My mother scoffs. “Do her well to listen to me.”
“What the hell is wrong with you?—”
“And you? When did you become soweak?You have a company to run and you go back toWillow Springs.” She spits the name of my favorite place with disdain.
I exhale through flared nostrils, my hands curling into fists.
Lana. I need to go to her, but this woman needs to be put in her place once and for all.
“How dare you talk to her like that?” I snap.
“Please, Christian,” Caroline huffs. “She doesn’t belong here, much less with you. You are the CEO of this company.Act like it,damn it.You have an image to uphold and you need to be respected.”
“Leave,” I say with a calmness I learned from my girl.
She scoffs. “Excuse me.”
“You wanted me to act like a fucking CEO, so I am. I’m protectingmycompany and getting rid of the rats. Lana isn’t going anywhere. I love her with my entire life and just becauseyou do not like her or don’t approve—I don’t give a fuck.It isn’t an excuse to be a racist bitch?—”
“Watch how you talk to me, Christian Calloway, I am still your mother!”
“You aren’t anything to me, Caroline,” I grit through my teeth. “We share a last name and it means nothing. If you wanted to be my mother you should have stopped him from hitting me. You should have helped him—helpedme.You let him hit me. You let himbeatme and drink himself to death. You enabled him. You are lucky that all I am asking you to do is leave.”
“I am not going anywhere,” she huffs. “This is mine too.”
“None of it is yours, Caroline,” I say calmly. “You can leave gracefully or I will happily call security to walk you out themselves.”
“Need I remind you that I own part of this company.”
“NeedIremindyou, that I’myourboss.” I jerk my chin over at security, signaling for them. “Leave, Caroline, or they will escort you out.”
She huffs a dry laugh and downs her champagne. When she’s done, the glass is on a table and she’s only glaring. A stand off, then. Good with me.
“You will meet me in the office tomorrow morning where you and I will discuss your termination,” I say, not taking my eyes off hers. “You can take her.”
“Let’s go, ma’am.”
Caroline struggles at first, but then they’re in the elevator with her and she’s gone. I button my jacket and grin at the guests. “Carry on, everyone.”
I leave them all to gossip or whatever other things they’ll do about what just happened, and go find Lana.
I scan the party, searching for the beautiful girl in a rubyred gown. After a minute, a guest taps my shoulder and points. “She went to the restroom,” the older woman tells me.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
She dips her chin with a wink. “Go get her.”
I mutter my gratitude again, hoping good karma goes her way, and storm into the mens bathroom. “Lana! Lana, baby, it’s me!”
I check every stall, smacking each door open just to find all of them empty. I exit and go to the women’s restroom next door. I try to push the door open to no avail. I bang my fists hard. “Lana! Baby, it’s me, open up.” I knock again. “Baby? Baby, come on, it’s me,” I say softly. “Let me in, baby, please.”
I press my ear to the door and hear her muffled sobbing before the lock clicks. Taking a breath, I push it open as Lana drags her feet toward the chaise. I lock the door behind me and join her.
Lana hiccups, her body trembling. I pull her across my lap and hold her. I cradle her face and use my thumbs to wipe away the black smudges gathered under her eyes—try to. “Baby?—”
“Christian,” she hiccups, her hands fisting my suit, “I have—I have something to tell you.”
“What? Baby, what is it?”
