Page 24 of Who Needs a Billionaire

“Mhmm.” Adelia’s eyebrows bounced up and down playfully.

Merritt’s shoulders sagged. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

“Don’t overthink it, Merritt. Before you know it, the new year will be here again, and you’ll be in a much better place with your business than you are now.”

“Can you keep reminding me of that?”

“Of course, I will.”

She smiled at Adelia. “Thank you.” Her thoughts turned to future plans. “I cannot wait to get going on the new ad campaign. Thank you for agreeing to be the face of my company. You are a very good friend.”

“Well, I believe in you and your products, and I’m happy to do this for you.”

That familiar excitement began to build when she thought about her business. “I love what I do, but having you be a part of this, along with Giovanni’s photographs, just makes it all so much better.”

Adelia’s phone rang then, and she groaned.

“Who is it?”

“Mother,” she answered as she rolled her eyes in Merritt’s direction.

Merritt watched Adelia’s very animated facial expressions as her mother spoke.

“I already told him I’m not doing that movie,” Adelia replied. “The script was crap. I hated everything about it. I want to work on stories that inspire me. That one made me want to take a blow torch to it, but I only had a lighter, so I used that instead.”

Merritt chuckled quietly as Adelia pulled the phone away from her ear due to the increasing volume of her mother’s voice.

“I’m not a little girl anymore. I make my own choices when it comes to my work now. You can’t force me into roles. I’m a grown woman.” There was a pause. “I don’t care if you don’t like that indie movie I did. I don’t care how it reflects back on you. What I care about is my own career, apart from you and Dad. How many times are we going to have this conversation? Seriously, Mom, you’re like a broken record these days.” Another pause and more eye-rolling from Adelia. “Goodbye, Mother.” She hung up and tossed the phone onto the bed as she let out a loud cry.

The sound of rapid footfalls in the hallway grew louder, and Gus flung the door open.

“What’s wrong?” His eyes shot between the two women.

Merritt nodded toward Adelia.

“What is it, Deals?” Gus approached her with open arms, and she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest as he rubbed up and down her back.

“I’m twenty-nine years old. I’ve been an adult for a while now. I just don’t understand why my parents can’t stay out of my business and out of my career. I get that they’re important in this business. I wasn’t raised under a rock. But whether I choose to do a big-budget drama or a small-budget indie should be my choice. Not theirs.”

“It’ll be all right,” Gus told her. “Just keep doing what you’re doing.”

“I think you’ve made some amazing choices so far in your career,” Merritt said.

“Absolutely,” Giovanni agreed. “You have to be allowed to be Adelia Allen, not just the daughter of Hugh Allen and Cora Roberts.”

Adelia straightened and wiggled her body as if she was shaking off all the negativity. “You’re right. I am Adelia Allen, and I’m going to show the world that I’m more than just their daughter.”

“You go, girl,” Giovanni said, teasingly.

“Anybody want a drink?” Gus offered.

“I need one after dealing with Cora,” Adelia replied with a laugh.

Merritt felt bad for her friend, but it made her thankful that she hadn’t been raised by an overcontrolling mother. Her dad’s archaic views on women’s roles were bad enough.

The four of them moved into the living room then, talking until the sun went down. Merritt wished their friends would stay longer, but they soon said their goodbyes and departed.

And then it was just the two of them.

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