Page 102 of Mr. Almost

She answers right away.

“Finally. What do you think you are doing ignoring your mother? Hunting you down is not part of my job,” she huffs.

“No one asked you to hunt me down. Did you not consider that I was not returning your calls because I did not wish to speak to you, Mother?”

“Preposterous. A son always wants to speak with his mother. You were throwing a tantrum. Are you over it now? Can we move on?”

I grit my teeth. I want to read her the riot act, but it will do nothing. She has already proven that. Instead, I take a deep breath.

“I’d like to meet with you. Only you. Six this evening at your hotel room.”

“Oh, you mean the one I had to get at another hotel because you refuse to let me inside the one that has my name on the side of it?”

“Yes. That one. See you there?”

“Fine.”

She hangs up without another word. My head is starting to hurt, but I need to make another call.

I click the name and wait for them to answer.

“I need a trespass notice along with a restraining order. Figure it out.”

“We need a reason for the restraining order, sir,” the paralegal tells me.

I look into my daughter’s room and see her playing. Anything to protect her.

“Threatening the life of my daughter.”

“Who is the name?”

“Gloria Williamson.”

There’s no going back from this.

Chapter

Twenty

OLIVIA

Walking through the door,I cannot wait to tell Mason my good news. I hope Max hasn’t let the news slip. I don’t think he has, though.

“I’m home,” I call out.

Ari is the first to greet me, running from her room to crash into my legs.

“I missed you, bug. Did you have a good day?” I ask, kissing the top of her head.

“Yep. Uncle Max is going to take me to the movies this weekend. He said it’s a date.”

I smile down at her. Ever since Mason took her on their daddy-daughter date, she has been talking about when they can go again. Seems her father spoiled her a bit. I’m not complaining, though. He was right. I want her to know how a good man acts so she doesn’t end up with a bad one.

“That sounds great. Where is your dad?” Iask.

She looks over her shoulder.

“He’s in my room.”

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