Page 3 of Mane Attraction
Janice shrugged, though her expression betrayed her own growing enthusiasm. “When have I ever turned down an adventure?”
“We’re in.” The words emerged before Xelene’s rational mind could intervene, driven by an instinct she rarely trusted. “Where do we meet tomorrow?”
Gerri’s smile transformed into something radiant, as if she’d just won a particularly satisfying victory. “The Naples power plant, tomorrow morning at eight. Ask for the special elevator.”
Before either woman could respond, Gerri melted back into the crowd with the same mysterious ease with which she’d appeared, leaving only the faint scent of citrus and the lingering sense that their lives had just taken a dramatic turn.
Janice stared at the spot where Gerri had vanished. “What exactly did you just commit us to?”
Xelene’s smile felt different than usual—less controlled and more genuine. “Consider this not only a vacation you suggested I take, but the job of a lifetime.”
Later that night, the sleek walls of Xelene’s Fort Myers condo reflected the city lights through the floor-to-ceiling windows as she methodically folded designer blouses, skirts, and dresses into her suitcase. Each garment received the same precise attention she applied to everything in her life—crisp lines, perfect placement, and no wrinkles allowed.
Her phone buzzed against the nightstand.Momflashed across the screen.
Xelene’s fingers paused on a silk blouse. The timing couldn’t be more perfect. She’d been dreading the upcoming Warren family gathering for weeks, searching for a legitimate excuse that wouldn’t trigger another lecture about priorities and personal responsibility.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Xelene, dear! I was just confirming the menu for Sunday’s dinner. Your father will be there with your stepmom, along with my new boyfriend, so I thought we’d keep things civilized with that seafood dish you enjoy.”
The familiar tension crept up Xelene’s spine at the mention of her parents sharing the same space. Even twenty-two years post-divorce, family gatherings felt like navigating a minefield of passive-aggressive comments and forced politeness.
“Actually, I need to cancel. I’m leaving town tomorrow morning for a work assignment.”
A pause stretched across the line, heavy with disappointment. “Another business trip? Xelene, you missed Christmas dinner last year for that senator’s crisis, and now?—”
“This is different, Mom. It’s a unique opportunity that could expand my client base internationally.” Interplanetary, actually. “I’ll be gone for about two weeks.”
Her mother’s sigh carried the weight of years of similar conversations. “Sweetheart, don’t you think it’s time to slow down? You’re thirty-four. Most women your age are thinking about marriage, children, building something beyond a career.”
Xelene’s jaw tightened as she snapped the suitcase closed. “My career isn’t just something I do, Mom. It’s who I am. I’ve built a stellar reputation helping people transform their lives.”
“But what about your life? When was the last time you went on a real date? Not those... arrangements you mentioned.”
Heat flashed through Xelene. Her mother’s disapproval of her carefully managed romantic encounters had become a recurring theme in their conversations, another reminder of how different their values had become.
“Those arrangements serve their purpose. I get what I need without the complications that come with emotional entanglement.” Xelene’s voice carried the familiar irritation she used with her mother since Xelene was twelve. “Love makes people irrational. I’ve seen what it does firsthand.”
The words hung between them, loaded with the unspoken history of her parents’ spectacular relationship implosion. Years of watching two people who once claimed to love each other tear each other apart in courtrooms and custody battles had taught Xelene everything she needed to know about romance.
“Oh, honey.” Her mother’s voice softened, tinged with regret. “Not all relationships end like your father’s and mine. We were young and stubborn and didn’t know how to fight fair. But love doesn’t have to be destructive.”
“Doesn’t it?” Xelene moved to her bedroom window, gazing out at the glittering skyline. “You and Dad spent my entire adolescence proving that even the strongest connections eventually turn toxic.”
Another sigh, this one heavier. “I suppose we did give you quite an education in what not to do. But darling, you can’t let our mistakes keep you from finding happiness.”
Happiness.The word felt foreign. Xelene had built her life around achievement, control, and professional satisfaction. Those were reliable. Those made sense.
“I am happy, Mom. My work fulfills me in ways that relationships never could. This new client represents everything I’ve worked toward—the chance to prove my methods work on an unprecedented scale.”
“Just... be careful, sweetheart. And try to remember that success means nothing if you don’t have someone to share it with.”
Xelene’s reflection stared back at her from the dark window—polished, controlled, alone. “I’ll call you when I get back. Give Dad my regards.”
“I love you, Xelene.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
