Page 61 of Whatever You Need

My computer was taking foreverto warm up, so I banged on my mouse as if it were to blame for all my problems. I’ve done nothing but cry, and I was not the type of girl to shed tears easily.

Work was usually a good distraction for me, so once my screen turned on, I clicked on my email and tackled my inbox. I’ve gone over things in my head a million times and thought about what I could have done differently. If there was a way to get the job and keep the guy.

I clicked on a proposal for the National Law Enforcement and K9 Conference. Just wonderful. It seemed like the universe was working against me. So much for work being my escape.

If I was going to get through these next few hours, I needed something other than coffee. I opened the top drawer of my desk and pulled out a protein bar hiding under a stack of index cards. I was just about to skim through the documents when someone knocked on my door.

“Come in,” I called, looking up from my computer screen. My department was mostly deserted due to the holiday schedule. I assumed it was the maintenance staff, because they were working different hours and trying to keep their evenings free.

The door slowly pushed open, and my mother stepped into the room. I closed my desk drawer, the protein bar no longer appealed to me.

“What can I do for you?”

After the fallout at my house the other morning, I made it abundantly clear that we didn’t need to speak to each other unless it was absolutely necessary. The way she treated Marco was totally unacceptable.

“Would you like to join me in the main dining room for brunch? They have a new menu that I’m dying to try out.”

“Why?” I met her gaze. “Do you have more life shattering secrets you need to reveal?”

She crossed a line the other day, and there was too much animosity between us to remain civil. Well, at least for me. She claimed she was only looking out for my best interests when in fact she was only looking out for herself. I should let my grandfather cut her off, and I should turn my back on this company because everything I’ve been told my entire life has been a lie. But every time I thought about it, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

She lowered herself into the seat across from my desk. “I would like the opportunity to make things right.”

I looked out into the hall, thankful that it was so quiet today. “I’m not sure you can.”

“I’d still like to try.”

I rose from my chair and walked over to the window, overlooking the city below. Light snow still blanked the streets while people walked and talked. Their lives were going on as normal, while mine stood still.

“You got your wish.” I folded my arms across my chest. “Marco and I are no longer together.”

She was quiet for a moment before clearing her throat. “If it makes you feel any better, I’m sorry. I know you cared for him.”

I turned my head and glared at her. “Did you? Is that why you were so rude to him?”

She clasped her hands together in front of her. “I was caught off guard, and things are so complicated right now. I had every right to be concerned. Besides, it’s for the best that you forget about him and move forward.”

Her words cut deep. She wanted me to just brush my feelings aside when I’ve never felt so lost and sad in my life. “Forget about him?” My voice rose along with my irritation. “I am in love with him.” Her eyes widened. “The kind where you don’t just get over it, but with your track record, I don’t expect you to understand that.”

“Amelia.” She shook her head. “I had no idea it was that serious.”

How would she know? She wasn’t a part of my life. We saw each other a handful of times a year, if that. That made her the last person on earth I would want to confide in.

“It doesn’t matter. I told him the truth and he made it clear he wanted nothing to do with me.”

I’d be damned if it didn’t hurt me to admit that. It’s only been two days and that aching hole in my chest only seemed to get bigger and bigger. I thought I could distract myself with mindless hours of reality TV or fill it with my work, but nothing was helping.

“How much did you tell him?” She looked over her shoulder.

“Not that,” I clipped back. Although I would have told him about my paternity if the topic came up. I would have told him anything if that meant he could forgive me.

She tapped her red manicured nail along the armrest of the chair. “You’re obviously still angry with me, so I’m just going to cut to the chase here. I never should have put that burden on you. I’m ashamed of how I’ve treated you. I’d like the chance to fix things.”

She actually sounded genuine, which surprised me. Yet, old habits and her history of manipulation had me on guard. After all, she wanted me to marry dipshit just so she could keep her stuffy little country club membership and not have to give up her personal shopper at Neiman Marcus.

“Why now? Why all of a sudden?”

“I know I lost the chance of being the mother you deserve, but I’d like to try to rectify my mistakes. I realized after I left your place the other day that I was only making things worse. I felt like I’ve let you down.”

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