He looked at Tessa first–checking if she was wet–before frowning at me.
‘Mom what are you doing here? What’s going on?”
I looked at him
This was the trash male lead Spencer Holt.
The man who’d been torturing my best friend.
Margaret’s son.
Before I could answer, Tessa ran to him, her face all wounded.
“Mr. Holt, Madam insists on taking Lauren away. I tried to explain, but she said… she said it wasn’t my call.”
Spercer patted her hand gently, then turned to me with an edge in his voice.
“Mom, Tessa works for me. Cut her some slack.”
The site inspection was my idea, not Tessa’s.”
“I wanted Lauren to get some real experience. It’ll help her when she moves into management.”
I looked down at Lauren in my arms.
Her cheeks were flushed with fever. She was barely conscious. She could hardly stand.
“Experience?”
“She has a fever. She’s standing in the rain at an abandoned site. That’s not experience. That’s abuse
Spencer’s expression didn’t change.
“Mom you and Dad started from nothing You worked way harder than this
“If she’s going to be a Holt she needs to handle it‘
“Getting a fever from a little rain just means she’s soft. No toughness at all‘
He glanced at Tessa with this dopey doting look
‘Not like Tessy She grew up in foster care she’s been through real hardship: This wouldn’t even taze het
Tessa shook her head pretending to be modest
Chapter 2
‘Mr. Holt you’re too kind I’m just used to it‘
I almost laughed.
“Spencer, your father and I worked hard because we were broke. We didn’t have a choice
“But now? The Holts don’t need anything. We don’t need our future daughter–in–law standing in the rain with a fever
“That’s not building character. That’s degrading her.”
Spencer’s face darkened.
“Mom!”
I smiled. Then I turned to Tessa.
“Since you’re so proud of being tough, Tessa…”
“How about you take over Lauren’s assignment?”
Tessa’s eyes went wide.
“Riverbend Development. Eight hours a day. Thirty days a month. Rain or shine.”
“Let’s see what real toughness looks like.”
Tessa’s face went white.
Spencer frowned. ‘Mom, Tessa’s a girl. How’s she supposed to work a construction site every day”
I laughed. ‘Oh, so you do know construction sites are hard on women?”
‘Lauren’s not a woman?”
His mouth opened Nothing came out.
Tessa bit her lip eyes watering
‘Mr Holt does Madan not like me?
Spencer waved his hand annoyed
“Whatever Just get Lauren to the hospital‘
“If she actually gets sick, that’s even more of a headache
‘Mom. I’m leaving I’ve got contracts to review Tessa come with me
Chapter 2
He turned and walked out.
Tessa followed right behind him and climbed into the back of the Maybach.
I got Lauren to the nearest hospital.
Rain splashed under the wheels. I looked down at Lauren, passed out in my arms.
Hold on, girl.
I’ve got this now.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
