Page 39 of Stolen Omega

It’s my mother.

Chapter Fourteen

Zelena

My mother never calls me. It’s not something she does. She’s much more of a surprise visit kind of person, and she always has a reason for coming out to see me. Sometimes that reason is business related. Most of the time, it’s unpleasantly personal.

She doesn’t trust me to tell her when I hit my heat.

I stare at the phone, willing it to stop ringing.

“You’re not going to answer that?” Saturday guy asks.

I don’t want to, but I know ignoring it isn’t a smart move.

If I avoid her call, she might decide to visit, and that’s the last thing I want.

I pick up and start walking again, ready to be inside the suite and out of Saturday guy’s earshot.

“Mom, hey.”

“What took you so long to answer your phone?” she asks, a hint of suspicion in her tone.

“It took a second to get my phone out of my purse. I just finished today’s promos.”

Hallway guy opens the door to the suite and Saturday guy goes inside, while I wait to find out if my mom is satisfied with my answer.

I can see her sitting in her BMW, using the Bluetooth to make this call because she suddenly realized she hasn’t made me answer any intrusive questions in a couple months.

“I hope they went well?” she asks.

“Same as always,” I answer, as I step into the suite and Hallway guy pulls the door closed.

I step out of the heels and head straight into my bedroom, closing the door behind me.

“Well, I’ve almost come to an acceptable deal with your record company.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. She’s talking about the new contract.

It takes me a second to find a reaction that won’t make her suspicious.

“Um, sure, okay,” I mutter, as if I don’t really care.

“They were getting greedy, but I know how to make them back down.”

She sounds kind of pissed, which makes sense. She’s used to getting her way. If it ever looks like that’s not going to happen, she’s been known to fly off the handle.

“I’m sure you’ll get the deal you want,” I tell her. “I trust you.”

It’s the opposite of how I really feel, but I know what she wants to hear.

This call was unexpected for a reason. She’s trying to make herself feel better after the record company got her riled up. It wasn’t a call she planned to make.

“Of course,” she says. “I always do my best by you, sweetheart.”

Always trading a lie for a lie. That’s my mom.

“I know.”

---