Page 247 of Just for the Cameras
“I’m serious. We need to handle this properly.”
“Yeah, and that’s with my fist buried in his face.”
“No!” she yells. “No, you can’t do that. Given the tumultuousrelationship you already have with him, there is no doubt in my mind that if you harm him physically, he will take it to the press, and you don’t need that right now. Just let me do my work and clear the air. Okay?”
My jaw clenches tight as I fight the need to teach my dad a lesson.
“Graydon, tell me you’re not going to go see him.”
After a few seconds, I say, “I’m not.”
“Thank you. Now does Maple know?”
“Probably not. I can go tell her, though. She’s at work, but I can rush over there.”
“You know what? Wait. I’m headed over to the facility now. Welcott just messaged me asking what’s going on. I think we can nip this quickly if we have a chat with him. See you in twenty in his office.”
Then the phone goes dead.
“Fuck,” I say as I place my phone on a shelf and then push both hands through my hair.
“It was your dad?” Hutton asks.
“Yeah. Fucking imagine being that vindictive against your son.” I shake my head. “Fuck, I am itching to confront him.”
“I’m guessing Gretchen thought that was a bad idea.”
“You think?” I pace some more, my energy bouncing through me. “She’s headed over here, and we’re going to talk to Welcott.”
“Jesus, maybe you should check in on Maple and see how she’s doing.”
He’s right. I pick up my phone and dial her number. It rings a few times and then goes to voice mail.
So I dial again.
And again.
And again, until finally she picks up.
But instead of her voice, it’s a man’s.
And not just any voice, but Slutty Little Glasses’ voice.
“She is in a meeting right now.”
“Well, can you get her? It’s important.”
“Is it about the article? Because she knows, it’s why she’s in a meeting, because there is press here at the zoo hounding her.”
Fuck…
“First of all, this is none of your goddamn business, and second of all, bring her phone to her…now.”
“Can’t. She’s in a meeting, but I’ll be sure to let her know the guy who is trying to disrupt her peaceful life is attempting to contact her.”
“You motherfuck—”
But he hangs up.
