"I just fired Houton." I announced. Stunned silence met my remark. My foster mother, Heather, raised an eyebrow. We were on the way up to the TV room to fetch Jamie.
Heather Browning frowned. "It's not wise to put your managers on your enemy list, Kristen."
"He flogs us to death. We've worked constantly, over and over for hours with no break on the same track. On weekends, throughout the week. Tell me that's not flogging." I snapped.
"It's not." Heather said calmly. "It's called working."
"Right." I shot back. "So, ever since you joined that hotshot law firm, you've been the goddess of work, huh, Heather?"
"I make more money!" Heather yelled.
"You have about $12 million in the bank, and you're saying that you don't have enough money?!"
"..." she was silent. "I'm not allowed to touch your money. The girls had named your father as the caretaker of your money until you're 18." Heather told me.
"So, Drake is caretaker?" I asked, not following.
"Yes."
"What has that got to do with your being exec at J. J. and R.?"
"I'm..." she sighed. "We're getting divorced."
I sat down on a bench, hard. "Nah." I denied.
"We've been official separated for 5 months, you know." Heather told me.
"But..."
"We live in the same house? I know. We're still separated as long as we are independent of each other." came the reply.
"So, lemme guess. You need to make your own income for when you are eventually divorced. What about Jess? Jamie?!" I cried.
"I want to take Jess, and Drake wants Jamie." Heather said.
"But you can't separate them!" I yelled.
"Stop yelling." Heather winced.
"I'll continue to yell until you spell it all out for me!" I hollered. "It's not fair the separate the two people who have been there for one another literally their whole lives! They depend upon the other being there for them!"
"They're my daughters..." Heather came back weakly.
"I know! Jamie is your daughter, but you're going to fight only for Jessica?!" I threw my hands up. "I don't and never have understood you, Heather."
"Same." Heather glared back. "Drake won't let me have Jamie. End of story."
"Well, no shit!" I spat. "You've avoided the girl ever since she's made more money than you ever dreamed of!" I stopped as my cheek stung.
Heather stood, glaring.
Cupping my cheek, I said softly: "You're lucky I don't hit little girls or I'd slap back. It doesn't mean I respect you."
Heather glared a moment more, and spun on her heel, her stilleto heels sharp on the floor.