The Allure of Julian Lefray (The Allure #1)(40)

My smile slipped away as my fingers hovered over my phone’s keyboard. I knew Josephine wouldn’t understand my reasoning for going to the fundraiser. She didn’t know my mother or understand our relationship. I didn’t have time to explain everything to her, but I knew that by cutting off the jokes, she was letting me know she was upset the only way she knew how.

I’d have to find a way to prove to her that going to the fundraiser was strictly business for me.

I didn’t pay attention as my driver headed in the direction of Priscilla’s apartment. I didn’t pay attention as she took a seat beside me in the backseat and I threw her a quiet greeting. I didn’t pay attention as we strolled past the step and repeat, cameras flashing in front of my face like overzealous fireflies.

If someone had asked after the event what color Priscilla had worn or what she’d done with her hair, I would have blanked on the answer. Green? Navy? Something dark. Who knows.

I made my way through the event and replied to questions when they were aimed in my direction. I kept watch for my mother, trying to find her so she could see that I’d done as she wished and attended her fundraiser.

I kept one hand in my pocket, clenched around my cell phone, praying that it would vibrate with an incoming text from Josephine.

Two hours into the event, I was antsy and bored. The cocktail hour was about to give way to the dinner portion of the evening and the thought of having to sit still through a four-course meal felt like a death sentence. I excused myself from a conversation I’d been ignoring and went to find my mother. I passed the mayor and his wife, a few celebrities I’d rubbed elbows with at past events, and a few buddies I’d known since private school. I nodded and threw waves as I passed, and then finally I found my mother at the front of the room, near the side of the stage with a microphone in hand.

She was wearing a gold gown with a giant bow situated on the side of her hip. Her brown hair was pulled into a tight knot at the nape of her neck and her skin was covered in a dark fake tan. I knew it was fake because my sister and I had gotten our tan skin from our father while our mother was always the pale one out of the four of us. We’d go on vacation and Lorena, Dad, and I would tan to crisps on the first day. My mom would sit under a shaded umbrella with SPF 90 slathered over every inch of her skin.

She was preparing to step up onto the stage, but I caught her attention just before she could.

“Julian!” she cooed as her gaze slid over to me. “I was just about to do a quick introductory toast.”

I leaned in and she did a double air kiss over each of my cheeks. I couldn’t recall the last time she’d actually hugged me.

“Hey Mom. I’m actually going to have to head out, but I’m glad I got to see you. The event looks great.”

There, that’s pleasant. Lorena couldn’t be mad at me. I’d attended the event. There was no law that said I had to be there to help clean up at 2:00 AM.

My mother’s face fell—barely; the Botox ensured that most of her muscles couldn’t move more than a fraction of a centimeter.

“Already?”

She reached out for my arm and pulled me over to the side of the stage, out of the earshot of the friends she’d been talking to when I’d first walked up.

“No. No. That won’t do, Julian. You’ll stay for my toast and then I’ll introduce you to a few acquaintances.”

I thought of pulling out my wallet just to ensure that I was in fact thirty-fucking-one years old and capable of making my own decisions.

I shook my head.

“The fundraiser looks great and so do you. Pass on a hello to your friends for me.”

“What about Priscilla?” she asked, her lips pursing together in annoyance. “It would be extremely rude of you to leave your date just like that. Perhaps this is why you’re still a bachelor at your age.”

Yup. Perhaps, Mother.

I stuffed my hands in my pockets. “She can take the car back when she’s ready to leave. She has plenty of friends here and many of them weren’t coerced into a playdate. I’m sure she’ll manage just fine.”

“I can’t believe you’re doing this to me.” Her voice wavered. “After everything your sister has put me through this last year. You can’t even attend one fundraiser and make your mother happy? Is that too much to ask?”

I flinched back and stared at her, baffled that she could spout such bullshit and manage to live with herself afterward.

“What Lorena has put you through?” I asked, hearing the anger taking over my voice.

Her eyes slid to her friends nervously, but I didn’t stop.

“How many times have you visited Lorena in rehab? How many of your friends know that she’s seeking treatment for drug addiction and that she’s not on some extended European vacation?”

She took a breath and cocked her chin in the air as if she were in the presence of someone hardly worth her time.

“How I choose to conduct my relationship with my daughter is none of your business. You don’t know the first thing about what I’ve had to do to keep this family together.”

I shoved my hands into my pockets and shrugged.

“Well if you care, she’s done really well in treatment and she’ll be released in a few weeks. Maybe you can pencil her into your busy social schedule then,” I said, turning to scan for the quickest exit. I needed to get the fuck out of crazyville.