Page 21 of Forbidden Touch
“He’s pissed, but that’s to be expected. He’s Ethan.”
Heat flushes my face. I can’t get over the fact that my mother is wrecking my business relationships. “Yeah. He contacted me, but I haven’t responded yet. It’s not exactly a conversation I want to have.”
“I know, but Ethan’s different now. He’s more relaxed in business.”
“I wishourfamily was more relaxed. I feel hopeless, like they’ve dealt me a lousy hand of cards, and I can’t do anything about it.”
“Are you kidding me? There’s a world of difference between you and your mother. Plus, you own Lane Holdings. You’ve made more money than any of our parents ever did, and that means you havepower, Jonathan.”
I stare at the ground. “She’s my mother. I feel like she’ll always have me under her thumb.”
Tilting her head, she arches an eyebrow. “Not if you show her another way.”
Rubbing my temples, I look down at the desk. “She can easily make my life a living hell. I can’t get her voice out of my head.”
She places her hands on her hips, her eyes determined. “Okay, well, that’s up to you to overcome, but just remember, you have a voice in this. And don’t forget that me and Ethan … we believe in you. I mean, look at what happened with our fathers and how you turned it all around. You’re the one who helped make us all one big happy family.”
I scoff. “Happy? Sure. My mother hates me. Fiona hates me worse.”
She nods. “I had a feeling that’s who this is really about.”
I look her square in the eye. “Nothing is okay unless I have her.”
“Are you sure, cousin? I don’t remember you and her hitting it off all that well. In fact, I recall you two refusing to even speak to each other at me and Ethan’s engagement party.”
“Yeah, that’s because my mom had me convinced Fiona was the enemy. But then I actually got to know her, and I’ve realized she is by far the most amazing person I’ve ever met. She draws me in like no other.”
Ava sits down on a chair and studies me. “I’ve never seen you like this before, dear cousin.”
I rub my chest with the heel of my palm and meet her eye. “She’s gone. All because of this frivolous lawsuit.”
“Well, have you spoken to her?”
“Yeah, but it was pretty vague, and I can’t say I blame her. It was more like ‘Get the fuck out of my life’.”
“Don’t give up. I fathom to think where I’d be if Ethan and I had listened to the advice of others. People think they’re trying to help, but really, they’re just spreading fear.”
“Tell me about it. Look at what the media is saying about us.”
“They’re not on our side, no. The pictures they came up with are way overboard, but I … I saw something there, Jonathan. Something between two people who are crazy about each other.”
I nod. “She’s beautiful. Inside and out. But Mother is—”
“No,” she interjects. “If you want a chance with Fiona, you need to get your mother out of your head.”
I rest my back against the wall and breathe. This is all too much. My anxiety, the panic attacks, the fear—why can’t I be strong? I’m a billionaire, for Christ’s sake.
I told no one about the heart exams because they wouldn’t understand. Everyone thinks I’m built out of steel, like Superman or something.
Except for Fiona. She understood me—until my family screwed her over.
Ava looks me in the eye. “Jonathan, if you want Fiona on your side, there’s something you need to do.” She pauses and leaves me hanging before she delivers the answer. “You need to talk to Ethan.”
“And tell him what? That I’m suing his family and fucking his sister?”
She shuts her eyes and shakes her head.
I throw my palms up. “Sorry for using that kind of language, but that’s exactly how he’ll see it.”