First, Rachael, now this woman. Move it, bitch.
The woman slithers up close to his chest, her body pressing against his, and I’m done watching.
“I’ll be back in a sec,” I tell Cora, and storm toward them.What am I going to say?I’ve already caused one scene tonight; I really don’t want to cause another. Just as I approach them, the woman turns around, and it stops me in my tracks.
“Oh, hello, darling, have you met Dameon Hayward?” my mother says with a charming smile that only I can tell is pure cunning.
Her face is meticulously made up, like a doll. Despite her mature years, she looks unnaturally young, her features enhanced by surgery and fillers. Her tight dress rivals the white gown I wore to the New York charity function for indecency, and her massive fake tits spill out of the plunging neckline.
“Mother,” I say tersely. “What are you doing here?” Dameon’s eyebrows rise slightly, indicating he didn’t know who this woman was. I mean, why would she introduce herself as my mother? It’s not like she’s earned the title.
“I’ve missed you, darling. Thought I would drop by to see how you’re doing,” she says sweetly.
What a load of crap.
She hasn’t reached out to me or Beth once in the ten years since we left her crazy ass behind. She doesn’t care how we’re doing, and she certainly didn’t miss us. She’s here to fuck things up for me.
“Would you please excuse us for a moment? It’s been so long, I’d love to chat with my mother alone,” I say to Dameon. His expression remains blank, revealing nothing, as he nods and departs.
When he’s out of hearing range, I drop all pretenses. “Cut the shit. What are you doing here?”
“I was invited to this event. The charity is doing such good work, and it’s a cause I’m immensely passionate about,” she responds innocently.
“For fuck’s sake, Liz. I mean here in Sydney. Why are you even here? What do you want?” I press.
“Well, I thought I would stop by to make certain you follow through on your promise to Mark.” There’s no covering her sinister smile with charm this time.
Ah, there we go.
“I gave him what he wanted. And I told him, I’m done. I’m not sending him anything else.”
“Oh, dear daughter, you really need to learn a thing or two when you make a deal with the devil,” she says, tsking. “Mark won’t let you off the hook that easily. Hewillmake you pay. And Iwillgladly watch him destroy your life and everything you care about, piece by piece.”
“What thehellis wrong with you? Why do you hate me so much?!” I whisper-shout, my voice cracking with emotion. The question slips out without thought, and I regret it immediately. It makes me appear weak, as if I still care what she thinks of me. I loathe that she can get under my skin so easily. She’s like a tick, burrowing deep, and no matter how much I scratch, I can’t get rid of her.
Her painted pink lips curl into a vicious smile. “You act so high and mighty, as if taking Beth from me earns you some kind of Mother Theresa award, but it doesn’t. You’re no different to me. You can call yourself a high-class escort or companion or whatever the hell you want to dress it up as, but at the end of the day, you’re just adirtywhore. And when you get older, and your pussy becomes loose, and you can no longer rely on that beautiful face of yours, all you’ll be is adried-up,dirtywhore. You despise me because I use men for their money and power. Well, darling, you are no different. You arenotbetter than me.” She jabs her long fingernail into my shoulder, punctuating her words.
“I willneverbe like you,” I hiss. “I see through the vile poison that you spew; your words no longer affect me. I’m not so easily manipulated anymore. I’m done with you, and I’m done with Mark. I gave him what he wanted; I’ve honored the deal we made. I’m not doing it again. Stay away from me and Beth. Another ten years is too soon, so let’s make it twenty this time… Or how about never?”
She narrows her eyes, her lips thinning in annoyance as she realizes she hasn’t gotten the reaction she wanted.
“Take care,Mother.” I turn on my heel and leave her and her toxic energy behind. I’m proud that I didn’t stoop to her level. I could have, and I wanted to. Desperately. But all that therapy would have been for nothing. I can’t change who she is, nor her behavior, resentment, or hatred toward me. But what I can change is my response to her and how I let it affect me. I choose my own reactions, and, in this moment, I choosenotto react. I search for Dameon in the crowd, eager to get the hell out of here. I’m done with this night.
Chapter twenty-four
Hailee
“Twowhiskeys,neat.”
“Coming right up.” I pour our top-shelf whiskey into two glass tumblers, place them on the server’s tray and take a moment to survey the crowded lounge. It’s still as packed as it was an hour ago, even though it’s a Wednesday night. I’m covering a shift at Eden because one of the goddesses called in sick, and my body is already protesting the decision. My back twinges, my feet are killing me, and sweat is beading on my forehead. I grab a cocktail napkin and discreetly wipe it around my face.
“Mmm, I like seeing you sweat,” Dameon says with a smirk.
It’s sweet that he wanted to join me tonight. He could have been at home, chilling out, but he chose to keep me company instead.
Gross, I mouth at him, wrinkling my nose. He gets that look in his eye, and I realize I’ve unknowingly issued a challenge. I bet he’ll be licking me clean and making me scream by the end of the night.
“All of your bodily fluids are delicious, like a fine wine meant to be savored.”
