Read Online Romance: Assistant to the Billionaire by Jodi Cooper - Free Book Online Page A

knew when we were younger.”
    “See? Now aren’t you glad you’ve stuck things out.”
    “Yeah, I really am.”
    She stares at me and I see a glint in her eyes. “You’re glowing! Are you dating someone? Who is he? Do I know him?”
    “Mom, I’m seeing someone but we’re not ready to talk about it yet. It’s complicated so you can’t say anything. But you said you called me over here because you had something important to tell me and I know that you’re deflecting with my personal life,” I say.
    She sighs. “Well, you would be correct.”
    We walk into the lounge room and Mom hands me a cup of tea.
    “Well, um, sweetheart, you know I love you…”
    “Just spit it out Mom,” I roll my eyes.
    “I don’t know how to tell you this… but your father got approved for early parole. He’ll be out in a few days.”
    I jump up out of the seat. “What! I thought he had like twenty years or something. Why’s he getting let loose so early?”
    “Good behavior. He was eligible for parole and the board approved him. I know that you have ill feelings towards your father…”
    “Ill feelings! Ill feelings! Mom, I hate that man! He ruined my life and yours. He made everything so hard for us. I didn’t have any friends and people were afraid to take a chance with hiring you because of what he did. He deserved to stay in there longer.”
    “Calm down, sweetie. He is still your father… and he is still my husband.”
    Those words sting. Mom never filed for divorce because she was afraid of being a divorcee. I pleaded with her to leave the man that destroyed our lives but she never did.
    “Where’s he going to stay when he gets out?”
    “Well that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. He will be staying with me,” she says.
    The blood rushes out of my brain and I feel helpless. “Are you serious, Mom? You’re really going to take him in?”
    “He’s still your father and still… officially, my husband.”
    “Who’s a criminal! Mom, I don’t know why you’re being so laid back about this. I mean… I don’t even know what to say right now.”
    “Say that you support me.”
    “You know that I can’t say that because I don’t support you in this. I can’t ever support him. He humiliated the whole family. The guy is selfish, Mom. All he thinks about is himself and you want him back in your life?”
    “He’s changed, sweetheart.”
    “I doubt it. He’ll tell you anything just so he can have a place to stay.”
    “It’s not like that…” she starts to say.
    “Well, I don’t care, Mom. I can’t support you on this. I’m sorry,” I say as I get up to leave.
    “Jessica!” she yells after me but I don’t stop.
    I just keep going.
    I get into my car and drive with anger.
    I have to go to the one person who can help me make sense out of this situation: Rhett.
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 13
     
     
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
    I press the code for Rhett’s penthouse door and rush inside.
    He’s sitting on the couch and when he sees how distraught I look, he rushes over towards me.
    “What’s wrong?” he asks.
    “My father is getting out of prison soon and my Mom is taking him back in. She’s taking him back! That’s what she wanted to talk to me about tonight,” I sob into his chest.
    “What? I thought that your Dad got twenty years?” he asks.
    “He did but he also has good behavior and Mom said that he was parole eligible and they approved him. It’s not fair. The guy ruined my life and hers and here she is wanting to make things easy for him.”
    “You know how parents are. They never see things our way. And is it possible that even after everything that he’s done that she still loves your Dad. Love can be a very powerful drug, you know.”
    “But I don’t see why she would want to involve herself in his messiness. Let him find another place to stay is what I say.”
    He laughs. “You’re really upset this about this, aren’t you?”
    “Yes, and it’s not funny.