Chance Encounters

by Jessica Prince

  “Melany? Mel! What’s going on?”

  I put my cell back to my ear, my hands suddenly trembling. “Ch-Chance,” my voice broke.

  “Sweetheart, talk to me. What’s happening?”

  “It’s… it’s my m-mom. She’s downstairs causing a scene.”

  “Son of a bitch!” he snapped through the line. “I’ll be right there, baby.”

  My voice was weak and broken as I begged him, “Hurry.”

  “I’m coming, I promise. But you don’t go down there yet. I’m calling Collin.”

  “No! No, please. Don’t bring him into this. It’s humiliating enough—”

  “This is not on you,” he said in a firm, hard tone. “You hear me? You have nothing to be embarrassed of. The only one who should be embarrassed is your bitch of a mother. Now, I’m calling Collin because there’s no fucking way you’re going down there by yourself. You understand? Now, I have to go. Do not go down to that lobby without Collin. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  He hung up before I could get a word in edgewise. I stared at the tiny clock on my computer screen, silently counting down the time until Collin’s office door swung open. It had only taken one minute for Chance to pull in reinforcements.

  “You okay?” Collin asked, stopping at my desk, his face a mask of worry… on my behalf. See? He was such a great boss.

  “No,” I croaked, trying my best not to cry. “I’m really not. My mom is… well… she’s terrible, and she’s at my place of business causing a scene so bad they’ve called the cops. I think it’s safe to assume I am not okay.”

  Reaching for my hand, he pulled me from my chair and began leading me down the hall toward the elevators. “Well, Chance is on his way, and until he gets here, I’ve got your back. There isn’t a single thing for you to worry about, okay?”

  That was easy for him to say; he hadn’t met my mother. There were people standing around Sam’s desk as Collin and I hit Reception. From the looks on their faces, they already knew what was going on forty floors below. I wouldn’t have been surprised if some of them had witnessed it. The combinations of pity and empathy mingled on my coworkers’ faces only caused my anxiety to worsen.

  The elevator ride to the lobby felt like I was making my descent into the pits of Hell. As soon as the doors opened, I could hear her.

  “Don’t you touch me! Take your hands off me, you asshole!”

  Oh, God. She was drunk. It was eleven o’clock on a Thursday morning, and she was already wasted.

  I charged out of the elevator, past Collin, wanting to get to her and put a stop to this before she caused any more damage. “Mom—”

  Her head spun around, her over-processed, damaged hair looked like it hadn’t been washed in at least a week and had a good two inches of dark roots. Her caked-on makeup looked like it had been applied yesterday, pre-drunken bender, and she’d simply slapped more on top of it this morning before leaving the house. The worst part of all was that she hadn’t bothered to change out of her housedress. Luckily it covered most everything, but it didn’t hide the fact that she wasn’t wearing a bra beneath, and it was the kind of housedress that could not, in any way, be mistaken for anything other than sleepwear. That’s right, folks, my mother was standing in the lobby of my work, drunk, making a scene, and in her freaking pajamas! She looked rough… and furious.

  “There you are, you little bitch!”

  She charged, but Collin was right there, pulling me behind him and standing tall and strong between my mother and me. The security guard closest to my mother tagged her around her waist before she could reach me. “Get your fucking hands off me, pig! I’m here to see my daughter!”

  “I’ve already asked you once to lower your voice,” the guard warned. “Don’t make me ask you again.”

  “Mom, please. Just stop.” I couldn’t control the shakiness of my voice as I stepped around Collin, but made sure to stay close to his side. “Please. Let’s just go somewhere and talk.” We had already drawn a large enough crowd, I didn’t want this nightmare to gain an even bigger audience.

  “Fuck you!” she shouted at me, her angry words coupled with my own humiliation causing my face to burn red. “This is all your fault, you selfish, spoiled little bitch!”

  “What the hell is going on here?” At the sound of Chance’s booming, angry voice, my entire body drooped. He’d come, just like he promised. And I knew right then and there that he’d take care of me.

