“That’s all right, I wouldn’t have been offended. I can imagine that Jolie has work to get back to. We shouldn’t hold her back,” he said, in as neutral a voice as he could muster.
“What work could she possibly have to go back to? Tomorrow is Saturday!” Alice cackled, and then munched noisily on her toast.
“I work on the weekends, mom,” Jo interrupted them and Alice rolled her eyes at her daughter.
“It doesn’t matter. I haven’t seen you in so long, and now it feels like we’re starting over, you know?” Alice said and then reached for her daughter’s hand over the table. Brandon wasn’t sure what Alice meant by that, but he had always got the feeling that mother and daughter hadn’t exactly been on good terms before.
“Sure, mom,” Jo said and smiled weakly at her mother.
“Anyway,” Alice extracted her hand back when Jo didn’t offer to hold it. “Now, since I have both of you here at the same time, I thought I’d organize a party tonight,” she added.
“A party?” Brandon nearly choked on his orange juice. He didn’t know anyone in Boston, other than business associates.
“Yes, with my friends. Everyone’s been so curious to meet my new husband, and I’m sure they’ll love to see you again, honey,” Alice was talking excitedly, and Brandon could see that her daughter didn’t share her enthusiasm.
“I really have to get back, mom,” she said and Alice waved a hand in the air.
“Just one night, Jolie. Stay tonight, meet everybody and then you can leave tomorrow,” Alice said and stood up from her chair to go around to her daughter.
Alice had wrapped her arms around Jolie’s neck now, and she finally looked at Brandon again. Their eyes met, and he knew that she was nervous. What happened the previous night had scared her, just like it had scared him.
It meant that no matter what the consequences, they couldn’t control themselves around each other.
“I’m going to invite all our old crew. They wouldn’t believe it if they walked into this place!” Alice was laughing as she tightened her grip around her daughter’s neck like a noose.
“Tell me you’ll stay, honey,” she pleaded and finally, Jo nodded her head.
“Just tonight, mom. I’m going to book my flights for tomorrow morning,” she said and Alice clapped her hands excitedly.
“This is so exciting! Half of them don’t even believe that I’m married to you, Bran. They saw you in the Forbes magazine and have been gushing ever since!” Alice returned to her chair and her toast.
Brandon passed her a half smile and concentrated on the eggs on his plate.
One more evening with Jo, one more evening of trying to control himself around the woman who was capable of bringing him to his knees.
“I’m going to spend the day out,” he heard her say and he looked up to find Jo getting up from her chair. Clearly, she wanted to reduce as many chances of them bumping into each other as she could.
“Buy something nice for tonight, honey. Bran will pay for it,” Alice said to Jo as she was walking out of the room, but her daughter stopped in her tracks. She turned to her mother with her eyes narrowed, the tops of her cheeks red with fury.
“I don’t need him to pay for anything, mom. Brandon is not my father,” she snapped and then she was gone.
Brandon said nothing, and Alice clucked her tongue after Jo had left.
“I don’t know what I have to do to please that girl,” Alice’s voice had taken on a sour tone and she crunched on her toast some more.
Brandon looked up from his plate and fixed a glare at his wife. He couldn’t hold back the anger that was coursing through his veins on behalf of Jo.
“You don’t need to please her, Alice. Just be there for her,” he said and she rolled her eyes at him.
Chapter 15
Jolie had managed to stay out of the house for the rest of the day. She hadn’t been back in Boston in five years, ever since she left her mother’s home. She’d spent the day out shopping and trying to keep herself distracted from thoughts of Brandon.
But everywhere she went, she wished that he was there with her. She felt this overpowering need of wanting to show him the sights of her hometown. She wanted to hear him speak in his deep smooth voice. She found herself wishing that they could hold hands, that they could take a walk in the park, that she could find out who he really was…as a human being. But that was never going to be possible. He had already picked her mother.
At six, she was returning back to their house and as she walked down the driveway, she saw a black Audi pull in. Brandon stepped out as she approached him, and she felt her feet stop moving.
She knew she was going to see him again when she returned, but she hadn’t prepared herself enough for it.
He banged the door of the car shut and then remained standing where he was. Jolie tried to walk past him, but he had caught hold of her wrist and she had no other choice but to stop in her tracks.
“Jo, we need to talk,” he said gruffly and she tried to wring her hand free from his grip. He let her hand go and she stepped away from him.
“What is there to talk about?” she hissed and looked about her nervously. If her mom was at the window looking out, she would see them standing together and talking…which might appear strange since technically they were two people who had never met each other before.
“We need to talk about how we’re going to do this thing,” Brandon said and she noticed again, how handsome he was. His beard was neat and speckled with gray, which added a wise feature to his face. His green eyes were intelligent and deep. Every time she looked into them, Jolie felt like she was drowning.
“Do you mean how are we going to conduct ourselves around each other? Don’t worry, Brandon, we won’t be seeing each other that often. My mother and I don’t exactly share a working relationship. I won’t be visiting for Thanksgiving or Christmas if that’s what you’re worried about,” she said and crossed her arms over her breasts.
