Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 145155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
“I’m a psychologist.” I fake the biggest smile in the history of human life.
“Oh, in what field?”
“I’m a sexual health psychologist.”
“Hmm.” She smiles as she takes a sip of her wine. “That figures, what a strange direction for a girl so young to follow.” I narrow my eyes at her as I start to hear my pulse in my ears. Pick on me, bitch, and that’s OK, but pick on my career and it’s go time. “I bet you are really good at manipulating, oh sorry, I mean controlling minds and thoughts.” The double meaning is not lost on me. I can’t even pretend that she is not pissing me off now, the bitch.
“You have no idea,” I whisper as I glare at her. Joshua jumps up and starts to clear the table, obviously sensing the tension in the air, and Brock helps him. Mum and Dad go back into the kitchen to serve up dessert. Brock takes the first load of plates into the kitchen.
“Oh, I have a very good idea how well you manipulate,” she sneers.
I can’t hold my tongue any longer. “Have I done something to upset you, Margaret?”
The whole table falls silent and collectively hold their breath. Joshua drops the plates on the table and they clang. He does wide eyes at me, urging me to shut up. Who in the hell is Amelie, you prickface liar? You can go to hell too.
“No, we will get along just fine, Natasha, as long as you keep your claws out of my son,” she sneers. My blood is boiling.
Cameron interjects. “That’s enough, Mother.” OK that’s it, that’s the last straw and I can’t hold my tongue any longer. I’m feeling unstable. I stand and lean my hands on the table as I lean my face closer to hers.
“I have absolutely no plans. None! To get my claws into your precious son. But let me tell you this.”
“Natasha,” Bridget whispers, “that’s enough.” She grabs my hand and I jerk it out of her grasp.
“If, and that’s a big if, I decided to get my claws into your son, you had better be prepared, because not even the devil himself could stop me.”
She narrows her eyes. “Why you conceited little bitch.”
Cameron coughs. “Seriously. That’s enough, Mother.” I look across the table and Joshua is in shock, I think. He looks like he’s going to faint.
“Now, I have had enough.” I shake my head. “I’m leaving.” I stand and throw my napkin from my lap onto the table.
Joshua stands so quickly that his chair falls back and hits the ground. “Natasha, don’t go,” he pleads.
“Sit,” I snap as I point to his chair. “Mummy dearest here wants to breastfeed you and we couldn’t have you upsetting her. Get your diaper changed while you are at it. It will save you time later.” I hear Bridget and Cameron stifle a giggle.
I walk into the kitchen. “Mum, I have to go. I just got paged from work.”
“Oh, that’s a shame, darling. OK, I will call you tomorrow.”
I don’t remember getting into my car. I just know I am off-the-charts boiling mad.
Josh runs out to the car. “Natasha, don’t go. She’s just mad.”
“Josh, get the fuck away from me, you coward.” I poke him in the chest. He steps back. “Tell Cameron I said thanks for defending me.” His face drops at the realization it was his brother who defended me and not him.
“Natasha, please, she’s my mother. I was just trying to defuse the situation.”
“And what am I?”
He shuffles on his feet as he rubs both hands through his hair. “Don’t ask stupid questions,” he sighs.
“Stupid questions?” I shriek. This man is a total idiot. “Oh, that’s right, I’m your fucking booty call. Go inside. I just lost interest in you…big-time!”
“Tash, please,” he begs as he grabs my arm.
“Get your filthy hands off her.” Oh shit, it’s Brock.
“Not now,” Josh snaps at him.
Brock grabs Josh by the shoulder and Josh turns to Brock. “Don’t start your fucking shit, Brock, or you will be out cold on the fucking pavement.” Brock grabs him by the shirt and Josh slams him up against the car.
“Let me speak to her alone,” Josh snaps. “This is none of your business.”
“Fuck off,” Brock yells.
“Stop it, you idiots,” I yell, and the two bodyguards come running across the road. I am too mad to care about either of them and the sudden distraction allows me to pull out and I speed off down the road. Hot tears of frustration pool in my eyes and blur my vision. I don’t think I have ever been this mad. “We will get along just fine as long as you keep your claws out of my son.” The stupid movie screen in my head plays and replays the words again and again, each time with more venom than the last. Who was I kidding—she will never accept us. And then there’s Amelie. That’s a whole different world of pain and I know it’s true. I could see it in his face; he has serious feelings for her. How deep they run I don’t know. Have they slept together?