“Thanks.”
“I’m sorry about your job. Everyone I know really enjoyed having you as their teacher.”
“Thanks, Phillip. I’ll miss DuBose for sure.”
“What are you going to do now?” he asks.
“Figure out how to fix my life.”
“You really should go after Chiara. After what your ex-wife did to her, she’s probably feeling like shit.”
“Nadine will get what’s coming to her,” I state matter-of-factly. “As for going after Chiara, I have to tie up some loose ends here first.”
Phillip narrows his eyes at me. It seems my answer wasn’t what he wanted to hear. I wish I could just drop everything and go after Chiara, but I can’t leave my parents alone to deal with the aftermath of the fire, and I also have to make sure Nadine doesn’t have another nasty surprise waiting for me.
44
Chiara
I knew my mother wouldn’t leave me alone just because I’m staying with Max. She only gives me a few hours of peace before she starts to hound me, blowing up the new cell phone I bought in Italy like the world is about to end.
The insecure and terrified little girl who still lives inside me wants to answer her call, but I fight the urge. My mother can go fuck herself. I’m done trying to make her like me. So the first thing I do is call my father’s lawyer. I want to visit Dad. To my dismay, he tells me Dad doesn’t want to see any visitors.
I’m already crying before I even end the call.
“What’s the matter, Chibi?” Max asks.
“Dad doesn’t want me to visit.”
He sits next to me on the couch and throws his arm around my shoulders. “Can you blame him? This is the lowest moment of his life. He doesn’t want you to see him like that.”
I hastily wipe my tears dry. “You’re right, but it doesn’t make things easier.”
“Here, maybe this will make you feel better.” He offers me his cell phone.
“What is it?”
“Your boyfriend left you a voice message.”
“And you listened to it?” I shriek.
Guilt takes over his face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t recognize the number. I didn’t know it was from him.”
I give him the stink eye as I grab the phone from his hand. When Alistair’s voice comes through, my heart tightens. I miss him so damn much already. I wish he was here with me. He tells me to call him back as soon as I’m able, no matter the time.
I’m ready to do that when the annoying sound of the intercom buzzer interrupts. Max heads to the kitchen to answer it while I head to the bathroom to wash my face. When I return to the living room, he’s sporting a grimace.
“Who was that?”
“Your mother. She’s on her way up.”
“I don’t want to talk to her.”
“I know, Chibi, but I couldn’t just not buzz her in. She would keep pestering us. You knew you wouldn’t be able to avoid her, so you might as well get this over with. I’ll head to my room to give you some privacy.”
I want to ask Max to stay, but that wouldn’t be a smart move. If my mother doesn’t like me, she hates him with a passion. It has always been this way since we were kids.
No sooner has Max disappeared into his room than the doorbell rings. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for this unpleasant encounter before I open the door.
As usual, Ofelia Moretti is the example of poise and perfection. Her sharp dark Chanel suit doesn’t have a wrinkle that can be seen. I open the door wider and let her in.
She glances around Max’s small apartment with a sneer on her face, as if searching for something to criticize.
“I see your cousin has made himself scarce.”
“He wanted to give us some privacy. What are you doing here, Mother?”
“I came to get you, of course.”
“You’ve wasted your time, then. I’m not staying with you at the penthouse.”
Her eyes widen. “How dare you speak to me like that? Don’t you think I’ve suffered enough?”
“Tell me, Mom. Are you suffering because the love of your life is in jail or because the family name is tainted now?”
“As usual, you’re an ungrateful little brat. Let’s see how you fare now that the money tree has died. The government seized all our assets. Did you know that? We’re lucky the penthouse belongs to my family.”
“Yes, the lawyer filled me in. I’ll be okay. I can get a job. I’d be more concerned about your situation. What can you do?”
