Page 16 of Can't Take Moore
“Going to the spa for the weekend is getting a little space,” my mom countered. “Come back and I’ll book you a room at The Peninsula for a few days. You can get a different view of the skyline while you work out in their fitness center. Do some laps in their pool for a change of pace. Then get a spa package—massage, facial, mani-pedi. The whole works. You’ll feel like a new woman when they’re done with you.”
Ignoring her suggestion, I added, “I also mentioned that our only communication will be through email for the next month.”
My sister gasped, “That’s just not possible.”
I rolled my eyes over how shocked she sounded when none of this would have been news to either of them if they’d bothered to pay even the slightest bit of attention to my letters. “It’ll have to be because I’m not offering you another option, Nadia.”
“What about the accounts?” she asked.
I didn’t want people who’d put their trust in me to suffer because of this situation. “I’ll reactivate them today, but I’m the only one who will have access.”
“But I always post for you,” my sister cried.
“Not anymore. I’m more than capable of posting to my own accounts.” I was the one who’d started them six years ago, after all.
“How will you know what to post? You don’t even know what’s on the calendar,” she argued.
“Send me whatever I need to put up for stuff I’ve already committed to but don’t book anything new until we talk again,” I instructed.
“And when will that be?”
“One month.” I gripped the phone so hard that I was surprised the screen didn’t crack.
“Don’t you mean three and a half weeks? Six days have already passed since you left, and you said in your notes to us that this would go on for a month,” my mom argued.
A bitter laugh bubbled up my chest at how she tried to use the note she’d previously ignored against me. “The clock just restarted because you went against my wishes. Do it again, and I’ll tack more time on to the end.”
“You’re being unreasonable,” my mom accused.
“It’s ridiculous that we don’t even know where you are,” Nadia added. “We’re your family.”
“Your only family.”
My mom’s words landed like a blow to my solar plexus, leaving me breathless as tears welled in my eyes. I was reeling from the direction she’d taken the conversation, but that didn’t stop her from verbally kicking me while I was down.
“I know the past few months have been difficult for you. It’s perfectly understandable if you need a little break because of the mental anguish you’ve been experiencing. But this isn’t the way to accomplish it. We should all sit down and discuss alternatives that will give you the time you clearly need while we take care of things so that the business doesn’t suffer.”
“Don’t you dare,” I hissed, tears spilling down my cheeks.
“I’ll dare anything. I’m your mother, and I’m worried about you.”
I might have believed that the way I disappeared had opened her eyes, except she still hadn’t asked me if I was okay. Everything was about how me being gone would affect her bottom line. “You’re only worried about me because I’m your golden goose. Be happy with the eggs you’ve already got. Depending on how you handle this hiatus, they may be the last you get.”
“Are you threatening me?” my mother gasped.
“I don’t know, Mom. With all that crap you were just spewing about how I could use a mental break, do I need to?”
6
Dean
Ihad a busy day in the office, but I didn't get nearly as much done as I expected. My thoughts kept drifting toward Vienna and our date last night. Stopping with just a kiss on her doorstep again had taken every ounce of my willpower. Primal need unlike anything I ever felt before had been coursing through my veins, and it hadn’t worn off when I got home.
Although I had a fuck ton left to do, I was happy for the distraction my brother provided when he showed up unexpectedly.
“Hey, how's it going?” Jude asked.
“I can't complain too much.”
