Lex lowered herself back onto the couch. Her mother walked up to the window.

“How long have you been hiding here?” she asked, pulling the blinds up.

“I’m not hiding,” Lex groaned and covered her eyes. The sun was setting fast, but it still cast a bright, orange glow into the room.

Her mother took in the view of the city. “What’s going on, Lex?”

Lex fell back against the pillow. “Nothing, mom. I’m just sick.”

Betty Emsworth turned away from the window and focused on her daughter. The small diamonds on her ring glittered as she raised her finger.

“I know that you’re sick. I talked to Henry. That’s not what I am asking.”

Lex narrowed her eyes. How high were the odds that her mother would have run into doctor McMillan today? It was too much of a coincidence.

“So much for patient confidentiality,” she mumbled.

“He didn’t tell me what’s wrong with you,” Betty replied, looking at the ceiling.

“Oh, well, good to know,” Lex said sarcastically. “But, he did send you over here?”

The corners of Betty’s mouth twitched. It was a tell-tale sign that she wanted to scowl, but was trying to keep a straight face, Lex knew.

“No,” her mother said slowly, “I just happened to call him about the upcoming fundraiser and he mentioned you’d been in this morning.”

“Why did you come over then?” Lex asked, crossing her arms.

Her mother walked over to the television and ran her finger over the top of the screen. She studied the dust on her fingertip with disdain. “You need to have this place cleaned.”

“I’m cutting back on costs,” Lex said in reply, knowing full well it would send her mother into a frenzy.

The truth was that she couldn’t stand anyone, not even a cleaner, coming into the apartment now that she was there so often. She wasn’t going to admit to that, of course.

“So it’s true,” Betty gasped, spinning on her high heels. “You lied about that job offer!”

“W-what?!” Lex uttered. This was not what she had expected.

Her mother wagged an angry finger at her. “Your father told me no one in this city would have offered you a new job! He said you made it up so I would stop worrying.”

Lex’s jaw dropped. What the hell was wrong with her parents? Why were they so convinced that she couldn’t take care of herself? Was she such a disappoint all of a sudden?

Betty walked over with a few quick steps and sat down next to Lex, her legs neatly tucked together. The wrinkles above her eyes were deeper than ever.

“I think we’ve put up with your erratic behavior long enough, Lexie. Let’s end this charade and come up with a plan for your future,” she said in a soft tone.

Lex shifted in her seat, increasing the distance between herself and her mother. She didn’t want her parents’ help or pity. She was doing just fine without them.

“Mother, I did get a job offer and I have actually already started working at my new job,” she stated in a low tone.

Betty pursed her lips. They were covered with the same burgundy red lipstick Lex had had to wipe off of her cheek as a child too many times.

“A new job? Where?” she finally asked.

Lex straightened her back. “At Leroy Chocolates. I’m the new CFO.”

Lex didn’t add that she first had to spend her days selling chocolates. No need to make this any harder than it already was.