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~E~
My stomach growlsand I press my hand down on it. It's lunch time, the different smells from the break room come wafting in. My belly flips again, screaming out in protest. Okay, okay, relax.
I gather my purse, straightening up my desk slightly as I go. Less to do later when my ass is halfway out the door, my bed and Netflix calling my name.Oh,and don't forget mypajamapants. Pathetic, Emma, really. Nights home with the TV now?
Chuckling to myself,I file away in my bag the charts from this morning, notes needing to be done, before taking on this afternoon's clients. Before I hear her, the floral perfume she loves assaults my nose and I freeze. I would know the scent a mile away, memories of my childhood flooding my brain.
"Emma, dear, are you ready for lunch?"
I spin, my mother standing before me, a sweet look on her face. Oh, please, she doesn't have a sweet bone in her body. She tries to fool me, andunbeknownstto her, I pretend itworks. Yeah, I can see right through her.
"What? We weren't meeting for lunch. I told you not today, Mom." I snap, unable to mask my annoyance. This isn't the first time she's shown upunannounced. But in her world, there's only one person—her.
Her face darkens, her eyes narrowing slightly. All of her sweetness gone. "We talked about it this morning and you said yes, Emma."
"No, I didn't. I said not today, maybe another day. Do you not listen to me?"
I throw my hands up, my face flushing. I want to spew everything at her, curses and all. But I won't. I can't. Instead, I turn away, bracing myself for her reaction. "Of courseI listen to you. Don't you dare speak to your mother that way, do you understand me, young lady? Now, let's go, I'm taking you to lunch. We have things to discuss."
I roll my eyes, before turning back to face her. "We don't have things to discuss, Mom. What could we possible have to discuss? My love life? Your rules? Melissa? Dad? What? I talk to youconstantly; there's no way anything changed from a few hours ago or you would've already called me!"
Fury flashes across her face. I step back, knowing I've crossed the line. I can't help myself sometimes; years and years of her torture have driven me insane. "Listen here, Emma Jane," her voice booms through the tiny space of my office. Shit, she used my middle name. Reel it back in,Em, she's going to combust. You can't let her yell here at work.
A loud rap on the door breaks our attention and we both jump, startled by the sound. "Excuse me?" A voice rumbles and my stomach falls to the floor. Shit, shitshit! Knox! "Is everything okay in here? I heard yelling." His sexy voice calls out gently and I want to melt into the floor. Or disappear into thin air. I don't care at this point—anything to take me away from this. I don't dare raise my eyes to my mother, who's storming to the door, her hatred for beinginterrupted apparent.
"We are fine!" She sneers, pushing the door to close it. But she's outmatched as Knox pushes it back open, concernetchedacross his face. His eyes find me across the room and instantly lock on mine, the same pull there, even stronger now. Get a grip, Emma. He's a cocky ass. Seems like he's a nosy one, too.
"Emma? Everything okay in here?" Knox asks, ignoring my mother completely. Great first impression there; she's clearly going to love him.
I nod, my face flaming red. My cheeks and ears burn and I can only imagine how red they are. No words form as his eyes dart back and forth between my mother and me. What can I say? Meet my mother? My crazy psycho mother?
"Emma, who is this man?" My mother snaps at me, rolling her eyes as she turns her head my way. "Do you know him?"
I nod again, the only form of communication I can manage at the moment. Absolutely mortified.
Knox clears his throat. He steps into my office as if invited, his whole presence filling the room. My breath hitches at the closeness of him. The way he fills the room as if there is nothing else around. Only him and me. Me and him. "I work here. Dr. Knox Rothwell, nice to meet you." He holds his hand out; my mother turns her nose up and stalks towards me. Knox is frozen for a moment, shockpassingover his face as he registers the complete brush off my mother just gave him. Yep, she's a cold-hearted bitch.
The embarrassment is eating me alive, my face hotter than lava. I need to get them both out of here before something bad happens. I take a deep breath, ready to speak, when my mother cuts me off. "Emma! Let's go. We've wasted enough time."
"No," I barely manage. Please, just go already.
"What? Why not? I came here to have lunch with you, so let's go!"
"Emma," Knox says, a small smile beginning to play on his lips, "I thought we were going out to lunch? You know, you being my mentor and all." He winks and a giggle escapes, easily catching on to his hint.
"That's right!" I exclaim, "I'd totallyforgotten! I'm his mentor, and today's his first day, and he needslunchand we have to go over some details of theoffice..." I trail off when I realize I'mrambling.My mother gives a curt nod, her eyes drilling into mine. I'm sure she suspects something, but there isn't a damned thing she can do about it.
"Well, I'm sure it'll be fine for me to tag along, huh, Emma? I won't disturb you two." I shake my head no. Why can't she make this easier on all of us by getting in the damned car and going? I don't need to have a lunch with her, only for her to be airing all of my dirtylaundry right on the table.
"Do you mind taking off now?We don't have a long lunch break and there's a lot to discuss." Knox directs his question towards my mom and I shrink away slightly, knowing she's going to flip.
"Um, Knox, is it?" Her fists curl at her sides. Her breath comes out in sharp pants. "Listen here, playboy, I'll go when I'm damned ready to!"
Oh shit, here it comes. Just ignore it, Knox. Push her; she pushes you twice as hard.
"Emma, are you going to let him talk to me that way? I don't need to go, do I?"
