Page 132 of The Comeback
“May be?”
“Will definitely be.”
I shut my eyes. “Thank you. Can you call my family in twenty minutes? I want to talk to them first.”
“Done. Tell me if you need help with flights.”
“I will.”
I can be upset later. Now I need to talk to Dad before Alex does. I don’t dither before I call because this can’t be over fast enough. “Hi, Dad.”
“Ariadne. Back from Korea? I hope you got some good work done so you can get back to your real clients.”
“Soon.” I sit down because I feel shaky. “Alex Williams from Hyphen Records will be calling you in a few minutes.”
He chuckles. “Have you quit law to get a record deal?”
I manage a weak noise that impersonates a laugh. “Ha, yeah. Very funny, Dad. Do you remember Jihoon?”
“He came for dinner. Nice kid.”
“He’s a performer, here in Korea. He’s pretty big.”
“Like that Justin Bibber?”
“Bieber and kind of.” I cough. “The media found out we’re friends, and Alex is worried reporters might come talk to you.” No need to go into the details of what Newlight did.
“Us?” He sounds confused. “Why?”
“To find out more about me.”
“I see.” He clicks his tongue in his habitual thinking sound. “Make sure you keep Richard Havings in the loop.”
“I already spoke to him.”
“Good.”
“He put me on a month’s leave to protect the firm’s reputation.”
“He did?” There’s a long pause. “It makes sense from his perspective. You know this will affect your chances of being made partner. This is serious.”
Being made partner. He isn’t even concerned my name has been announced for the world, or enough of it, to drag through the mud. Partner is all he cares about. “I guess it might.”
“You were doing so well. We were so proud of you.”
Were, notare. “I know,” I say.
“What’s going on with you? I’d expect this from—” He stops suddenly to prevent the next words, which I know arePhoebe, not you.
“I didn’t plan this.” My answer is sharp, and Dad receives it with a disapproving silence that soars across a continent and an ocean. I know from the articles he sends that he expects me to be cool under pressure, but this is far beyond handling an unruly meeting.
“We’ll wait for the call,” he says. “I appreciate the update.”
When he hangs up before I can reply, I know he’s more upset than I thought. Part of me, that little girl who will never grow up, wants to call back and beg forgiveness and tell him that I’ll fix it with Richard.
A text comes in from Phoebe:Do you know you’re a hashtag?
Me:Yes
