Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 109(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 109(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
“There’s a doctor in the hotel,” I growl. “I’ll call her shortly. Don’t worry, your mom is going to be fine.”
Maddy appears inconsolable, but before I can reach for the phone, Grace revives a bit.
“Maddy?” she asks, blinking slowly. Then realization hits and she lets out a blood-curling scream before dissolving into tears. “What have you done?” she cries out. “Why are you are here, with him? Why were you doing that?”
My lover looks stricken and she sits back, pulling the jacket close about her shoulders as if trying to hide. She’s just about to say something, but then I interrupt.
“What we were doing is very normal for two people in love,” I say. “I’ve been seeing your daughter, Mrs. Mitchell. We’ve been dating in secret, and we’re very happy together, isn’t that right, Madeline?”
The blonde turns to me with horror in her eyes, and I can only hope that she goes along with my story.
9
Maddy
What is he talking about? Has Cameron lost his mind? How can he say that we’re in love, when we only met for the first time tonight?
But he jerks his chin towards my mother sharply, and suddenly I understand. He’s doing this for Grace. It was such a shock for my mom to walk in and see her daughter being drilled by a much-older man, and now he’s trying to make it as okay as possible. After all, people in a relationship make love all the time, right?”
“Yes, Cameron and I have been secretly dating,” I say in a rush. “We’ve been in love for a long time, but I didn’t know how to tell you, so I didn’t. I mean, he’s your boss and I’m only eighteen, so we weren’t sure how to break the news.”
Another wail rings throughout the room.
“You’re my daughter,” Grace cries pitifully. “I never expected to find my baby girl in such a compromising situation.”
My expression is one of shock and horror I’m sure, but Cameron steps in again.
“I admit, we weren’t exactly doing missionary, but what we did is very common for people in love. Your daughter is very beautiful, kind, giving, and sweet, and I can assure you that I treat her with every modicum of respect she deserves.”
How does he make things sound so nice when we’re in the middle of a crisis? But evidently, it works somewhat because my mom pats her eyes and sniffles a bit.
“You’re in love?” she asks. “How did you even meet? I didn’t know you knew each other.”
My mind whirls in a frenzy and I say the first thing that pops into my head.
“Well, you’ve worked at Le Palms for a long time, and I knew the job was getting to you. So I submitted a job application on the sly a year ago, and they brought me in for an interview. I didn’t get the job, but during that time, I met Mr. Savage and we fell in love.”
My mom blinks at me, confused.
“But Maddy, I thought we talked about this. I don’t want you to have a job, I want you to focus on schoolwork. You’re going to college, remember? Even if I have to work my fingers to the bone, I want a better life for my daughter.”
I nod furiously.
“Yes, of course Mom. I know that, but I just couldn’t bear to see you so tired after every shift. I figured I’d get a part-time job, no more than ten hours a week, and the extra cash could help for things like utilities and car insurance.”
Grace is still confused and not buying it.
“But Madeline, what job did you apply for? You’re only eighteen. What would you be qualified to do?”
I’m not sure what to say because she’s right. I don’t have many practical skills, and frankly, I’ve never been great with computers or math either. What could I do?
Cameron steps in for the save again.
“She applied to be an executive assistant,” he says in a low, smooth voice. “My executive assistant, to be precise.”
Oh, of course. That makes sense, and it would also explain how we met.
“Um, yes, I was going to be his secretary,” I say hurriedly. “Or maybe an assistant secretary because Cameron already has two secretaries who work for him.”
He nods and my mother looks between us, still a little suspicious. However, the assistant secretary story sounds believable because even with my lack of skill, I could arguably be trained up for the administrative role. Not just that, but I didn’t ultimately get the job anyways, so that explains my current lack of skill.
“Okay,” she says slowly. “But before we talk about this more, put on some clothes, Maddy. I still can’t believe I caught my own daughter doing … that!”
I shoot a look at Cameron, and then scramble to my feet and throw on my sweater and jeans. In minutes, I’m clothed again, although still bedraggled with my hair a rat’s nest and my face flushed.