She knew she sounded mad. She wasn’t angry with him, she was angry with herself and furious at the situation. For the first time, in several years, she had actually felt a connection with someone…which went beyond just the sex. And the Universe was making sure that it couldn’t lead to anything. She shouldn’t have left New York!
She shouldn’t have gone on this stupid vacation!
Brandon seemed to understand. His eyes were soft and his expression was kind. He wasn’t blaming her for taking her anger out on him. Instead, he stuck his hands into the pockets of his pants and clenched his jaw.
“Okay, I just don’t want to put you out. Alice will expect me to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with her, of course,” he said and Jolie felt hot tears pricking the backs of her eyelids. So, this is what it had come to…a form of business negotiation. They were going to have to schedule themselves around each other, so they didn’t bump in.
She nodded her head and tried to hold back the tears.
“Well, she won’t expect me to be here, so you’re safe,” she said and Brandon made a move towards her, trying to reach for her hand again but she had yanked herself away.
“That’s not what I meant, Jo. I don’t want to be safe, I don’t want to keep away from you,” he said and she shook her head, as she felt her eyes watering up. She was struggling to keep up the appearance of strength and control.
“But you have to, because you’ve committed yourself in marriage,” she said and Brandon’s eyes became dim. He looked like his mouth had run dry.
“I hadn’t met you when I married Alice, and, now, I have no choice but to see this through. There is nothing more that I need right now, than a family,” he said and Jolie felt like he had slipped a dagger into her heart and now he was in the process of turning it. He wanted children, and he wanted children with his wife.
“Of course. I understand,” she said, in a voice that was verging on breaking. She whipped away from him and ran up the steps of the porch and into the house.
Brandon Calloway wanted a family, and he wasn’t wrong to want children with his wife. She should have known all along; that he was the kind of man who would want heirs. He was a business tycoon and he would want to leave his wealth and fortune to his children…of course he would!
Jolie locked herself in her lavish bedroom upstairs. She felt like her heart was going to explode as she leaned the back of her head against the door and slid down slowly to the carpet. Her limbs felt like clay, her knees were buckling…whatever sliver of hope she had foolishly harbored all this while, had just disappeared. Brandon Calloway would never leave her mother, because he had married her with a fixed purpose in mind.
She felt like she was going to be sick.
Chapter 16
Brandon was standing in the middle of their living room, surrounded by a group of his wife’s friends whom he had never met before. Alice had invited eight of her friends, who she claimed were her closest pals and she had gone through the trouble of making a show of the party. Caterers in waistcoats were organized, two bars had been set up around the house and a barbecue was being manned by a chef in the backyard.
When Alice said that she was going to keep it low-key, she had clearly lied.
Her friends gushed over Brandon, making loud jokes and hugging him. Some even took photos with him for their records or for social media…and all of this made Brandon uncomfortable. Most importantly of all, Jo hadn’t made an appearance yet.
Alice, along with her friends, had been drinking heavily and now Brandon watched as his wife grew unsteady on her heels, swaying slightly on his arm. She was kissing him more, hugging him tighter than ever and he couldn’t wait to escape to his study, away from this all.
It wasn’t until at least two hours of the festivities had passed, that Jo finally made an appearance. Brandon did a double take when he saw her appear at the living room door.
She was in a beautiful red dress with a slit in the middle of her left thigh, which revealed her long smooth legs with every step she took. She’d kept her makeup minimal, with just a pale rose lipstick, to match her dress and her flaming hair. It tumbled down her back, and she had styled it tonight in gentle waves that fell around her shoulders delicately.
“Jolie! My beautiful daughter!” Alice squealed and her friends let out a cheer as they rushed towards her. Brandon stayed back and took quick nervous sips of his whisky instead. He felt breathless and like his body was on fire. It was unfair that he couldn’t even bring himself to go near her.
Alice was kissing and hugging her daughter, and posing for photographs as Brandon watched Jo’s face turn sour. She wasn’t enjoying the attention either. She looked uncomfortable surrounded by all these people from her past, and eventually, she managed to slither away.
“C’mon, honey. Another picture. With Matt and me this time,” Alice urged her daughter, while Jo tried to step away from the gang.
“C’mon Jolie, be a sport,” the man called Matt grabbed her by her arms and tried to direct her back to the group.
Brandon gripped his whisky glass tighter as he watched. Another man touching her made his blood boil and his skin crawl.
Jo obliged this time, and posed with Matt and her mom. Just when the flash of the camera evaporated in the air, she tried to step away again. This time, Alice caught her by the waist.
“Just one with me, this time. Give us a smile, honey,” Alice said, but Brandon detected the rage building up in Alice’s voice now. She wanted her daughter to comply with her wishes, no matter how uncomfortable it was making her.
“Mom, I feel like an animal in a zoo,” Jo said, with a nervous laugh that didn’t fool anyone. Alice’s expression changed immediately.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Jolie. I’m just asking you for a photograph!” she snapped at her daughter, and all her friends became quiet. Brandon clenched his jaws as he watched mother and daughter facing off.
“But you’ve taken enough already, mom. Can I just have a drink now?” Jo said, trying to brush the fight off, but Alice, in her drunken haze, wasn’t about to let it drop this easily.
