Page 19 of Catch Me (Townsend Legacy #4)

I vy

My heart squeezes as I peer down at my phone screen right before exiting the set for the day. I’m already in a hurry to not only get home to Ms. Shelby but to make my escape before coming across Andreas.

I don’t know what’s going on with Andreas and me.

One moment I can’t wait to see him, the next the fear and doubts swirl in my head, creating a chaotic whirlwind of emotion.

I thought I was settled after speaking with Dr. King, but seeing him face-to-face again while at work, made me remember everything that hinges on my doing well.

I can’t afford to mess up my opportunity with this job.

The last thing I want or need is to prove to my parents that I’m the failure they painted me as.

When I glance down at my phone and see my mother’s name staring back at me, my heart lurches in my throat.

It’s been months since I’ve spoken with her.

The idea of ignoring her call comes to mind, but I know it won’t be that easy. Not after going so long without speaking to her. She’ll continue to call, then so will my father. Next, they’ll have Rose do their bidding and may even get Stephen, my brother, involved.

With a deep inhale of courage I don’t feel, I answer, “Mom, I’m just leaving work, can I?—”

“You’ve finally decided to not take the coward’s way out and actually answer my calls?”

I flinch at the frigidity in her voice.

I clear my throat in an attempt to disguise how thrown off I am. She always leaves me off kilter.

“I’ve done no such thing. The last time we spoke, I said that I needed some space.”

“Which is why you ran off in the night like a child?” she accuses.

The honest truth is, she isn’t totally wrong. I waited until my parents went away for a weekend to pack up my belongings and drive across the country from Michigan to California.

All I left behind was a note and promise to call when I arrived.

“What nonsense, Ivy,” she continues. “How much more space do you need when we live in Michigan and you’re all of the way across the country in that horrible city?”

She doesn’t even like to say the words Los Angeles.

“It’s not bad enough that you’ve abandoned your family after all your father and I have done for you, but you fail to call on a consistent basis. What is that about?”

It’s the word ‘fail’ that has my shoulders slumping, in spite of myself. The one word that I fought for so many years of my childhood to avoid.

Failure.

“I haven’t failed.” The words come out with less vigor than intended.

“You could’ve fooled me. Your father and I haven’t heard from you in months. Rose said she called, and you rushed her off of the phone. What are you hiding, Ivy? You can tell me if you lost that job you were going on and on about months ago.”

This makes me roll my eyes toward the sky.

By on and on, I called her and Dad one time to let them know I’d gotten the position at InTuition Pictures, in hopes of … I don’t know what. A congratulations? An ‘atta-girl’?

I shake my head because I should’ve known that would never happen.

Squaring my shoulders, I reply, “I’m still working as the assistant to the assistant costume designer. In fact, I’m just leaving the set right now.”

“Hm.” She draws out the ‘m’ as if pondering whether or not to believe me. “And you don’t suspect that someone with your qualifications should be doing something a little more than assistant to the assistant?

“For goodness’ sake. We spent a fortune on your college and graduate school education. You have an MBA in finance from a well-known university in New York and you’re wasting all of the effort we poured into you to play dress up.”

My hand tightens around the phone, and my body begins to tremble.

Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven …

Mentally attempting to calm myself down from the buildup of familiar tightness inside of my chest, I force myself to remember that my mother’s words don’t have to impact me. Not right now.

Dr. King’s reminders that I’m no longer a child come to mind. I don’t have to subject myself to my mother’s criticisms anymore. Not always will this work on one of my panic attacks, but sometimes it does.

This is one of those times.

My breathing slows down and I push her words aside, replacing them with a list of my accomplishments in recent months. Not only did I obtain a job in my very competitive field, but it’s with one of the most famous movie studios in the world.

I’m leaving work from the set of a major motion picture right this very moment. My mother can’t take that away from me. I work hard each day to be a part of this team that’s putting together what, in my heart of hearts, I know will be a smash hit in theaters.

And then there’s Andreas.

“Mom, I have to go.” The confidence in my voice doesn’t come from me, not directly. It comes from a place that recalls the gleam in Andreas’ eyes when he looks at me.

“We’re not done speaking,” my mother tells me. “I stayed up late in order to?—”

“Thank you for your call, but I will reach out to you and Dad when I’m ready.”

I suppress the little piece of me that feels like an ungrateful bitch for being so abrupt with my mother.