  “Oh, this is just great!” my mother cackled loudly, as Chance made his way to me, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling my front into his side. It wasn’t until I was engulfed in the safety of his embrace that I realized Devon had arrived with him. “Of course you called in your guard dog to take care of things for you. I shouldn’t be surprised. You’ve always been too weak and pathetic to take care of anything yourself.”

  I’m not going to cry. I’m not going to cry, I chanted in my head, but it didn’t do any good. The burning tears broke free from my eyelids and slipped down my cheeks.

  “Don’t you say another goddamned word,” Chance warned on a ferocious growl. “I’ll warn you, you’re in enough trouble as it is. Make it easier on yourself and keep your fucking mouth shut until the police arrive.”

  “Don’t you dare tell me what to do! I came to speak to Melany, and I’m not leaving until I do!”

  “You aren’t speaking to her,” Chance barked. “You’re yelling hateful, spiteful words and making a scene. If you wanted to talk to her, you should have shown her the respect that she’s due and called to schedule an appointment. You didn’t do that. You purposefully showed up without warning in the hopes of blindsiding her. You made a scene at her place of employment and let your true colors shine through so that security had no choice but to call the cops and have your ass carted away. I warned you once already that you weren’t to reach out to her, that you were to wait until she made contact, but you didn’t heed that warning. Now you’ll suffer the consequences for it.

  “What you won’t do is speak another word to Melany. You won’t even so much as look at her, and once the police get here, I’ll be pulling in every single favor I can to make sure you’re slapped with the steepest fine possible, and if I can guarantee jail time be tacked onto that, you bet your ass I’ll see to that as well. I told you not to cause her any more undue stress. You didn’t listen, now I’ll make sure you pay for it.”

  Mom’s face blanched an unnatural shade of white. “The bank’s taking my house!”

  At that, my body locked up. I didn’t like my mother, that was obvious. She’d made my life miserable and done everything in her power to make me feel worthless and unloved. I hated living with her, and it was only during these past few months with Chance that I’d realized just how amazing my life could really be. I never wanted to see her again. But… that being said, she was still my mother, and the thought of her losing her house racked me with guilt so acute it took my breath away.

  “They’ve foreclosed since I haven’t been able to pay. And it’s all her fault! If she hadn’t left—”

  “She left because you’re an abusive, manipulative cow,” Chance shot back. “And it wasn’t her responsibility to pay your bills. You’re an adult, her mother, for Christ’s sake. If you’re in this position, it’s no one’s fault but your own. You’re an able-bodied woman who is more than capable of working to earn a living. You just choose to be lazy. You’ve had Melany paying your way for so long, you’ve come to expect it. Well, that gravy train is gone. You should’ve gotten your shit together and picked up the pieces of your own miserable life. You chose not to do that. Again, you’re suffering the consequences of your own actions. That fault doesn’t rest on Melany’s shoulders.”

  “But where am I supposed to go?” she yelled, throwing her arms out.

  “That’s not my problem, and it certainly isn’t hers.”

  I watched as her face twisted in rage. She hadn’t heard a word Chance had just said. The police finally
arrived moments later and were left with no choice but to arrest my mother when she continued to act like a fool and refused to leave. She was struggling, still screaming obscenities as the officers wrestled her through the lobby.

  Chance released his hold on me, but only in order to turn my body to his, cup my cheeks, and lift my face. “Hey. You okay, sweetheart?” he asked on a whisper.

  “N-no.” My voice broke. “She’s r-right. This is… this is my fault. If I hadn’t left—”

  “This is not your fault,” he bit out.

  I clenched my eyes closed and shook my head. Deep down, I knew he was right. My mother had reaped what she’d sown. But still… “She’s my mother, Chance. I might not like the person she is, I might never want her in my life, but she’s still my mother. I can’t stand the thought of her being homeless. I just can’t!”

  The more the guilt ate at me, the more hysterical I started to feel, until I was clutching the lapels of Chance’s suit jacket in a death grip.

