Dane
Dane: I’m sorry for ditching last night. I should’ve at least called you, even if I didn’t reach out to your mom.
Shawna: All good. Congrats on finally making that love connection. Wishing you and your girl the best!
I smile to myself, knowing her words are only genuine. Even if things didn’t quite work out like she might’ve hoped.
Dane: Thanks.
Dane: I’m looking for your mother. Any idea where I can find her?
Shawna: Funny you should ask, she’s here visiting, tossing out everything with flavor from my cabinets and fridge. Need me to have her call?
Dane: No, don’t. She’s not answering for me. Mind shooting me your address? I’ll just stop by.
Shawna: That depends. Are you pissed at her for something?
I hesitate, hoping she doesn’t alert Rose that I’m coming for her.
Dane: Let’s just say she did some shit she needs to answer for.
Shawna: Well, what kind of daughter would I be to set up my own mother?
Shawna: Just kidding. One sec.
The next message to come through is her address and I speed toward her building.
Shawna: Here you go, but hurry. I think she’s leaving soon.
I lower the phone and go over the plan again. First, I need to hear Rose say it. I need to hear her admit that she threw a fucking tantrum because she couldn’t control me, resulting in her thwarted attempt to send Joss into a tailspin. No fucking way that message to Pandora about Peyton came from anyone else. I’m not sure how she knew, but I know she had a hand in this. Once she confirms, once I know for sure she’s guilty, I’ve got something for her shady ass.
Whipping into the lot outside Shawna’s building, I spot Rose’s car and block her in before hopping out to lean against my hood. If it weren’t for the ‘she’s on her way out’ text, I would’ve stormed toward the entrance, but this is better. I’ll let her come to me.
Patience pays off when I spot her leaving out the front and then descending the steps. She’s glued to her phone as usual, not paying attention to her surroundings as she comes my way, no clue I’ve got eyes locked on her.
That is, until she hears my voice.
“I bet you’re real fucking proud of yourself.”
Startled, she nearly drops her phone.
“Dane,” she says with shock and a hint of frustration. “What are you doing here?”
I don’t miss how quickly she adjusts her expression, pretending to still have the upper hand.
“You couldn’t control me, so you thought you’d enlist Pandora’s help to fuck Joss over instead.”
Her brow arches and that innocent act she tried to pull fades away. “I do believe I warned you not to cross me, didn’t I? You always like to think you’ve got everything figured out, so it seemed like the perfect time to teach you a little lesson in respect. It also proved to be an opportunity to show that you’re not as invincible as you’d like to think.”
A laugh slips when I realize how out of touch she is. “Invincible? Apparently, you’ve missed how screwed up my life has been these last few months. If there’s one thing we Goldens realize we aren’t, it’s invincible.”
She crosses both arms over her chest and scoffs. “I asked one simple thing of you in return for rebuilding your reputation, and that was loyalty. There was a plan in place that would’ve taken your career to the moon, Dane.”
“You mean a plan that would’ve taken Shawna’s career to the moon,” I correct her. “You never had my best interests at heart. It was always about you securing the bag for yourself, to the point that you even used your own daughter, made her life fucking miserable chasing perfection.”
“Who the fuck cares if her star would’ve risen in tandem with yours? And boo-hoo! Yes, I push you both to be the best you can be. Since when is that a sin?”
“You’re physically incapable of admitting that you screwed this shit up, aren’t you?”
“Screwed up? Dane, I could’ve made you very, very rich. The only thing I screwed up was not realizing from the beginning that you were too blinded by the hearts in your damn eyes to see the vision! So, yes, I’ve pushed hard, and I’ve played the part of the coldhearted bitch to help you reach greatness, but I’m starting to think you’re a lost cause. The day you make something of your life, hell will freeze over.”
“How’d you do it? How’d you dig that shit up about Joss’ family?” I ask, ignoring her rant.
“You think I’d reveal my source? All you need to know is that this city is loyal to those who are loyal in return. I know low people in high places and those people always come through for the right price. And let’s just say I was more than willing to pay whatever the cost to ensure Shawna will never want for anything. It’s about foresight. Something you know nothing about.”
“In case you’ve missed it, your daughter isn’t the materialistic airhead you make her out to be. I haven’t known her long enough to pretend I have her all figured out, but something tells me she’d turn down a paycheck for your acceptance any day of the week.”
Rose falls silent then, looking stoic as she pretends my words didn’t register.
“Shawna knows I love her. She’s not some fragile bird who needs the cooing and coddling other girls are looking for. I raised her to be tough because that’s what she’ll need to be to survive. Tough.”
This speech sounds oddly familiar, but the one whose given it in the past is currently behind bars. Thank God. Knowing there’s no arguing with this level of narcissism, I decide it’s time to cut my losses and move on.
When I lower my gaze and a smirk breaks free, Rose is up in arms again.
“What the hell is funny? The prospect of your shitty future?”
When I glance at her again, the smirk turns into quiet laughter. “Well, someone’s future will certainly be shitty, but it definitely isn’t mine.”
She watches as I lift my phone and upload the audio I just recorded of us. Audio that will show the world what a fucking shark she really is.
“What is that? What’d you just do?”
I shrug and tuck the phone away. “Just posted an update, but you don’t have anything to worry about. I’m nobody, remember? I’m sure no one will see it.”
Her finger slides over her phone screen until she gets to my profile, I guess. The suspicion is confirmed when I hear my own voice playing through the speaker.
“Have a good night, Rose. And a great fucking life.”
I climb into the front seat of my car while she watches in horror, witnessing the moment her career crashes and burns. The influencers who follow me will be interested to see what it’s really like being one of Rose’s clients. And if I know the network, the first-hand account I’ve just uploaded will be viral by morning.
As of tonight, her agenda for me, for Joss, just got canceled right along with her career.
She thought she was ruining me, but payback’s an even bigger bitch than she is.
