Chapter 3 — The Slap Behind the Building
Emily stared at her mother.
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
Linda gently brushed dust from the bouquet.
"There isn't anything to say."
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
Emily folded her arms.
"You always make everything dramatic."
Linda looked at her.
"I haven't made anything dramatic."
"You showed up dressed like that."
"I came because you're my daughter."
Emily rolled her eyes.
"I told you. I don't want people knowing you're my mother."
Linda nodded.
"I heard you."
For the first time, Emily looked uncomfortable.
The silence between them felt heavier than the slap.
Then Emily noticed the old smartphone in Linda's hand.
"What are you doing?"
Linda looked down at it.
"Making a call."
"To who?"
"You'll find out."
Emily laughed.
"You think you can threaten me?"
Linda looked directly into her daughter's eyes.
"No."
She pressed a number.
The call connected almost immediately.
Linda spoke quietly.
"Yes. It's me."
Emily frowned.
Linda continued.
"I need one change made."
A pause.
"Remove Emily Morgan from the hiring list."
Emily's smile disappeared.
"What?"
Linda didn't look at her.
"Effective immediately."
Emily stepped forward.
"Who are you talking to?"
Linda ended the call.
Emily grabbed her wrist.
"Mom, what did you just do?"
Linda gently pulled free.
"Something I should have done a long time ago."
Emily stared at her.
"You're bluffing."
Linda picked up the bouquet.
"No."
"You don't even have a job."
Linda's eyes remained unreadable.
Emily laughed nervously.
"You've lost your mind."
Linda turned toward the courtyard.
Before leaving, she stopped.
"Congratulations, Emily."
Then she walked away.
Emily remained frozen.
She looked at the old phone in Linda's hand.
For the first time, a strange thought entered her mind.
What if her mother wasn't who she believed?
Emily immediately rejected it.
No.
Her mother was poor.
Her mother worked ordinary jobs.
Her mother lived modestly.
Her mother couldn't possibly control a company that had been interviewing Emily.
But thirty minutes later, Emily's phone vibrated.
She looked at the screen.
An email had arrived from the company.
She opened it.
Her eyes widened.
The subject line read:
May you like
"Regarding Your Employment Application."
And beneath it were six words that made her blood run cold.