  “Okay, honey. Okay. Just calm down. I’ll take care of it, all right? But I need you to tell me you understand. What happened today is not on you. Tell me you get that.”

  “I do.” I nodded, my eyes on his light blue button-down. “I know I can’t control her actions. But that doesn’t make me feel better that she could possibly end up on the streets.”

  His fingers under my chin forced my head to tip up. “Do you trust me?”

  “Of course.”

  “So when I tell you I’ll fix this and that you don’t need to spend another second worrying about this, you’ll believe me?”

  “Chance, it’s not your job—”

  “Yes or no, Melany?” he demanded.

  There wasn’t a single doubt in my mind. “Y-yes. I believe you.”

  “Okay. I’ll be right back, and when I return, I’m taking you to lunch.”

  “But—”

  Collin spoke up, and until then, I’d forgotten anyone else was there. “That sounds like a great idea. Devon and I will join you.”

  Chance nodded at Collin and looked back at me. “That’s done. Now let me take care of this.”

  He placed a gentle kiss on my forehead before turning and heading toward where the police had just led my mother off. And as I watched him go, I lost another large piece of my heart to him.

  Chapter 24

  Chance

  DEVON WAS GIVING me a funny look as I made my way back over to them. Luckily, she was too busy fussing over Melany to start her interrogation.

  “All good?” Collin asked when I closed in on our little group.

  “Yeah. All good.” I turned my eyes to Melany and relayed what was going to happen. “They’re booking her on drunk and disorderly.” Her face dropped and the guilt that tore at my gut washed back over her face. Unable, or more than unwilling, to keep my distance, I pulled her into my arms and held on as I continued. “They have no choice, sweetheart. If she hadn’t resisted, it would be one thing, but she took a swing at one of the officers. They could have charged her with much worse for that alone, but I talked them down. We’ll go to lunch, and after, I’ll head to the station. I have a few connections I can call in, so I’ll get this all fixed. But from this point on, you don’t worry about a thing. You said you trusted me to handle it, right?”

  “Y-yes,” she replied on a whisper, and I fucking hated her mother for bringing that stutter back to Melany’s voice.

  “Can I just ask,” Collin cut in and looked at his fiancée, “I get why Chance is here, but can you explain why you’re with him?”

  Devon grinned up at him sheepishly. “I saw Chance rushing out of his office. When he told me it was about Melany, I thought I could help, so I came with him. Oh, and you might need to call your cousin and make sure I still have a job after this. I kind of took off without saying anything.”

  Melany’s body began to shake in my arms. I turned away from Collin just as his eyes rolled toward the ceiling, seeking patience, to find Melany laughing at Devon. She tipped her head up, and the way her eyes glistened with laughter lightened some of the weight that had been sitting on my chest.

  “Okay, let’s go eat.”

  “I’m… I’m n-not sure I can eat anything right now. I kind of lost my appetite after all this.”

  I gave her a knowing grin. “You’ll change your mind when we get to Mahoney’s.” I watched as that bit of information worked to perk her up, just as I’d known it would.

  And just like that, she gave in. “Okay.”

  IF YOU’D TOLD me six months ago I’d somehow be pulled into the Locklaine inner sanctum, I would have laughed my ass off, especially after making moves on and subsequently being shot down by both Pepper and Devon. But there I was, on a Saturday night, playing poker at Richard Locklaine’s apartment, surrounded by Griffin, Collin, and their other cousin Rowan, while Melany and the rest of the girls—along with Tomas—were next door at Collin’s having a girls’ night in. I’d decided to be her and Constance’s designated driver when I found out they were all getting together at Devon’s. I’d make sure Constance got home safe, and hopefully reap the benefits of an inebriated Melany once we got back home.

  The blaring music coming from next door was a huge distraction. “Jesus Christ. How thin are the walls in this building?” I asked, flipping one of my chips.

