Chapter 3
Maxine was wearing the white dress I'd fallen for at that couture show. Louie vetoed it and said it didn't fit my style.
She was carrying a thermos, looking all sweet and harmless.
"Hazel, I heard your father is here. Louie specifically asked me to bring over some breakfast," Maxine said.
She walked right past me and headed straight for the master bedroom.
Elliot was sprawled out on the bed, wearing my silk robe, snoring so loud it could wake the dead.
When he saw Maxine walk in, he sat up in a flash, his eyes glued to her chest.
"Whoa, who's this angel?" Elliot said.
Maxine didn't seem bothered at all. She walked over with a sweet, flirty smile and set the thermos down on the nightstand.
"Hello, Mr. Harmon. I'm a friend of Louie's, and also Hazel's bestie," Maxine said.
She deliberately stressed the words "bestie," then shot me a provocative look over her shoulder.
Maxine said, "Louie said Hazel can be a bit temperamental, so he was worried she might not take good care of you.
"That's why he sent me over to see if you need anything."
When Elliot heard Louie had sent her, his face lit up like a flower in full bloom.
"Yeah, I need someone who really knows how to pamper me," Elliot grinned.
He reached out to grab Maxine's hand, but she dodged him without missing a beat and slid onto the edge of the bed.
"Mr. Harmon, you're hilarious. Louie said you're welcome to stay as long as you want," Maxine said.
She turned to shoot me a dark look as I stood in the doorway.
Maxine said, "Seriously, Hazel, your dad came all this way, and you didn't even bother to get him a glass of water.
"If someone walked in, they'd think you didn't want him here with how messy this place is."
She really flipped the script and took charge. She was a pro at playing this trick.
I stood there, watching her put on her little show with a cold stare.
"Maxine, this is my house. Get out," I said, my voice icy.
Maxine covered her mouth, pretending to be shocked.
She said, laying it on thick, "Hazel, why are you so angry? I'm trying to be nice.
"And..."
She stood up, walked right up to me, and lowered her voice so only I could hear.
She said, "This place is under Louie's name. I can come and go whenever I want.
"But you, Hazel, what do you have left now besides that so-called Best Actress crown? It's just an empty title.
"Your dad's a gambling addict, your adoptive father's a total loser, and even your fiancé..."
She let out a soft laugh, her fingers brushing over my collarbone.
She said, "Louie spent last night at my place.
"He said you were dead in bed. There was no spark at all."
My gut twisted in knots.
I realized what was going on.
While Louie was threatening me with the text last night, he was lying in her bed the whole time.
"Finished?" I said.
I stared at her, expressionless.
"If you're done, take your crap and get out," I said coldly.
Maxine's smile froze, then twisted into a nasty sneer.
She sneered, "Hazel, drop the innocent act. Louie already pulled the plug on all your jobs.
"The company released a statement. You're off work for health reasons.
"Now you're a useless has-been, totally benched and forgotten!"
She shoved me hard.
I stumbled back, hitting the doorframe.
Elliot clapped his hands from the bed, cheering her on.
"That's what she deserves. This girl totally had it coming. You are Maxine, right? You should drop by more often!" he shouted.
I looked around at this room full of monsters.
One was my so-called bestie, desperate to hook up with my fiancé, and the other was my biological father, who wanted to bleed me dry.
There was also Louie, who was a jerk pulling all the strings from the shadows.
My phone buzzed.
It was the hospital calling.
"Ms. Harmon, it's time to pay for your father's dialysis, plus the outstanding hospital fees. The total comes to 20000 dollars.
"If you don't pay by today, we'll have to stop his treatment."
I hung up and looked at Maxine's smug face.
"Maxine, go back and tell Louie," I said.
I took a deep breath, my nails digging into my palms.
I said, "I'll be at the charity gala tonight.
"Make sure he's got the check ready."
Maxine shot me a contemptuous look.
"See? If you'd done what you were told, you wouldn't have had to embarrass yourself. Always gotta act pathetic," she sneered.
She strutted out, hips swinging like a triumphant hen showing off her victory.
Elliot jumped off the bed, whistled after her, then turned to me and held out his hand.
"You heard her. 20000 dollars. Hand it over," he demanded.
"That's for Travis's treatment!" I snapped.
"Treatment? Why bother? That cripple's gonna kick the bucket sooner or later. Don't waste your cash. Give it to me. I'll gamble it, and we'll split the winnings!" Elliot sneered.
He went straight for my bag, trying to grab it out of my hands.
I held onto my bag as tight as I could, but Elliot slammed his foot into my stomach.
The pain hit so hard that I curled up on the floor like a shrimp, barely able to breathe.
He snatched my bag away.