Chapter 8

Marissa's POV

There was a knock at the door.

“Coming, coming. Who is it?" I asked, as I ran down the stairs in my grey pants and white shirt. I wasn't expecting anyone, so this was most likely Chloe's visitor, but she was in the bathroom so I had to get the door.

I really hoped whoever it was didn't mind waiting alone before Chloe came down. I didn't have the time to talk to anyone or keep them company. I was running late. 

The knock came again just as I yanked the door open. My face fell. No, no, no. Not now.

The woman at the door ran judging eyes over me from head to toe before pushing her way inside.

“Hi, mom." I said quietly. 

She walked around the small living room, observing everything before turning back to look at me. My eyes darted to the wallclock beside the staircase. I really didn't have the time for this. 

“I see you found yourself a new place." She said.

“It's Chloe's place." I responded. 

“Of course, it is." She scowled. "God knows I never did like that girl." She said, and I rolled my eyes. The girl never did like her either. 

“Mom, can we do this some other time?" I asked impatiently. "I'm running late for work and…."

“Work!" She sounded genuinely appalled.

“Yes, mom. Work." I responded after taking a deep breath.

“Oh, Marissa! Why would you choose to do this to yourself? Work? You never had to work when you were married to Anthony. Now, look. Only a few weeks out of his house and you're on the streets trying to survive."

I grit my teeth. God! How did I manage to endure this for 18 years of my life?

“First of all, I'm not on the streets, mom, as you can see. Second, I'm not trying to survive. I'm doing very well, as the allowance I sent you just last week implies.”

“The allowance you sent me last week would have been accompanied by an even fatter one if you were still in Anthony's house!”

"Anthony hit me, mom!” I near screamed. "Several times! What part of that do you not understand? Anthony was an asshole! He treated me like shit”.

“No marriage is perfect, Marissa. Every marriage has its ups and downs. You should know that. You saw your father walk out on us.”

“That was different.” I responded, and my voice shook."You know that was different.”

"No, it wasn't!” She snapped. “He left you with me, and walked away.”

“Because you cheated on him, mother!" By this time, my voice had risen to a shout. “And then you went ahead to marry that sleazy ass bastard who hit you every chance that he got and treated you like trash just so–”

Her right hand connected with my face in a resounding slap before I could finish my sentence.

“That sleazy ass bastard raised you!" She shouted back.

My eyes were brimming with tears but I blinked then back. “No, mother." I responded in a low, shaky voice. “He didn't raise me."

Before either of us could say anything else, Chloe's clear voice came from where she stood at the foot of the stairs.

“Good morning, Elizabeth."

My mom's frown deepened, and she ignored the greeting. 

Chloe didn't care. “I certainly wasn't expecting you in my house." She continued while walking slowly towards us.

“And I certainly wasn't expecting to see you." Mom shot back.

“Well then, maybe you should have stayed back at your house." Chloe walked past us, turned the door knob, and held the door open. “Leave my house.” She said icily.

“Now, you listen to me, I–” My mom started, but Chloe cut her off.

"Get out of my house now, Elizabeth. I won’t say it again.”

My mother's eyes shot slits at Chloe, but again, she didn't care. She tapped her feet impatiently on the ground as she held the door wider.

My mom picked her bag on a chair where she'd dropped it, and turned to look at me. “This isn't over."

She stomped out the door, and Chloe slammed the door shut behind her.

The moment the door closed, I fell into a chair and let the tears flow freely. Chloe walked towards the chair I now sat in, and wrapped her hands protectively around me.

There were no words needed so she didn't say any. She simply held me as I soaked her dress with my tears.

************************************

I walked into Kingston's a full hour late. I had worn makeup to hide my puffy eyes, and as I settled into my chair, I took a mirror out of my bag to check how I looked again.

Chloe had asked me to call in sick today, but I'd refused. I thought it was too early to be doing that. Also, I needed the work to distract me from the memories that my mother had brought back to life this morning.

The phone rang. 

“Hello." I said into the receiver.

“You're late." It was Mr Kingston.

“I'm sorry, sir. I–”

"Meet me in my office now.” He said and the line clicked shut. 

Right. Exactly what I needed right now. I thought to myself, and headed to his office. 

His chair was turned away from the door, and he sat facing the floor to ceiling window in his office. He had a view of Main street with all of its buzz.

I shut his door quietly. “Good morning, sir."

“Care to tell me why you're late?" 

I could hear my heart beat rapidly. “I'm sorry, sir."

“That's not a reason." He said without turning around. 

I remained quiet. How could I tell him that I had been late because my mom had chosen this very morning to come and lecture me on all the reasons why I shouldn't have left a man who walked all over me for three years.

He finally turned around. “No response?"

“I'm sorry, sir." I repeated. “This will never happen again."

He raised his eyes to my face and seemed taken aback for a moment.

“Sit down, Marissa." He said, and I sat on a chair across his big oak desk.

He seemed to study my countenance before speaking again.

“Cancel everything on my schedule from 2:00pm. We're going somewhere together.”

“Where, sir?” I asked, surprised. He had two important meetings scheduled for this afternoon.

“A dinner party." He said, and my eyes popped.