I give him a flat look. “Well, thanks for your kind offer, but we’re due to go home Sunday. So I guess—”
Sebastian cuts me off. “We can extend the trip for another few days.”
I stare at him.
“Please do,” Hamish beams at Jack. “We’ve been looking to bring fresh developers into the company, and you’re in our top twenty candidates. I’m glad I got to speak to you.” He checks his watch. “I’ve got to run now, but my assistant will contact you with the details.”
The lift dings, and he gives Jack a warm handshake and a smile as the doors slide open. We all watch after him as he saunters out into the lobby. The other two seem too shocked to move, so I press the button for the parking lot, and the doors hiss shut again.
“Seriously?” I ask, unimpressed. “You want to work for that creep?”
“I am going to pass out,” Jack says faintly. “What the Hell just happened? I—we’re going todinnerwith Hamish Cavendish? What am I going towear?”
“Not a bloody bow tie, that’s for sure,” I mutter, jogging Cami. Now that the creepy man is gone, she’s calmed down again, and is trying to strangle me by yanking on my necklaces.
“Are you trying to get rid of me?” I ask her. “Is this your way of saying I’m your least favourite?”
A smile spreads over her face. She squeals delightedly and almost garottes me again.
“Toptwenty?”Jack practically moans. “There’s no way I can beat out nineteen other candidates. I’m shit at networking. And interviews. Oh fuck, I’m gonna screw this up—”
“There’s not twenty candidates,” I say flatly. “He’s just saying that to make you shit yourself. Because he’s a knob. Now calmdown,you need to be onstage in twenty minutes.”
“Right.” Jack takes a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. “Right. Yeah.”
Rolling my eyes, I pull out my phone. I haven’t even had time to check it since I woke up. I have a missed call and a voice message from Beth. I smile when I see the notifications, my insides warming, then swipe to text her back.
C:Heads up, babe, looks like we’re staying another few days. Wednesday at least. Jack has some more asses to kiss.
C:We’ll call later xx
Sixty
Beth
I pull up at the address Benny sent me and sit in the car, staring up at the house.
It’s huge. Three floors, with a long, pebble-covered drive and a small fountain in the front garden. Expensive cars with custom plates fill the driveway. The windows are covered with fancy lace curtains, but I can see movement inside. They’re home.
I take a deep breath. My mum’s clearly done well for herself. This is a far cry from my own cheap, mouldy apartment. I feel out of place already, like I’m too poor to even park my car here.
I brace myself, going over what I want to say in my head.
Hey! How are you? I’m Bethany!
I don’t know if you remember me—I’m your daughter.
I know you decided you didn’t want me, but that’s okay, no hard feelings! I just wanted to reconnect with my biological family. Maybe snag a hug or two.
Crap. I can’t say any of that, I’ll sound like a total psycho. I pull down the sun visor and examine my face in the mirror. I look like shit. I’m not wearing any makeup, I’m exhausted, and my hair is frizzing around my head. I was planning on a doctor’s visit today, not meeting my long-lost mother. I try rearranging my hair and pinching my cheeks. So sue me, if I want my mum to think I’m pretty.
I glance again at the house and notice one of the lace curtains twitch. Shit. They’ve seen me. I probably look like a total creep, hanging around outside their house like a stalker.
I take a deep breath and pull myself together, sliding out of the car. It’s now or never. I have to do this. I’m shaking hard as I walk up the drive, small round pebbles shifting under my shoes. I reach the door, squeeze my eyes shut, and touch my bracelet quickly, for good luck.
Then I press the doorbell. A pretty chiming sound echoes inside the house. I hear dogs barking and a burst of laughter.
“Don’t get up, mum, I’ll get it!” A woman calls. I hear footsteps coming down the corridor, then the lock clicking. The door opens, and I look right into the face of my mother.