  Everyone around the table chuckled as cards were passed out. “Man, don’t ask,” Richard said. “As soon as I can convince Delilah to surgically separate from Devon, we’re moving somewhere with cinderblock walls. The shit I’ve had to listen to coming from next door is disturbing.”

  I laughed, taking in Collin’s pleased-as-shit smirk. “So,” Collin started as I studied the cards in my hands, “how’s Melany doing?”

  “What do you mean?” I asked, throwing my chips into the center of the table.

  “I just mean that whole thing with her mom last week. She seems okay at work, but I was curious how she was with you.”

  I downed the last of my beer and set the bottle back on the felt-lined table before answering. “She’s good. A little tense for a few days after, but I think she’s finally managed to put it behind her and move on.”

  Collin leaned down and retrieved a fresh beer for me from the cooler that was set up near the table. These guys were serious about their poker. Once we sat, there was no getting up, hence the stocked cooler on the floor.

  The rest of the guys made their bets, and Griffin dealt the next card as Collin said, “I’m glad. She deserves some good in her life. Happy you were able to take care of that for her.”

  That was an understatement. The more I got to know Melany, the more I realized she didn’t only deserve some good. She deserved it all. And I was bound and determined to be the one to give that to her. “You and me both,” I replied to Collin, thankful Mel had a boss who looked out for her. It was nice to know there was someone who had her back during those times I couldn’t be there for her.

  “You know, I’ve been meaning to ask,” he continued. “How’d you get all that shit with her mom taken care of anyway?”

  Just recalling the conversation I’d had with that piece of trash woman set my teeth on edge. She was one of the most vile people I’d ever met, and how she’d managed to raise someone as amazing as Melany was something I’d probably never be able to wrap my head around. It went to prove how strong Melany really was, that she didn’t let her mother’s poisonous venom contaminate all the beauty that was her.

  “It’s amazing what money can buy you,” I answered, unable to mask the bitterness that laced my words.

  “What do you mean?” Griffin asked, one eyebrow cocked up in curiosity.

  “I mean the woman is a fucking bitch. All it took was me paying her fine and writing a nice fat check to get her to agree to stay the hell away from her daughter.”

  “You paid her off?” Rowan asked in bewilderment.

  “Got her house out of foreclosure and gave her enough to get by for a good long while. After that,
it’s on her to take care of herself.”

  Collin choked on his beer and, once he managed to get it down, he asked, “Jesus, man. How much that set you back?”

  “It was worth it.” I gave the table an answering shrug. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat. That woman has made Melany’s entire life miserable. You said it yourself, she deserves good in her life. She deserves to have peace, once and for all. If money’s the only way I can give that to her, then I’d sell a kidney on the black market to make that happen.”

  “Holy shit.” Collin let out a loud bark of laughter. “You’re totally fucking gone for that girl.”

  My back shot straight as I turned my full attention to him. “What?”

  “You are,” he said with a shit-eating grin. “I suspected it when you first called and asked me to take her back with her mom before you got there. Then I saw it again at lunch.”

  “Why do you say that?” I questioned, trying to play it cool.

  “Please,” he scoffed. “Watching you two at Mahoney’s was like watching an old married couple. Any time I try to eat off Devon’s plate, she threatens to stab me with her fork, but you guys acted like it was second nature.”

  I knew exactly what he was talking about. The second the server set our meal in front of us, Melany scooted her plate toward me so I could get the pickles she didn’t want off her burger. I ordered onion rings and she ordered fries so that we could split them. It was second nature. I hadn’t even realized we did it until Collin pointed it out.

  “Yeah, I’m gone for her,” I finally admitted. “But keep your mouth shut about it. You know how anxious Melany gets. I have to take it slow, play the long game.”

  He nodded in understanding and took a swig from his bottle. “Yeah, I can see that.” I breathed a sigh of relief once I knew he wouldn’t start spreading gossip. Unfortunately, that relief went up in flames with what he said next. “Just don’t take too long, brother. Logan’s been sniffing around her desk for a couple weeks now. If I were you, I’d get that flag planted, and fast.”