Chapter 24
ANNA.
I fidget, heart hammering for some odd reason as I dial the number of the arrogant man. It rings out the first time with no response.
I dial once more, tickling Finn’s nose with the tip of my finger. His small hands encircle it and he brings it to his mouth, biting softly on it with his still–growing teeth.
The line rings out again and I start to wonder if this is a sign. I mean, it’s not like we’ll ever meet again or he’d remember me if I chose not to call. Not that he even wants me to. I’m merely doing this because I’m not a woman who runs from her responsibilities.
On the third ring, an angry voice flows into the phone, “Do you not know how to take a bloody hint?! I’m busy!”
My left brow arches and I clear my throat, speaking in a way I’d only ever reserved for clients who got on my nerves while I still worked. “Am I on to Mr. O’Connor?”
There’s a growl over the line and then he hangs up.
Oh no, you don’t.
I call again. He doesn’t pick up, so I keep calling until he does. “What is your problem?”
“I should be asking you that,” I retort. “Manners, you should get some off the street.” He starts talking again but I cut in. “The repair cost, send it along with your details.”
A static silence comes from the phone and after a moment, he asks, “Mrs…?”
I’ve never heard a more aggravating nickname. It sounds like mockery every time he says the word to me. Like my wedding band around my finger is some kind of joke to him. “Brianna is my name. You may call me Anna, and not Mrs.”
“I’m not in the least interested in your name or
”
“You should be. Stop being rude and send me the bill, Mr. O’Connor. I don’t have all day for your venting.”
He hangs up on me, and a minute later, my phone beeps with his message. My eyes widen to the size of saucers at the absurd figure on my screen.
I’m punching in his number angrily the next second. Of course, the man picks up on the first ring. “What? Can’t afford the bill?”
His voice is heavy with mockery and swear to the heavens, if he was here, I’d have smacked the stupid grin I can hear off his face. “The price is absurd. If the repair costs that much, then I do not want to find out what the car even costs.”
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“You asked for the bill. I included my hospital bill as well since you’re so eager to pay for the expenses. I had scratches everywhere.” He pauses. “Will you write me a check or will you come by my office to hand me what you owe me?”
He added on a hospital bill? “You’re lying. You were perfectly fine when I saw you. I know this because I checked. There wasn’t even a single scratch on-”
He chuckles. “It’s my word against yours, Mrs. Well. Do you wish to admit to me that you cannot afford the expenses, and then apologize for wasting my damn time?”
“In your dreams,” I snap and hang up.
Fuming, I pace the full length of the sitting room. Where am I going to get that much money? I know the actual price is probably a quarter of what he sent, but I don’t even have that to spare. I really don’t want to involve my insurance company, but…
Asking Sean for money doesn’t seem like an enticing idea either. Every time I do, he yells at me and tells me I don’t know how to save, and all I do is spend. No matter that I spend the
money on our son.
I shake my head, diffusing the thoughts. I refuse to be made more frustrated than o already
- am.
****
MAY.
I peek at the plate with fascinated curiosity. “What is that?”
Right after he nearly froze my butt on the ice rink, Ethan brought me to this restaurant that has too many shiny plates. I asked him if it wasn’t a little too much to eat in a place with elegant cutlery.
But he had dismissed it and said the restaurant belonged under of of the many establishments owned by the company he works out. They offer discounts and occasionally free meals if there’s a partner.
It was the first time I heard such a thing, but I tucked the information away for later.
“I’m not quite sure,” Ethan laughs, pushing my plate back in front of me. “It was your order, wasn’t it? Eat up.”
I eye the plate like it is an enemy I am trying to assess. When the handsome waiter handed me the menu, I couldn’t read any of what was written in it.
It wasn’t written in English, I promise. I asked Ethan for his help, but he said, “I don’t know what’s written on it either.”
Pretty sure he lied about that if his mischievous grin was any indication. I had been left with no choice but to order so many things at once. If it’s a free meal, might as well explore the
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dishes.
Ethan taps on one plate with chopsticks that he’s holding with stunning expertise. “Sushi, this one,” he notes.
“It looks raw,” I say with a grimace. “I don’t think I want to eat that.”
Ethan grins, pushing the plate to the side where four other untouched plates of food are.” Then don’t. It’s on the house anyway.”
I lean in, holding my hand up on the side of my face as I whisper, “You’re sure it’s okay to do away with his much food? It’s a sin to waste food. Can’t we like…pack it up and take it with us?”
Ethan shakes his head. “What use is that if you’re not going to eat it anyway? Don’t worry, May. We’re not wasting food.”
I bite on my bottom lip nervously. “Pretty sure we are.” My gaze flits to another plate. I don’t know what it is, but I see steak, and I want to try it out.
I take my fork and stab into it. A lot of red liquid comes out of it and my stomach churns. I
don’t know what else is on this table, but I know meat when I see it.
“May, I don’t think-” Ethan is saying, but I have already put the meat in my mouth.
I should have known when I smelled something smoky and tangy. I really shouldn’t have put it in my mouth, but curiosity killed the cat.
I gag on the first chew as something warm rushes down my throat. It tastes like…blood.
Peering down at the plate, I notice that the red juice that came from the meat isn’t sauce.
I feel ill and all I have eaten so far rushes up my throat. “Excuse me,” I say to Ethan as I stand abruptly, rushing to find the bathroom.
And I swear I hear Ethan chuckling as he follows.
Chapter 25
