"

"Yes, Mr. Harrison. Of course, I know Ms. Cathy," Gloria says from the doorway.

"Gloria, I don't know who you think you called, but this is Mrs. Thatcher. She is my assistant. I don't even know a Ms. Cathy."

"Cathy is my first name, Mr. Rutherford."

"It is?" I ask confused then remember it's not the point. "Gloria, why did you call my assistant?"

"Ms. Cathy," she repeats.

"Yes, Ms. Cathy. Why did you call Ms. Cathy?"

"Because someone has to get you out of this house. You can't hide in here forever."

"Gloria—"

"Now, Mr. Rutherford, before you lose your temper and say something you don't mean, Gloria is just trying to help," Mrs. Thatcher says. "She is worried about you. She needed help and she didn’t know who else to call."

"I am fine," I insist. "I can handle this."

"You're not handling this, Mr. Rutherford. You're hiding in your house, you haven't been to the office in weeks, and Gloria said you quit yesterday. Is that true?"

"The company will survive without me."

"That might be true, but I need to know if I should look for a new job. But that isn't important right now. You need to get out of the house. You need to snap out of it. Call your mother."

I stand in silence, studying her face for hints of a bluff, but see none. "I'll get dressed. I just need to gather my things."

She nods, then gives me some privacy. Once they disappear, I return to the bed and lay back down. I pull the covers over my head and try to block out everything.

A loud knock on the door interrupts me. "Come in," I say quietly.

"Harrison, it's time to get out of bed."

The sound of that voice sends a chill through me and slowly pull the covers down. "Mother?"

I hesitate for a second before getting out of bed and grabbing my clothes. I quickly dress and leave the room. When I finish, I find Mrs. Thatcher and Gloria waiting for me in the kitchen.

"Are you ready?" Mrs. Thatcher asks.

"No."

"Well, let's get going then."

As we walk out to the car, I glance towards the window and see my mother standing there. She gives me a weak wave. I can't bring myself to return it.

We drove in silence for a while. I am still too shocked to talk. Finally, I look up at Mrs. Thatcher. "You called my mother?"

" What else could I do?" She asks.

I shake my head. "Set the bed on fire! Anything besides calling my mother!"

She smiles. "Well, you’re just being silly now."

I scoff and look out the window.

Mrs. Thatcher finally speaks up. "Are you really going to run from this forever?"

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