Page 54

I’ve refused to speak to everyone. They can call, they can text, I’m not interested. Josh hasn’t bothered me all week, so their stupid idea that having Felix stay with me is the only way to keep me safe is wrong.
There’s a tap on my office door, and when I look up, it’s my mom.
“Hey, Mom, what are you doing here?” I greet her.
“I was in the neighborhood and wondered if you had time for lunch with your mother,” she asks.
“Of course. Where would you like to go?”
“The Rose.” It’s our family’s historical property, which is just around the corner from my office.
“Sure, sounds good, Mom,” I say, grabbing my bag.
“Clive is waiting downstairs for us,” she explains. Clive has been my mother’s driver for twenty years. The sleek black town car is waiting for us downstairs, Clive is standing, holding the door open for my mother. He tips his cap at me as I get in.
Thankfully traffic is light, and it doesn’t take us long to arrive at the hotel. Of course, the hotel manager is there waiting for us when we arrive.
“Mrs. Rose, Miss Rose, it’s a pleasure to see you both again. Would you like to follow me?” He nods.
“Thank you, Carlos,” my mother says.
We are shown to the champagne bar at the hotel and to our favorite booth in the corner, away from prying eyes, but where we can look out onto the street and watch everyone pass by, but they can’t see in to us.
“Carlos, sweetheart, may we get a bottle of champagne? The bar knows which one I like, caviar, beef tartar, and a garden salad. Harper, what would you like?” my mother asks.
“Lobster tails, with a garden salad, thanks.” He nods and disappears. “To what do I owe this lovely occasion of lunch?”
“Sam called …”
I cut her off. “Seriously? Sam called you?”
“Darling, it’s not like that,” she says, trying to calm me down.
“It’s everything like that. I can’t believe he’s gone and tattled on me.” I huff.
“He’s worried about you. You haven’t been returning his calls,” she explains.
“Did he explain why?” I ask her.
“Yes. I also saw the photo of you in the news with that young man.”
Oh no. “You did?” I wince.
“What a gentleman to protect you from that asshole, Joshua.” Mom never swears. “Sam explained that your friends are worried about you.”
“They don’t need to be. I have beefed up my home security, and I haven’t heard from Josh all week. I think he was just upset over the article but maybe he’s cooled down and has moved on with his life,” I explain to her.
“You believe that?” She doesn’t look convinced.
“Yes. He is worried about his reputation more than me.”
“The one that he believes you ruined?” she states.
“He did that all himself.”
“He certainly did, but from what I hear, he is blaming you for it.” I guess he is. I nod. “And that he thinks you are dating this Felix boy?”
“The press believes I am.”