Free Outer Core by Sigal Ehrlich Page A

has. Or worse, he’s decided to go the DIY route. Note to self: remind dad of the importance of the Ten Commandments, especially the “thou shalt not kill” one.

Chapter 13
Into the Woods
    Daniel : Jeans and comfortable shoes. Pick you up at seven.
    I tilt my head, rereading the odd text on my phone. What the what?
    Should I be standing at attention while waiting?
    Daniel: Seven.
    How Daniel of you. Why yes, Sir, go ahead and give out your orders. After all, we’re all here at your beck and call . This is ridiculous. It might have worked for him in the past. Not anymore. I speed dial his number. My number one.
    â€œHales, anything urgent? I’m in a meeting.” Authoritative and curt.
    I sigh. “Just wanted to ask about that weird message of yours. Never mind.”
    There’s a moment of silence on the line. “Roy, I need to take this one.”
    â€œNo, Daniel, it’s not . . .” Important. I sigh again, listening to Daniel telling whoever this Roy person is that he’ll call for him in five.
    â€œHales.” He’s back.
    â€œYou didn’t have to –”
    â€œWhat’s up?”
    â€œWhere are we going?”
    â€œSomewhere I want to take you.”
    Now that helped, a lot. My gratitude, Sir.
    â€œWhat are you up to?” he asks next, glaringly disregarding my initial question.
    â€œI think I should call my parents.” I hate bringing this up, but it’s out there and should be dealt with, the sooner the better. Unfortunately, there are things that we can’t just scrub off. “I hope I’m not too late. I think it’s better they hear about Rob . . . her, from me.”
    â€œI’ll call your dad.” Gruff and determined.
    â€œNo!” I practically bark the simple word. “Let me. Better I make the call. Daniel, believe me, he’ll be less than pleased to hear about it.” And by that, I mean he’ll probably have your head on a butcher block. Or another part of your body that I’m quite fond of.
    â€œMr. Stark.” It’s Anne’s voice, Daniel’s PA.
    â€œHales?” Daniel says.
    â€œGo ahead; we’ll talk later.”
    I stare at the phone in my hand. It’s time I called my parents. I might as well get it over with already. What could be a better way to spend my lunch break than disappointing my parents? I look around to make sure the cubicles around me are vacant, and just as I’m about to dial, my phone comes to life with “home” flickering on the screen. Home can be either of my parents or both. In this specific moment, I’m opting for my mom.
    â€œLelly!” I release a trapped breath hearing my mom’s comforting voice.
    Just as my stiffened psyche mellows down a little, it straightens right back to my dad’s voice. “Hayley.”
    â€œI was just about to call you guys.” I go for casual.
    â€œHow are you, sweetheart?” my mom asks.
    â€œI’m fine, Ma. How are you guys? Steven?”
    My mom’s answer dissipates into my dad’s question. “Hayley, is it true?”
    It’s as if a lead weight just landed on my chest. I feel like I’m twelve again, trapped in my father’s solemn gaze as he waits for my answer after asking me whether I’ve shaved half of Steven’s head while he was sleeping. The extenuating circumstances didn’t help back then – “but he read my diary, Daddy” – and wouldn’t probably in the present case either with “there’s a high chance it’s not his child, Daddy.” I inwardly compose myself and say, “You know how the media is; they always manipulate the truth and take things out of context.”
    â€œHayley, has the man you’re engaged to got another woman pregnant?”
    I squirm in my chair. A normal person should not be having this conversation with their parents. This is reality show material.