I lashed out. I got angry. I built walls. I never settled on one woman.
So much to tell Drake about. And looking at him, I see he hasn't turned away in shock or disgust anymore. He's smiling; it's an open fucking invitation.
We're going to finally bury the fucking hatchet. We're going to--
The phone interrupts my thinking.
"Mr. Hardman," Cheryl says with professionalism in her voice. "The investors are here to go over the final details on the investment of Dirty Lil' Angels. They're in the South Conference Room."
Fuck. This is a real meeting.
Drake understands though that we've had a fucking breakthrough. He gets up.
"Let's grab some dinner," he says. "The three of us. We have a lot of talk about."
I get up. We shake hands. A bit awkwardly. And then he's out the door.
And I'm in a whole new world. Every last thing I knew has fucking changed.
I honestly need a breather, to be honest.
A meeting with some bankers is just what I need to get my focus back.
Why don't you go see what Natalie is up to?
Natalie
"Open the door, I know you’re there," I hear my mom say from the hallway, the footsteps of her pacing back and forth like a caged lioness reaching me like a bad omen. Maybe if I just remain silent she’ll give up and go away.
"I can see your shadow from under the door, you know?" she continues triumphantly, and finally stops pacing.
Sigh. I guess I can’t avoid her, right? She’s my mom, I know, but after that fight at The Oak Room I’m in no mood to see her. Ah, screw this.
Surrendering, I open up the door and there she is, hands on her hips and a frown on her face. "I can’t believe you’re avoiding your own mother, Natalie. That’s so below you," she tells me, walking inside the apartment while she shakes her head in disapproval.
"Well, maybe that’s because my own mother is trying to force me to destroy my company," I shoot right back, closing the door and preparing for another fight.
"Sell your company. Not destroy. It’s totally different," she replies in a condescending tone, as if I was still five years old and she was explaining to me why playing with the poor kids isn’t proper. "Honey, think it through. You own a sex toy company. What kind of career is this? You have a degree in finance."
"I know what kind of company I have, and I also know what I graduated in, mom. But this is my life."
"Sweetie, please. I’m just trying to help you, really. Get rid of this awful company of yours, get a proper job—like I know you can—and once I’m mayor it’ll all payoff. I’ll pull some strings for you and set you up for life."
Her words are full of honey, and the lines around her eyes seem to have gained a soft, and almost kind, quality. Linda, the actress—please give this woman an Oscar. Her words might be honey, but trust me, her intent is vinegar.
"No."
"Be rational about this, Natalie," she continues sweetly, reaching for me and taking my hand in hers. "You’re my daughter. Forget about my bid for mayor, I’m just thinking of you right now. You’ve proved whatever it is you want to prove, haven’t you? You have money; you have success. Wouldn’t it be nice to be respected as well?"
For a fraction of a second I almost believe her. Perhaps she really wants what’s best for me. Perhaps she isn’t thinking of herself and her ambitions right now, and she’s really worried about me in that twisted way of hers. But no, I can’t let her sink her hooks in me. She’s trying to play me, but I won’t allow it; if there’s one thing I inherited from her, it's that I’m stubborn.
"No," I merely say, shrugging and taking back my hand. "I’m on the verge of securing a major investment, and I’ll take a bullet before I give up on this company."
"Investment?" she scoffs, looking around my apartment and gazing at the towers of cardboard boxes crammed in my living room. "And why would anyone invest in this, sweetie?"
"I have a prototype I’m working on, and I’m betting my whole company on it," I tell her, determination rising inside of me. I’ve never been the kind of woman who did things just to show others that I can do it, but right now all I want is to rub my success in her face.
"Is this really how you want to play your hand, Natalie?" my mom asks me, lowering her voice and giving me a look that would make the most hardened SEAL run for cover. I stand my ground, though. I won’t bend over to please her.