“I know. They told me downstairs.” She smirked as the doors closed. “By the way, you don’t have to hide your ring from me.”
My hands clenched into fists. That Anna bitch. “They told you that one, too?”
“Yes. That’s why I came up.” Andrea grabbed my hand and examined the ring.
I stiffened in response to Andrea’s touch, wishing I never had come here today.
“Ten carats?” Jealousy dripped from her tone.
“I don’t know. I never cared to ask. Why don’t you ask him?”
Andrea dropped my hand, inching a brow. “Don’t get smart with me. You know he’s no longer my client…or friend.”
The elevator reached the parking lot and the doors opened. I rushed out. “Look, I’d love to sit and chat, but I’m running late.”
“For the Oscars?” Andrea scoffed, her heels clacking on the cement. “You think you’re going to win?”
I stopped, closing my eyes, my jaws tightening. Some things would never change.Don’t let her ruin your day. Just walk away.
“We both know that you won’t. I’m gonna ask you a better question. Do you really think he loves you?”
I spun, my cheeks burning. “Yes, Andrea. Iknowhe loves me. Why can’t you just see me happy like any sane mother?”
“Happy? You poor little thing.” She barked with laughter as she stepped forward. “I’ve been trying to spare you the heartache, but you just won’t listen.” Her stare shot daggers at me. “Let me ask you this.” She lifted her finger in the air toward her neck. “Do those little kisses on his neck still drive him crazy? Or better yet, when he goes down on you and smells your cunt first, who do you think taught him that?”
No.
He wouldn’t.
He’d never.
Mike and Andrea…
No!
Her words were like knives slicing my heart to shreds. Horror and denial whirled through me like toxic fumes, my stomach turning with a sharp pain as if filled with broken glass. “You’re lying,” I whispered, shuddering. “You’re a sick, lying monster.”
“I can’t believe he brainwashed you like that.” Andrea rolled her eyes, her hands held up in the air. “You’re so stupid, Maggie. You always have been. I don’t know what else to do to make you understand. Just ask him what happened on the night of March 17thsixteen years ago. Maybe you’ll finally get that he’s only with you because you’re a younger version of me.” She started away. “Enjoy your Oscars. I really hope you’ll win.”
Scene69
Maggie
I didn’t know how I made it to the car or inside Mike’s house. Shaking, I passed by the hair and makeup team swirling around the house and took the elevator to Mike’s bedroom—ourbedroom.
“Mike?” I called out, my voice trembling.
“In the bathroom. Come in.”
He was in his underwear, holding an electric trimmer, looking in the bathroom mirror, when I came in. “What took you so long? How did it go?”
I just stood frozen in place, my eyes locked on his face.
“Amore?” He glanced at me, and then his face went pale. “What happened?”
“An…Andrea.”
