Page 20 of The Revenge Plan

“Whatever for?” I was enjoying my cornflakes, and I wasn’t about to get up at his command. The last time he commanded me to go somewhere, I came back with a broken toenail and a huge dose of remorse over what I had done to someone I used to call a friend. I still couldn’t bear to face Sophie and I kept thinking of what I could do to apologize. I had yet to come up with something.

He paced back to where I was and covered his phone, “We’re going to France,” he said and got back to his call. I continued eating my breakfast. He stopped talking and frowned at my food.

“That’s the only—hey, what are you doing!” Without warning, he grabbed my bowl and threw the contents into the sink.

He spoke into his phone with his eyes on me, “Ax, I’ll get back to you later.” To me he said, “Why are you still here?”

“I was eating that!”

“Pack your bag, we will eat on the way.”

I crossed my arms, “I’m not one of your lackeys.”

He sighed, “Hailey, we have to go right now. This morning.”

“You have. Doesn’t mean I have to.”

“Okay what is going on?” He looked exasperated, as if I was about to pull some trick and he was readying himself.

“I can’t merely get up and leave my life whenever you want to. I have commitments.”

“To whom?Saks?Bloomingdale’s?”

“Ha. Ha. Very funny. Bottom line. I’m not going. You didn’t ask.”

He sighed, “Hailey. Can you please pack your things? We need to leave for France this second.”

“No. I have work.”

This time he laughed. He laughed so hard I felt a sting in my eyes. I will not cry, I told myself. I steeled my back and continued with my food.

“Oh. You’re serious. Where is this workplace you go to? Influencer central?”

“Keep doing that and I won’t go with you.”

“Fine. Can you tell your workers or your boss or whatever that you can’t make it today?”

“You seem to not understand that my stuff has more importance than your stuff in my world. I couldn’t care less about France. But I do care about my job.”

“You really are trying to make this hard for me, aren’t you?”

I shrugged and glared at him. He sighed, “Hailey,” his voice was low and deliberate. He enunciated every word, “Can you please come to France with me.”

“See. That’s much better,” I uncrossed my arms across my chest, “why do you want me to come to your business trip so much?”

“There’s a meeting I’m attending. A potential business partner, and it would be better for business if you were there.” He sounded as if the words were being pulled out of his mouth against his will.

“Why would it be better? I thought I was great at destroying things. As you once delicately put.”

He winced, “he likes you,” his voice was low when he said it.

“Excuse me? I didn’t hear that part.” I had, of course. I wanted him to repeat it.

“He likes you! There, I said it. He likes your internet persona or whatever, and he specifically requested that you come.”

It surprised me that anyone from Caiden’s world would know me, or even be a fan. I picked up my phone, “If that’s the case, let me call the office and tell them I can’t make it. Although, you should have given me at least three days’ notice.”

He frowned. “You really do work?”

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