Book II - 66

AUDREY

I phoned Charles’s number immediately as I meant to speak to him anyway about the house—to tell him I would finally pay the debt. However, I couldn’t believe the most ludicrous scenario I couldn’t quite imagine.

“Listen, Audrey. I didn’t know what to do.” He sighed in frustration and spoke as if he was hissing. “He came to my uncle’s office in person. I didn’t know they were that close. He found out I was going to New York, and my uncle told your father we met recently, so…”

“So you brought him here. God, Charles!” I shoved my hands in my hair. “You know I ran away from him.”

“I know, but he just won’t leave me alone,” he said tightly and exhaled again. “Come on, Audrey. You’ve just got to talk to him, okay?”

“What does he want from me?”

“He didn’t say.”

“Look. Tell him I don’t give a damn about what he wants from me because the last time I came home, he called my mother a whore,” I ranted angrily, and the pain he caused me I was trying to heal was fresh again.

“Don’t you want