Page 103 of Man Seeking Woman

Clenching the paper in my hands, I saw my face on the front with my ex. The caption said it all, and I instantly knew why Ella had run off.

Son of a bitch.

My teeth ground down as anger and pure rage swept over my body, pulling me in two different directions. The fucking paparazzi were so good at ruining people's lives. They would swoop in like fucking hawks, stealing bits of information that they would spin into a new tale.

A false tale. A nightmare. A word-filled gun that they shot at public figures.

And I was at the end of their barrel.

I'm going to fucking kill that photographer and reporter. . .

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, so I quickly dug it out, hoping to see Ella's name on the screen. My sliver of excitement was quickly dashed by the sadness hovering around me like a fucking parasite waiting to feast.

Pushing the phone against my ear, I answered. “Now is not the time, Mom.”

“A,'Hello, Mother, how are you?'would have been the appropriate response.” Her voice was cold and flat. “I don't like the way you've been acting lately, August.”

“Look, I'm sorry, I just don't have time to talk right now. Ella left and I need to find her.”

“So, are you busy this weekend?” my mother asked, ignoring me completely.

“Did you hear me? I said Ella left me.”

“And? What do you want me to say, August?” Sighing, the phone crackled as she spoke. “Did you really think you two would actually last?”

Tipping my head back, I stared up at the ceiling. “I don't know, I guess I thought we had something.”

“Maybe it's not even your baby.”

“It's my baby, there's no doubt in my mind about that.”

“How do you know? What if she's using you for your money? Did you ever think of that? What if she got pregnant—”

Throwing my hand to my forehead, I cut her off. “I'm not having this conversation, I need to go find her.”

“You need to make sure you close the deal with that new client, not chasing street trash, August. Besides, Michelle said she had a great time last night with you. Didn't it feel good to be with her again? Do you know how good you two looked together?” I could hear her pouring something into a glass, her voice going in and out as she must have been balancing the phone on her shoulder.

“You talked to Michelle?”

“I did and I knew you two still had something there. You were meant to be together, I just know it. And I'm your mother, mothers know best.”

Wait a minute. . . Why doesn't she sound surprised?

Staying quiet, I thought about what she was saying and that's when it all fell together. My mother had set me up. She must have learned that Michelle's family had just bought the restaurant chain and she used that to get us together.

Did she do this? Did my mother destroy my relationship on purpose?

“Was this all you? Did you set this up?”

“August, you don't belong with that girl. She's not meant for you, she's not like us.”

“Like us?You think you get to judge who she is because she doesn't come from the same social circle? You don't know anything about her.”

“I know enough to know you're too good for her.”

“You don't get it do you? It's not about money or status, it has nothing to do with where she comes from, or what she has. Ella is an amazing person, she makes me happy, she makes me feel complete. You would never understand, she—”

“She,”my mother snapped, and I could imagine the angry grimace on her face and the thick vein in her neck popping out as her temper flared. “Is a nobody. Why would you ever risk our family name for her? Have you no pride in who we are?”

---