Chapter 48

DANIEL

I pretend to keep reading the emails I opened a few minutes ago before my mother walked into my office. Her chatter is making it hard for me to concentrate.

"Mother," I sigh, "I'm not kicking you out, but I have a lot of work to do."

"Of course you're kicking me out, not impolitely, but you are," she retorts, offended, touching her chest. "I just came to tell you that you have to attend this dinner, yes, you have to."

She reminds me of the dreaded dinner with her friends and my father's friends, for what reason, I don't know, and I won't ask why she clings to it. She talks and talks, and there's no stopping her.

"Okay, fine, we'll be there," I inform her.

"Even her?" Her tone is sharp, and I don't take it lightly. I turn my gaze to her with a stern determination.

"Audrey will be there too, like it or not, she's my girlfriend."

"Lies, it must be," she says with pursed lips. I don't like her attitude towards Audrey. What does she have against her?

"It's time you tell me what's go