Hanging up the phone, I look around to see a few of the crew from my design team waving at me as they leave for the day. Only one or two will stick around for the remainder of today’s shooting. It’s supposed to go on for a few more hours.

My heart aches, tempting me to stay, but I was only half-lying when I told Andreas that I needed to get home to Ms. Shelby. Exiting out of the door, I determine to give Andreas a call later tonight to explain why I didn’t stay to have dinner like he asked.

“Ms. Sterling?” a man standing outside of the driver side door of a black town car asks as soon as I enter the studio’s parking lot.

My eyebrows lift as I look around only to realize that, yes, he is talking to me.

“Yes?”

His smile widens. “I’m Spencer, I’ll be your driver this evening.”

“Excuse me?”

His pleasant expression doesn’t waver in the face of my obvious confusion.

“Mr. Knight requested my services for you. I will deliver you to his home this evening.”

“Deliver me to …” I mumble. “You’re here to take me home.”

At this, his expression falls, but only for a beat before his smile is back in place. “Yes, but tonight, Mr. Knight planned for you to be taken to his home for dinner.”

He pauses when I begin to shake my head.

“I can’t. I, uh, have to get home to my cat.” The words sound lame as I say them, but they’re nonetheless true.

Spencer’s eyes sparkle, his grin grows exponentially, and I immediately realize he’s in on a secret that I’m, as of now, unaware of.

“That has been taken care of as well.” He moves from the driver door to the back door of the car, opening it. “I hope you understand the need for the cage, but with the leather seats, it couldn’t be helped,” he says, apologetically.

To my surprise, he pulls the door wide to reveal Ms. Shelby nestled in a huge crate. As soon as her blue eyes land on me, she meows.

Instantly, I go to her, opening the crate, and she crawls into my arms.

“I was told that you feed her twice a day, so she hasn’t been fed yet, but I did give her some water on the way. And because she’s so pretty, I caved and fed her these special freeze dried treats. I do hope that’s alright,” Spencer says, affection in his tone.

“She loves those,” I tell him while scratching her head. “I’m sure she loved it.”

He chuckles and nods. “That she did.”

“I’m so confused. Can you tell me how you got my cat?” Ms. Shelby nuzzles her head against my chest. She’s content as can be.

Obviously, Spencer took care of her.

“Yes, well, when Mr. Knight called our team for his request, he made sure to provide us with the information we needed to retrieve Ms. Shelby and her belongings. All given to Mr. Knight from your roommate, uh …” He pauses to check his phone.

He taps the screen.

“Yes, that’s right. Ms. Mya Acosta. Oh, and she left a message to send to you as well. She says to check your group chat.”

With one hand I take out my phone and pull up our bestie group chat.

Mya:

Yes, I gave that man permission to get into our apartment to pick up that damn cat. Like I was going to pass up an opportunity to help you get your back blown out by that fine ass man just because you had to get home to feed her *eye roll emoji*. Have fun, friend! Love you.

She sent the message between the time I entered the parking lot and now.

As I’m replying, a message from Ari pops up.

Ari:

I know that’s right. The both of you get your freak on for me, who’s now single and not near ready to mingle. Call you tomorrow with the details.

I lift my gaze, meeting Spencer’s awaiting stare.

“Everything alright?”

I swallow the lump in my throat. I’m not about to tell him that both of my best friends have lost their minds and are encouraging me to throw caution to the wind and get my back blown out by Andreas Knight tonight.

Ivy:

I’m going to kill you, Mya. Ari, you too for encouraging this mess!

I stuff my phone into my pocket, then look back at Spencer. “Everything’s great.”

I allow Spencer to help me into the backseat of the car and then shut the door, while I continue to clutch Ms. Shelby in my arms.

“One more thing,” Spencer says as he climbs behind the wheel. “Mr. Knight wanted me to also assure you that your car will be safe in the parking lot until tomorrow, but he could have it taken home to your apartment, if you’d like.

“Lastly, I’m a fully licensed and trained security specialist with almost two decades of experience. You’re completely safe with me, Ms. Sterling.”

I hadn’t even thought to ask.

“Thank you,” I tell him.

The moment we pull out of the parking lot, my phone buzzes.

Ari:

I absolutely encourage the shenanigans.

My eyes narrow at the screen when Mya’s response is a high-five emoji, to which Ari responds with one of her own. I want to be annoyed, but the grin making my lips twitch says otherwise.

“The ride will take approximately thirty minutes,” Spencer tells me. “Please feel free to put up the divider and relax or take a nap.”

This can’t be real.