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“Why don’t you like him? You don’t even know him. You just met him and you’ve been so rude.”
Her mother barely reacted to the insult, but the way her eyes narrowed—so slightly only a trained observer would notice—Jezebelle regretted her candid words.
“All the money we put into your education. All the sacrifices we did for you. This is the treatment I get.”
Oh, Jezebelle wasn’t even going to go there. Yeah, they paid for her education at one of the most prestigious schools in the country, along with her law degree. She wouldn’t argue that point. But the sacrifices? What did they sacrifice? How about what her mother expected her to sacrifice—quitting her dream? She loved being on the stage. The last thing she wanted to do was walk away from something that brought her joy and happiness, even if she was struggling at the moment.
“I’m not moving back to Connecticut and joining Father’s company.”
Why beat around the bush? With her announcement of her engagement—despite it being fake and her mother having no clue—she had to know Jezebelle wouldn’t be moving now. Not when Brick owned a company. She wouldn’t ask him to drop his dreams for something she despised. Well, if their engagement was real, she wouldn’t.
A sly smirk formed. “Well, isn’t that perfect then that your father is opening a practice here in the city. Bradley will be heading the firm here. You will be by his side.”
In more than just working were the unspoken words her mother chose not to say. It didn’t matter she had another man’s ring on her finger. If her mother wanted her to marry Bradley, she’d see it happen. No matter what she had to do.
“Don’t give me that look, Jezebelle. We gave you your freedom to do”—her mother flitted her hand in the air frivolously—“your thing, but it’s time to join the real world. Time to do what you’re meant to do. Do I have to remind you that you didn’t come to New York with your own money?”
No, she did not need that reminder. She should’ve never taken the cash when her parents—mostly her father—offered to help her get on her feet when she decided she wanted to be a star on Broadway. When her mother finally agreed, the one stipulation she had was, ‘You will join your father’s practice when this little adventure is over. Or you will pay us back every cent.’
She didn’t have the money to pay her mother back. Her father would never make her pay it.
Her mother knew she didn’t have the money.
That put her in a very precarious situation.
“Now, let’s return to the table and enjoy our meal. You and Bradley have much to talk about.”
Then her mother exited the bathroom, expecting her to follow and to do her bidding without an argument. Honestly, she didn’t have a good defense to argue with her mother. Other than she was a grown adult and could live her life the way she wanted to. But in her mother’s eyes, she was wasting her life with frivolous things and not acting like an adult. Time to grow up. She hated when her mother said that.
Jezebelle followed but not before taking a few deep breaths. Once she settled back into her seat, she couldn’t even look Brick in the eye. What did he think of her? She hadn’t fully prepared him for her mother and how cruel and vindictive she could be. She was a terrible fake fiancée.
She was worse than terrible. She was acting like her mother. Especially when she corrected Brick’s name to Rick. It had been a reflex, not wanting her mother to look down on him even more than she already was.
But it had been the wrong thing to do and she’d have to apologize to Brick when they got home later. She should fix her mistake.
Except, she didn’t know how.
She jumped when Brick touched her thigh. Her eyes connected with his, only for a brief moment before her mother spoke.
“After our meal, Bradley said he’d give us a tour of the firm. I haven’t seen it yet, but I hear it’s magnificent. Your father picked the best spot in the city. They have the entire forty-fourth floor.”
“You’re welcome to join us, Rick,” Bradley said with a genuine smile before taking a sip of his drink. “Unless you have other plans.”
Well, at least Bradley wasn’t taking it personally she wasn’t available like her mother told him. He had always been a friendly, easygoing guy growing up. She had known him since she was ten when he moved to the neighborhood. By the time she turned seventeen, she knew her mother saw marriage in their future. It still rankled her nerves her mother thought she could control every waking moment of her life.
“My plans are what Jezebelle’s plans are. I have off.” Then he squeezed her thigh and removed his hand back to his lap.
She wasn’t sure how to interpret the touch. Offering her comfort at the thick tension circling the table, or telling her they’d be having a serious talk as soon as they were alone? A talk she wouldn’t like. The way he took his hand away, she could only assume the latter. He wasn’t happy with her, and it was all her fault.
“After we’re done touring the—”
“Brick and I have an appointment. We’ll only be able to see the firm and then we’ll have to part ways.” Jezebelle cut off her mother as if it was something she did often when it was the first time she had ever done so.
Her mother narrowed her eyes, the stare making her want to squirm in her seat. She forced herself to remain calm and collected. The last thing she needed to do was show an ounce of weakness in front of her mother.
“I thought his name was Rick.”
That’s what her mother decided to focus on first?
