Walker: Are you doing okay? You’re not making Maisie uncomfortable, are you?
Slater: Or are you making her VERY comfortable? LOL!
And…triple crap.
He glanced over at Maisie, but it looked like she was texting someone too.
Axel: Everything’s fine and under control. Stop freaking out, okay?
Walker: That’s not a confirmation or denial, dude.
Axel: Either you trust me or you don’t. Dude.
Walker: Point taken.
Walker: Just keep us updated on what’s going on with the weather and the resort.
Axel: Will do. The storm’s supposed to finally move on, but the rain’s going to hang around until tomorrow. I’ll let you know how everything looks when I can finally go out and walk around.
Connor: Sounds good. Stay safe, Axel.
The rest of the guys chimed in with the same sentiment, but by that point, Axel was already feeling like he’d been reprimanded.
But he didn’t care.
Beside her, Axel tossed his phone down with a weary sigh. Maisie had no idea who he had been chatting with, but whoever it was, it sounded like it didn’t go well.
Much like her own text exchange with her mother.
Mom: Seriously, Maisie, you’re behaving like a brat. When are you going to come home?
Mom: This little stunt of yours is getting old. I don’t know why you’re being so difficult. Your father and I are just trying to look out for you. I would think you’d be grateful.
Maisie: I’m not going over this again. I told you I didn’t want to marry Bryce, and you promised to give me a chance to get my career off the ground on my own.
Mom: Yes, but you took off and no one knows where you are.
Maisie: Because you already poisoned all your friends and everyone you know so they wouldn’t hire me. I’m not stupid, Mom. If I’m going to do this, I had to go somewhere where you and Dad didn’t know anyone.
That’s when it hit her—they could be tracking her phone.
Maisie: I need to go. We’ll talk soon. Bye.
Then, she immediately turned her phone off and calmly put it back in her bag, immediately regretting that she had fallen for the concerned parent trick. When was she going to learn? Her parents weren’t the warm and fuzzy kind. They always had agendas. And they were never concerned about what was good for her, only what was good for them.
Well, this time she wasn’t going to just fall in line.
This time, she was going to fight for what was right for her.
Although…even with this job with the resort, it was really only the beginning. She might be able to go back to Manhattan victorious, but it was really just a temporary thing. She was going to need to have multiple jobs lined up, and none of them could be connected to the Quinnland family in any way, shape, or form.
Which meant staying in Manhattan might not be an option.
Dammit.
Maisie let out her own weary sigh as she fell back against the pillows.
“You okay?” Axel asked, lying down beside her.
