Bad Boy (Invertary 5)

“Yours?” Matt cocked an eyebrow at him.

Flynn pointed in the direction of the back door. “Don’t you have more important things to deal with?”

With a laugh, Matt headed after his wife.

Abby looked at Victoria. “This is it,” she said.

“This is it.” Victoria seemed to steel herself.

“Let’s do this.” Flynn took Abby’s hand in his.

Holding him tight, she went to have a reunion with her mother.

35

“I was surprised, but I always say nothing surprises me in soccer.”

Les Ferdinand, manager of Queens Park Rangers

“I can see the reports weren’t exaggerated,” her mother said as soon as she spotted Abby holding hands with Flynn.

The woman was perched on the edge of one of the armchairs, her back perfectly straight, her ankles crossed with her legs tucked under her. Her hands were clasped on her lap. Her makeup was perfect and understated. Her jewellery far from gauche. Her silver hair was styled into an expensively cut bob. Her dress was a grey shift, the subtle detail in the stitching giving it away as designer. Everything about the woman was elegant sophistication. Everything except the nasty look of disapproval on her face.

“Hello, Mother.” Abby was pleased her voice didn’t shake.

“Abigail, I am sorely disappointed in you.” Her mother frowned at Flynn. “I thought you’d fallen far enough with your last romantic entanglement. It seems I was wrong. You’ve managed to fall even further this time.”

“My last romantic entanglement, as you so rudely call it, involved the man I married. The same man I buried. A man I loved dearly. A good man.”

Her mother sneered before dismissing Abby entirely and turning to Victoria. “I should never have sent you to do this task. I should have known it was far too difficult for you.”

Abby watched as Victoria seemed to fold in on herself, her pale skin appearing paper-thin.

“And you?” She eyed Lawrence. “If you hadn’t resigned, you would have been fired.” Abby’s mother motioned to the stranger standing behind her chair. “My new lawyer is looking into whether or not we have cause to sue you and your firm.”

“Good luck,” Lawrence told the new guy before staring at the older woman. “You don’t scare me, Millicent. You don’t intimidate me, either.”

“We’ll see about that.” Abby’s mother waved a hand dismissively.

She turned her cold glare back on her daughters. Through all of this, Charles, the brother Abby hadn’t seen in years, sat silently staring at his shoes. Probably waiting for mother to pull his strings and make him dance. Abby’s memory of Charles were generous—she’d actually thought her brother had a backbone. She’d been wrong.

“Why are you here?” Abby said to her mother.

“I’m here to see the mess you’ve made of your life. I’m here to see the damage you’ve done to my granddaughter. And I’m here to serve notice. I intend to fight for custody of the child. You’ve made it clear through your decisions and behaviour that you are a bad influence on her. She needs to be removed from your...friends.” She scoffed at Flynn. “A Montgomery-Clark does not associate with people like this.”

“Katy isn’t a Montgomery-Clark.” Abby felt her cheeks flush with fury. “She’s a McKenzie.”

“Her blood is Montgomery-Clark.” The words froze the air. “You never did understand the importance of heritage. Blood means everything. That child is the embodiment of the Montgomery-Clark legacy. Charles is biologically impaired and unable to father a child.” Charles’ neck turned red, but he didn’t object to his private life being made public. In fact, he didn’t say anything at all. He didn’t even look up from his shoes.

“Victoria,” her mother continued, uncaring at the impact her words were having on her son. “Victoria, as this task has proven, is completely useless. She’s well past her best childbearing years, in any case. Which means I am forced to turn to you for the continuation of the Montgomery-Clark legacy. If your child is to carry on the family name, she needs to be raised properly. By people who know how to provide an appropriate environment for a child of her standing.”

There was a moment of what Abby could only assume was stunned silence. The horror on the faces around the room was a comfort to Abby. It meant she wasn’t the only one repulsed by her mother. In fact, the only two faces not showing disgust belonged to Charles and Victoria. Abby was angry to see they were both staring downwards, taking the verbal abuse as though it was normal. Which, Abby knew, it most likely was.

“You look exactly like Helen Mirren.” Flynn broke the silence. “Doesn’t she look exactly like the actress? They could be dead ringers. Except for the personality. I’ve met Helen. She’s a great laugh. Funny, smart. While your mother is pretty much Cruella de Vil.”

Shocked at Flynn’s levity, Abby turned to find him smiling at her, but there was a hard, violent look in his eye. He knew exactly what he was doing and she loved him for it. Something clicked into place within her at the thought. She loved Flynn. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the time to wonder at the revelation. I

nstead, Abby focused on his wicked smile and felt an answering grin break free. The mood in the room shattered under the weight of Flynn’s words. She heard Lawrence chuckle behind her. And she could have sworn she heard Victoria breathe again.