“Adam, your mother’s on her way up. Serena did ask her to wait, so she could call up to make sure you weren’t busy, but Ava ignored her and bypassed reception. Do you want me to head her off?” the voice of my assistant, Mark, fills my office.
For fuck’s sake.
I let out a sigh. Then, I press the button on the intercom, answering him, “No, it’s fine. Let her in when she arrives.”
“Okay, will do. Just to let you know, I’ll be away from my desk for a few minutes after that. I need to go see Simon in HR.”
“Sure, no probs.”
I let out another sigh, a tired one this time, as I lean back in my chair. I haven’t been sleeping well all week, and I could really do without a visit from the devil.
I wonder what Ava wants this time. I only see her when she needs something from me.
And my lack of sleep has nothing to do with the fact that I haven’t heard from Evie all week. I went to see her on Monday, and it’s now Friday. I told her to call me the next day, so we could talk, and she hasn’t.
And it’s pissing me off.
When leaving the hotel, I’ve seen her at the coffee shop, but there is no fucking way I’m going back in there to ask why she hasn’t called me.
Maybe she doesn’t think us still being married is a big deal. I mean, she didn’t care ten years ago, so why would she care now?
Well, whatever. I did my part. I told her the truth, unlike what she has done with me.
The ball is firmly in her court now.
I hear the familiar click of Ava’s high heels on the wood floor outside my office. It makes my skin prickle, and annoyance grows in my chest. Funny how just the sound of Ava walking can piss me off.
I hear her speak—or should I say, I hear her talking down to Mark.
The door opens, and I repress another sigh.
Here we go.
“Adam.” There isn’t any niceness in her tone, not that I’m surprised. She’s spoken to me with the same level of intolerance ever since I can remember.
“Ava.”
She narrows her eyes at me. She doesn’t like it when I call her by her first name. Fuck knows why. It’s not like she enjoys or cares to be my mother—well, apart from when I can give her something or do something for her, which is clearly why she’s here.
“What do you want this time?”
She frowns at me—well, frowns as best as she can with all the Botox and skin-tightening she’s had done over the years.
She takes the seat at the other side of my desk. “Is that any way to greet your mother?”
I tip my head to the side. “Sorry. I’ll rephrase. What the fuck do you want this time, Ava?”
Tut-tutting, she shakes her head at me, flicking her hair over her shoulder. “You really are such a disappointment. Other children treat their mothers with respect.”
“Other children don’t find their mothers having a threesome with their best friend’s parents.”
I never did tell Max that. I didn’t know how to. I mean, it’s not something that comes up easily in conversation.
Oh, by the way, I came home from school the other day, and my mother was fucking your mom and dad.
Honestly, I was afraid he’d blame me, and I would lose him.
I was thirteen, and Max was all I had in the world.
Sighing, she rolls her eyes. “Ancient history.” She flicks a hand at me.
I can’t suppress the laugh of disdain that escapes me.
History. Denial. Ignorance.
Ava’s best defenses.
I release a sigh. “I’m busy, Ava. What is it you want from me this time?”
Examining her nails, she says, “Well…it’s been a while since I worked.”
“I thought you were taking a break.”
“I was, and now, I want to work.”
“Well, I haven’t got anything for you. You could always try another studio.”
God, wouldn’t that be a fucking dream? Let someone else deal with her.