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.

The announcement clearly took her mother by surprise. “You work for Lucile?” she asked slowly.

“I work at Leroy Chocolates,” Lex repeated, “But you know Hannah is in charge now.” She ran her hand through her short hair.

Betty’s eyes followed the movement. “I really don’t like that haircut,” she said. “Your father agrees. Too manly.”

Lex pushed herself up. The floor shifted under her feet, but she was able to keep her balance. She stumbled to the kitchen to get away from her mother.

But Betty followed her. “Aren’t you a bit young to be a CFO? And Hannah is just a child too.”

Lex placed both hands on the kitchen counter to steady herself. “First, I couldn’t possibly get a job. Now, you’re saying I’m not good enough for the job I do have?” she growled.

Betty stepped around the counter. “I’m just surprised.“

Lex threw her mother the most poisonous glare she could muster. Betty calmly adjusted her wrap dress. The glitter in the fabric was anything but subtle. “We’ll see what your father says about it.”

Lex slammed both of her hands onto the counter. “God, is there anything you don’t need his approval of?!”

Her mother’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” she asked.

“Why can’t you just be happy for me?” Lex pleaded, shaking her head. “We both know it doesn’t matter what I do or where I work, it’ll never be enough for him. But why can’t *you* support me?”

“Lexie,” her mother replied way too smoothly, “We just want what’s best for you…”

Lex interrupted her. “Stop pretending like there’s a ‘we’! It’s all him! And you follow him around like some brainless puppet!” she yelled.

Betty’s face hardened. “You’re clearly not well,” she snapped. “Let’s have this conversation again when…”

The doorbell rang before she could finish her sentence. Lex turned in the direction of the hallway. She bit back the tears in her eyes.

“I’ll get it,” her mother said and hurried out of the kitchen.

Lex clenched her teeth. “Fuck,” she thought, “What the hell am I doing?”

“Lexie,” Betty yelled. “You have another visitor.”

Lex spread her fingers on the cold surface of the counter. She found it hard to focus. Who could be at the door? Maybe someone from maintenance?

“Who is it?” she shouted. The taste of bile filled her mouth.

She heard her mother’s voice, addressing the visitor in a not so friendly manner.

“Fuck,” Lex muttered and made her way to the hallway as fast as she could. She didn’t want her mother bitching at any of the building’s staff.

When she finally made it to the door, she immediately picked up on a very familiar voice. A beautiful, gentle voice. Lex stuck her head out, nearly bumping into her mother.

“Mary?!” she blurted out in surprise.