an

deflected me so skillfully these last few weeks, gave me a tigh

extensions, but she wasn't that kind of assistant at all. Her hair was clipped short to her head in a kind of 1

nly been kept wa

c blouse and stepped through the fro

top me from saying anything. He gestured for me to

on the other end of the line. "I'm taking full advantage of the situation. That stock's going to go up just as soon as I get a hand

the desk. "So," he said. "You're going to be my wife f

ells me," I repli

t already?" B

options. But I like your mothe

going to have to do all the fanfare. Press, charity appearances, the party cir

back when the tim

so. Mother insisted I g

ew me. "

a blue velvet ring

it with t

bite you," Blake

tin was a beautiful, large asscher-cut sapphire surro

in the gold. I frowned and pul

lake quoted as I looke

snapped the lid shut. I slid the box bac

d some rapper-sized big da

't want to sully something so

bed the back of his neck. "Well, if you'

ut I was tired. Getting ready for the benefit, and going to it, had taken a lot out of me, a

k the box back and starte

"Traditionally, it

ked up the ring and looked at its inscription for a long moment.

Blake asked, sud

e a show of rubbing an eyelash out of my e

t per

elief. "How did

er went jewelry shopping together sometimes. Mother tho

ss," I sa

forth. "That's all I had for you. I'll pick you up

nd nodded

seven," Blak

l where I was staying and said

ing you up," Blak

n't know my ad

he Radisson." Blake'

ot–" I bega

yachting party. I'm bringing a guest. Yeah, a girl. Who? No, not Emily. No, not Mar

waiting with a cl

you mean 'why'? You don't think she's pretty enough?" Blake chuckled.

ill hear h

was a redhead. How do you even know what Sandra looks like? Oh

took off the ring and sla

." He put his phone down to his chest and

I snapped. I turned

la

shoved my phone in my jacket po

evators. "Hey," I asked, gr

as though it were trash. As th

different ring. It's not

you were the last man on Earth, you selfish, arrogant sonofabitch!" She

en I'd spent this much time and effort already laying

off and stabbed th

rom her rude gesture

ce. "Ashley, call Sandra Kingsley until she

ley replie

anyone. But Sandra Kingsley, with her judgmental eyes

her a good telling off. However, I had put a lot o

s all fall

It was Sandra who came up with t

shley as

it," I sa

odded. "

the desk as though it were responsible for the whole

use one deal was going bad didn't mean you gave up on all the others. "I was looking

ate. I frowned at Ashley whose silhouette was visible just beyond the office door. I co

y was about to call ou

ere, Ashley," I s

ot her," Ash

e fuck is it

mother." Ashle

hone and saw I'd missed some ca

she's insisting

And you can stop calling

finitely relieved

rang. I picked it up. "Mother, I

upted me with darkness i

bout Sandr

Of course this is about

g off names and descriptions of my past girlfriends. I can't help that I've never dated a more flat-chested girl before. I don't think there's any

htening," my mother seethed. "But I doubt she cared that m

other," I repli

the sake of her workers," my mother continu

"Mother. James and I were just ta

n the other end of the line. "W

, the cancer

e benefit for the American Cancer Society

t one," I

lence. "Did

at?" I

it was stupid?"

ht words. Mother did lik

!" my mot

awn-fest. That's all,

never swore. But she

I said, my

ally focused her insults back on me. "H

lf. "The only interesting thing that

icing on the cake, th

the calls. I bought all the stock. I was all in on this thing, even though I wante

yawn-fest?" my mother asked with false sweetnes

an idiot. "I'll

getting us the billions that we're going to use to revive Kings

ole and I'll apologize," I resp

k to you," my

xasperated. "It was o

lake, I love you, but you re

else did I d

diot son. Sandra's m

pped the pho

w. And contemplate every possible meaning

. "Okay, Mother. I

oo

played with a

mother r

m so