Liar, Liar Read Online Free PDF Page B

are at what we do.
    Truth be told, the driving force behind my desire to excel the company came from the hope that maybe my parents would lay off me a little.  If they could see how dedicated I was, maybe they would get off my back.  Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
    As if they know I’m thinking about them, my cell rings and I pull it from my pocket to see my mother’s name lighting up the screen. 
    Fuck.
    “Hello,” I say tiredly.
    “Benjamin, I’m glad you finally answered,” my mother snaps, disdain pouring from her lips.
    “I’ve been busy, mother.”
    “Yes, well, your father and I have been talking, and we’ve decided you and Regina should get busy on another project.  We want grandchildren.  We’re not getting any younger, you know.”
    “Don’t hold your breath,” I mutter.
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “Look, mother, whether Regina and I decide to have children is our decision, and our decision alone.”
    “Clearly you can’t make such important decisions on your own.  You should thank your father and me for stepping in when we did and encouraging you to marry Regina.”
    Encouraging?   They cut off my fucking income and refused to reinstate it until we were married.  All because I delayed wedding someone I never loved, who I didn’t want to marry in the first place.
    “You didn’t fucking encourage me, mother,” I spit, and she gasps, no doubt at my use of ‘filthy language’.  “You forced my hand and gave me no other option.  You froze my accounts and refused me any money until the day we married.”
    My blood begins to boil and I wipe the sweat off my brow with the back of my hand. 
    “Benjamin, you’re overreacting,” she sighs.
    “I don’t think so, Mother.   I’m a thirty-three-year-old man who is running a highly successful business.  A business that has grown exponentially since I took over.  I don’t need your input on anything happening in my life.”
    She huffs.  “You’ve always been an ungrateful brat.”
    “Stay the fuck out of my life, or you won’t be pleased with the consequences,” I growl.  I end the call before she can reply and then throw my phone across my desk.
    “Damn it!” I shout, tearing my fingers through my hair.  She makes me so fucking mad, and if I could find a way out of this mess, I would throw divorce papers at Regina and the middle finger at my parents in an instant.
    If only it were that simple.
    ***
    “Good luck tonight, Benny.   Are you going to kiss me goodbye?” Regina asks as she sidles up to me.  Her bags are packed and the driver is waiting out front.
    “Have a good trip, Regina,” I mutter in lieu of giving her what she wants.
    “Fine.”  She throws her handbag over her shoulder and walks out of the kitchen toward the front door. 
    She has no reason to be pissed, or to expect any more than what she gets from me.  She pushed for this marriage just as hard as my parents did.  Just as hard as her parents did.  She wanted it, and she knew I didn’t.  In the end she knew the only reason I met her at the end of the altar was because I didn’t have another choice.
    As the front door closes, my cell rings. 
    “Morning, Estelle,” I say, greeting my assistant. 
    “Good morning, Mr. Duncan.  I’ve emailed you your itinerary for tonight’s function, but I just wanted to remind you that the tailor will be visiting your house at nine a.m. to do any final adjustments to your suit.  Also, the car will be arriving to pick you up at four p.m.”
    “Thank you,” I murmur. 
    “Have you managed to compile a thank you speech in the highly likely event that you win the award tonight?”
    “No.  Perhaps I’ll think about that today.”  Not likely. 
    “I knew you’d say that, so I took the liberty of putting together a little something.  It’s attached to the email with your itinerary.”
    “You’re a lifesaver, Estelle.”
    “I know, it’s why you pay me the big bucks, sir,” she