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This can’t be real.
Please, no. Her son?
My tight smile falters when I look at him. I don’t know what to do or say, but all I can think is that he set this up.
That I didn’t earn my job. That I didn’t get here because I deserved it. That I was a fool to think I’d finally made it on my own.
Suddenly, my lips feel dry, and I lick the bottom one as Madox tears his gaze from me to face his mother. “Madox, this lovely lady is Sophie. She’s recently been hired by the company I bought a while back that I told you about. The design and branding firm, do you recall?”
With a racing pulse, I look between the two of them.Does he not know?
My head is spinning, and I’m lost in a blur of questions.
“Madox,” I say his name and I try to keep it polite, but still it comes out like a question, his name is uttered like a plea.
“I already know Sophie, mother,” Madox informs Adrienne in a tone that’s far less than pleasant, and instantly I look down to the table, feeling smaller by the second.
“What are you doing?” Madox’s voice is hard. At first I think his question is for me and I’m ready to lay into him and defend myself, but it’s not.
“What do you mean?” His mother’s voice is an octave higher than I’ve heard before.The voice of a liar.
“I don’t have time for this. What. Did. You. Do?” His voice is harder; firmer, with no forgiveness. It’s nearly cruel.
I’ve never seen his mother or seen them together. It’s nauseating to watch. There is absolutely no love between them. In the four years we were together, Madox spent every day avoiding her. I didn’t feel bad for her because she never seemed to want to be with him, but right now, I feel dreadful for all of us.
“Madox, please.” She merely admonishes him with disgust in her voice.
Slowly I find my own backbone, looking between the two of them and still feeling sick to my stomach. Of course the waiter would come over the second I start to speak.
“We’re not interested at the moment,” I bite out, and then feel awful for snapping at the innocent man. “I’m sorry,” I’m quick to add. “We just need a minute.” As soon as the waiter’s back is turned, I look back between the two of them. Madox looks nothing like her, but he’d always told me he was his father’s son.
“I deserve an explanation,” I tell them, and my voice is hard but just. “What the hell is going on?”
“Nothing.” Adrienne is the first to speak, raising both of her hands and feigning innocence. “I had no idea the two of you knew each other. I simply wanted you two to meet.”
Madox considers his mother for all of a second before turning his attention to me.
“I’m sorry,” he tells me. “I had no idea my mother brought you here.”
Brought me here.
Fuck.
Fuck.
I was right. I didn’t earn my position. She knew who I was. She did this for him.
His mother starts to talk, but even I know there’s no way this is a coincidence.
Madox’s patience is nowhere in sight. “Just tell the truth for once in your fucking life.”
“Don’t speak to me like that,” his mother hisses.
The tension at the table is palpable.
“I think he feels betrayed,” I speak up, feeling an ache in my heart, a hole that grows larger with every second. “Just as I do, and I can’t figure out why you would do such a thing. I’m not angry at you for putting me into this very,” I make sure I lean forward and emphasize the next word, “uncomfortable position.” I have to swallow and when I do, both of them try to speak but I cut them off. “I am not finished.”
Silence. The entire room is silent.
