Paragon

Chapter 3

I force myself to sit down onto the edge of the bed as I hold my phone in front of me, the number Stellan gave me already typed out. I'm gearing myself up- I don't remember the last time I did it but I know speaking to her- to my mother- takes it out of me.

Swallowing with difficulty, I press call and raise the phone to my ear, knowing I need to find out what she knows. This better not be some fucking ploy to speak to me- some lie she created to get my attention. My eyes flicker to the doorway as it rings and I wait to make sure Stellan is still heating up the food in the kitchen.

"Hello?"

"Vivienne, it's Iris."

"... I didn't think he'd give you my number."

"Stellan's too good for that."

"Is he?"

"You know what? I don't appreciate what you said to him."

"What do you expect me to think? The man's a former escort who's being accused of beating a woman almost to death. I naturally don't want my daughter with someone like that."

"Well, it's a good thing, Vivienne, that what you say holds no weight with me. You said you have information regarding a woman I interviewed."

"I know you hate me, Iris. I know that and you have every right to be upset with me, and with your father, but I'm trying here. I'm trying to be there for you, despite how hard you're trying to push me away."

"Do you think you deserve better treatment?"

"I know I'm at fault here- but believe me when I say, you wouldn't have this life you do if you would have been with me and Nick."

"But I would have had a family. I wouldn't have been alone and that would have meant more than anything. That seems to be the part you have the hardest time grasping- the people I love mean more to me than anything in the world. I would do anything for them. I would pay whatever I had to, I would put them above myself, I would die for them. And that is the difference between you and I."

"I'm trying- I'm trying to make amends." I hear her sniffling in the background and I pull the phone from my ear, grinding my teeth together.

"Are you going to tell me about the girl or not?"

I continue to hear her cry and despite myself, I close my eyes in regret, crossing my free arm protectively in front of my body.

"Please... I-I really do need to know."

"The girl, she got into a Mercedes- the car has been following you for days."

"What? No, Eric would have seen that."

"They're parked next to the tea shop around the corner. They switch men every hour."

"So, they're always there? I'm being followed?"

"It's not just you, I think. I bet your fiancée is as well."

"How do you know this?"

"I've spent everyday outside of your building. You pick up on things."

I press my lips together, shaking my head. Vance wouldn't be that stupid, that would be ridiculous. "And this girl? You're sure she went with them?"

"Yes, I recognized her as the girl sitting in your office earlier today."

"She's my new assistant."

"I would rethink that...These men don't look like your average taxi service."