I frown. “Yes.”
“I sold you the property Willowvale and you asked me to keep in touch.”
I breathe in. I don’t need this nonsense today.
“Yes, what is it?” I ask as I roll my eyes.
He pauses on the other end. “I may be speaking out of turn here but rumour has it you had a bit of trouble with the ex-property manager, the veterinarian.
I run my tongue over my front teeth in contempt. Who is this prick?
“What about it?” I snap.
“I just thought I should let you know that she is trying to buy the property next door to your farm.”
I sit forward in my seat. “What do you mean?” I ask.
“Apparently she has contacted all of the surrounding properties and offered huge money to buy their properties,” he replies.
“Has she now?” I reply in a monotone as I think.
Cameron frowns at me and I narrow my eyes as I roll my pen on the desk under my fingers while I think.
“Are you there?” he asks.
“Yes, sorry, just thinking. Block the sales,” I reply.
“Um, I don’t have the power,” he replies.
I cut him off. “I will be down for a meeting with you tomorrow but contact all of the properties and let them know if they want to sell I will always top the price.”
“Um.”
“Do it!” I snap. “You will be paid well for the trouble.”
“I just thought you should know sir,” he answers.
“Thank you. I will see you tomorrow afternoon.” I hang up and stand in a rush. “Bitch, what’s she playing at now?”
“Huh?” Cameron frowns.
“Amelie is apparently trying to buy a property next to Willowvale.”
Cameron screws up his face. “Why?”
“To fucking piss me off, that’s why!” I snap.
“Does it really matter?”
“Yes, it matters. I want to live there with Natasha and my kids one day. Natasha will not be running into that bitch on the school run!” I snap as my anger erupts.
He shakes his head. “She’s tapped man… fatal fucking attraction.”
I put my head into my hands on my desk, this is another nightmare that I don’t damn well need. “Don’t say anything to Mother. Let her do the talking,” I sigh.
Cameron nods. “Got it.”
“I want to hear what she has to say before we tell her anything,” I add.
“Yep. Do you want me to get her?” he asks.
I look at him deadpan. “If you must.”
Cameron stands and his eyes search mine. “Promise me that whatever she says won’t change anything between us.”
A lump in my throat forms and I drop my head.
“Promise me, Josh,” he repeats.
I nod, unable to speak.
“And nothing will change with Dad,” he replies.
“He’s not the father of one of us, Cameron.”
“Bullshit! That’s semantics.”
“Is it?” I ask. “Seems like a lot more than that to me.”
“He obviously knows nothing of this,” Cameron sighs.
I nod and my stomach drops. My father is a good man. My anger erupts again. “Go and get her.”
Cameron nods and leaves the room.
Two minutes later my mother walks into the room with Cameron behind her. I am seated at my desk and she sits nervously on the leather chesterfield lounge with Cameron. She adjusts her skirt and folds her legs.
“Joshua, I don’t appreciate your tone when you told me to wait outside. I am your mother and you will show me respect.”
My eyes hold hers and I run my tongue over my front teeth-is she kidding?
“Respect is earned,” I reply.
She scratches her head nervously. “What’s this about?” she asks.
My eyes flick to Cameron. “You tell us,” Cameron replies.
“Stop playing games you two. I did not fly all the way from Australia to play charades. Spit it out!” she demands.
I stand up from my chair and walk around to lean back on my desk and I fold my arms in front of me. “It has come to our attention that we do not have the same blood.”
She swallows nervously. “How?”
I smirk. “Does it matter?”
“To me yes.”
“I had blood tests carried out because I saw Joshua’s chart in hospital. I am unsure if you are aware, I’m a qualified doctor,” Cameron sneers sarcastically.
“Cut the tone!” she snaps.
“Cut the shit!” I yell. “You tell me how in hell we have different blood!”