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“That’s because it’s none of her business. I don’t tell her everything, and I’m certainly not going to talk to her about my love life. Besides,” I gesture at her, “why would I get back with someone who treated me as a personal ATM?”
“That’s not fair!”
“You disrespected me and my bank account because you saw dollar signs. I have more self-worth than that. I’m not interested in going through that again. Now leave and tell Mom that you and I are not happening again. I’d do it myself, but I’d probably lose my temper and scream at her, and it’s too late to do that.”
Hannah splutters, but I hold up a hand before she responds.
“Go away, and go back to where you came from. Now get lost.”
“But…where am I supposed to go?”
“You didn’t find yourself a hotel?”
“I thought I was going to be staying with you.”
I shake my head. The nerve of the woman.
“Go home, Hannah. And leave my building, or I’ll have the doorman escort you forcibly from the premises. You shouldn’t have gotten past him in the first place.”
“With my looks and how I’m dressed, he didn’t even argue when I told him you were expecting me.”
Now the doorman probably thinks that I’m bringing in hookers. I need to have a word with him. I start to close the door.
“Bye, Hannah. And don’t ever contact me again.”
“Luke, please…!”
But I cut off Hannah’s protests by slamming the door shut. As an afterthought, I lock the door and put the chain on. This is a problem I don’t want to deal with tonight.
Chapter 21 Elle
“Phew!” Diane lets out a sigh of relief as the door closes behind the last client. “I’m glad that one is over now. That was exhausting.”
“I’m still surprised that there are people who behave like this regarding their kids.” I take off the lens from my camera and begin to pack it away. “I get wanting your kid to be successful, but talking like you want to be the one in her place is just cringeworthy.”
“People like to live through their kids in a vicarious manner.” Diane turns off the lights and folds them down. “They weren’t able to get that career or position when they were younger, so they make sure the kids can do it.”
I find it scary that there are plenty of parents who behave in such a manner and won’t let them have a mind of their own. The child in the photoshoot had looked a little dead behind the eyes, and she had tried so hard to brighten up and smile, but it didn’t work. The mother had wanted to take the final product to a modeling agency so she could get her daughter signed up. I have a feeling she’s not going to do well, even with a beautiful and talented daughter but was an empty shell due to being browbeaten by her mother.
I feel sorry for the little girl. She deserves better.
“What are the chances of the child turning against them once they’re capable of doing it?”
“I’m sure it’s pretty high. I would have been furious if my mom tried to make me do what she wanted when she was a girl.”
“Wasn’t she a professional gymnast?”
“Yep. And look at me.” Diane laughed as she moved to touch her toes, stopping before she had gotten her hands past her knees. “I’m the least flexible person on the planet.”
I laugh.
“You could make a living as a gymnast clown.”
“Does those actually exist?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they did. They seem to have plenty of jobs for practically everything.”
“No, thanks. I hate gymnastics. The gymnasts themselves are lovely, but it’s not something I’m going to go into unless I’ve got my camera.” Diane heads over to her desk and logs in on her computer. “Let’s see how these came out. Although I don’t know how I’m going to put any life behind her eyes. She was just so blank.”
