Page 24 of Forbidden Touch
The security guard tells her something muffled, and Lorelle responds in her usual shrill voice, but I can’t make out anything she’s saying.
The line becomes clearer. “She says it’s urgent, ma’am.”
I scoff, my finger hovering over the button to end the call. “Visitor declined.”
“Let me in, Fiona.” Lorelle’s voice yells in the background. “I have something to tell you.”
“Ma’am, you can’t do that.” The security guard’s voice comes in through the line and he sounds frustrated. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
Her fussy voice resonates through the audio speaker again.
Oh, this is beyond annoying. What business has she here? I’m not even seeing her son anymore. She already ripped me and Jonathan apart, but she sure as shit won’t win that lawsuit.
“I was wrong, Fiona.” Her voice comes in loud and clear, giving me pause. “Let me up and I’ll explain.”
Crossing my arms, I prop a cheek on my fist and shake my reluctant head. “Okay. Send her up.”
The security guard responds before buzzing her in.
I am not looking forward to this. I slide into a pair of sandals and close my eyes to process the situation. How is this even happening? Why does she control every aspect of her son’s life?
Finally, a knock rattles me out of my thoughts.
I open to find Lorelle fidgeting with her chipped fingernails. Her hair looks like a bird’s nest, and she’s not wearing any makeup. In fact, she looks downright tattered.
Stepping to the side, I let her in, but I refuse to bother with formalities. She shouldn’t even be here—not after what she did. Squaring my shoulders, I glare at her. “What are you doing here?”
The corners of her eyes wrinkle inward. “I’ve made a terrible mistake.”
Standing still, I clasp my hands. “Oh, have you now?”
She glances at me, then looks away. “I don’t expect you to understand this, but sometimes I take things a little too seriously.”
A heavy sigh comes from deep within my lungs. “If you thought I’d feel sorry for you after what you did, you’ve got another thing coming.”
Fiddling with a thin silver watch around her wrist, she paces across the room. “Let me explain. I know that my family’s company merged with yours. And I’m well aware that Jonathan and your brother have been running the show.”
She swallows, her arms hanging at her sides. “But what I didn’t realize was that my son has taken quite an interest in you. And it’s such an enormous interest that he has not spoken to me since I filed the lawsuit last week.”
As she clears her throat, her gaze looks watery. “It’s like I’m non-existent to him, and everyone can plainly see how disgusted he is with me.”
“Mrs. Lane, this is your own doing. By not accepting his choices and going behind his back, you disrespected him and pushed him away.”
She slumps into a nearby chair, her shoulders humping. “All I wanted was to protect my family. Surely you understand.”
Lifting my chin higher, my jaw sets and I focus on her. “You can’t protect people by taking away their autonomy. Jonathan does well in life. I mean, he’s a kind, thoughtful, ambitious, and giving individual who…” I stop myself and listen to my words, frozen. It hurts thinking about the love I had and lost.
She offers a sad smile. “He’s a wonderful man. I just hope I haven’t ruined things between you two. What can I do to help?”
As I lean back in my chair, I cross my arms. “Well, for starters, you can withdraw that heinous lawsuit you have against my family.”
“Oh, I’ve already done that, dear.”
My mouth falls open before I nod once. “Good.”
Her arms wrap around herself, and a heavy sigh emanates from her lackluster lips. “Jonathan reminds me so much of his father. My husband had the same competitive business spirit, but when it was just the two of us and we were alone… he could be his quiet, fun, playful self. I first realized his father had feelings for me when his face would light up whenever I walked into the room. After a while, I realized it was love.” She pauses. “So, when I say the lawsuit is over, it is because I’m looking at a man in love.”
My jaw jumps. “That’s unlikely.”