“No, you may not have a drink. This is my home and you will do as you’re told. Stand here for as many photographs as I ask for!” Alice was screeching now and a couple of her friends turned to Brandon to gauge his reaction.
He placed his glass down on a coffee table. Jo shifted on her feet nervously, her cheeks turning red, and her eyes turning bloodshot with anger. Brandon was seeing for the first time, what Jo’s childhood might have been like with a mother like Alice.
“Alice, we should all just relax,” Brandon said and she whipped around to him, her lips quivering with fury.
“Don’t fucking tell me what to do, Brandon! She’s my daughter and she’s behaving like a spoilt brat!” Alice screamed and he felt a throb rising in his temples.
“Mom, please don’t yell at everybody. You’ve had a bit to drink, just sit down,” Jo said and caught Alice’s arms to help her to the couch.
Alice turned to her daughter, her palm landing with a smack on Jo’s face. The sound of the slap cracked in the air and everyone gasped. Jo nearly stumbled back with the force.
“Don’t you lecture me about drinking, silly girl!” Alice’s voice sizzled.
Jo had already turned from them and was running out of the living room.
Brandon rushed to Alice, grabbing her by her shoulders and giving her shake.
“You need to behave yourself, woman. And you’re wrong. This is my house, and don’t you dare raise a hand on her again,” he growled. Alice burst out in tears, covering her face with her hands as she cried.
“Why won’t she just appreciate me? She doesn’t praise me for anything I do!” Brandon heard Alice squealing behind him, as he rushed out of the living room.
He just caught sight of Jo running around the stairs.
“Jo!” he called out to her, but she had disappeared already. He ran after her, and slowed down when he saw her going into his study.
“Jo, please…” he said, when he approached the door.
She was standing by one of his empty bookcases now, her hand clamped to her mouth as she tried to hold the tears back.
“I shouldn’t have come here,” she said, her voice muffled by her hand.
Brandon walked into the study and shut the door behind him.
Chapter 17
Jolie could feel her body shuddering as she watched Brandon walking towards her. She couldn’t remember the last time she had felt this much shame. She had managed to block her experiences way back in her mind all these years. Now, after the slap and her mother’s screeches, those memories had come tumbling back.
As a child, she had been defenseless against her mother’s rage. Even as a teenager, all she could do was dream that one day she would be able to get away from her mother. Now, she had. She had a life of her own, she didn’t need to be here, she didn’t need to put herself through her mother’s temper any more. Somehow, she had managed to tangle herself up into it again. Somehow she had managed to convince herself that her mother had changed. That Brandon had calmed her down and she was now a different person.
What did they say about old horses? That you can’t teach them new tricks.
The truth was that her mother hadn’t changed at all, and now she had shamed Jolie in front of all her friends and, worst of all, in front of the man she was falling for.
“I will never forgive her for what she did to you,” Brandon’s eyes were narrow and dark, his face was firmly set. He was coming towards her with his jaws gritted. His nostrils were flaring. All Jolie wanted to do was fling herself at him. She wanted to feel his arms around her.
“This isn’t the first time,” she managed to say and Brandon reached for her hand.
“Tell me, Jo,” he whispered and his hot breath fell on her face, making some of her red locks quiver. She looked up at him with tears puddling her eyes. He looked kind and dangerous at the same time. She couldn’t decide which one.
“
She’s always had a bad temper,” she said and Brandon’s hand on hers tightened.
“Has she physically assaulted you as a child?” he asked and the words choked in Jo’s throat.
“Yes, especially when she drinks and she used to drink a lot,” Jo said and Brandon pulled her hand to his heart, pressing it to his chest.
“I’m so sorry, Jo,” he said and she shook her head.
“It’s not your fault, you didn’t know,” she said and turned her face towards her feet.
“No mother should treat her child this way,” Brandon said and Jo gulped, refusing to meet his eye. She didn’t like to talk about her childhood experiences with anyone, but somehow with him, she couldn’t stop talking.
“I don’t know if I can blame her. She had me when she was young. When she was like, sixteen. But she hit me and slapped me and locked me up in my room for hours. It was the same with her husbands and boyfriends. When she drank, she assaulted them too. Not that the men didn’t deserve it. I used to hide under my bed, trying to keep my ears covered while they fought like cats outside. Hurling things at each other, hitting each other, screaming…” Jolie’s voice trailed as she spoke and when she looked up, she found Brandon staring into her eyes.
“When I realized that your relationship with Alice was bad, I knew it had to do with her, not you,” he said and stroked her hand.
Jo couldn’t hold back, she fell on his chest, burying her face into his three-piece suit and tried to muffle her cries.
“I was so happy to just escape to New York. I didn’t want to live here anymore. I didn’t want to turn into her,” she cried and she felt him stroking her hair.
“You are nothing like your mother, Jo. You are successful and independent and kind. You are not going to become Alice, trust me,” she heard him say and she wrapped her arms around him.
“I feel terrible sometimes. That I don’t have a better relationship with my mother…but it’s not like she calls, or visits either,” Jolie said, pulling her face away from his chest. Brandon hooked a finger under her chin, to raise her face up towards him.
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