Chapter 22 - Alex

Alex felt nauseous and went straight to her bedroom when she got inside. She didn't bother to change out of her outfit or take off her makeup. She just wanted to lay in bed, alone, for the rest of the day.

I have no idea who my mother is, she mumbled to herself.

When she called the producers to pull out of Hollywood Tonight, they confirmed Pamila did call the meeting to have Alex take Zee's place. This news crushed Alex. Between the secret meeting at the studio, telling Jordan off and lying to Damien, Alex felt like there was no way she could ever trust her mother again.

Pamila Montgomery was the only parent Alex had left. When Alex's father died, her mother was there to comfort her. When her stepfather left them, Pamila stood up for Alex's dreams. No matter how many times they had to move from house to town home; then from to apartment to people's couches, Pamila made sure Alex had a safe place to rest and a hot meal to eat. How could the one constant in her life now be the person she should trust the least?

Alex sat up and picked up her phone.

[Text from Alex to Mom] Please come over. I need to speak with you. It's urgent.

[Text from Mom to Alex] OK. I'll be over shortly.

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Alex watched as Pamila put her purse and keys down on the coffee table then fiddled with the end of her skirt.

"What's going, Mom?"

"Well, a lot has been happening, apparently. The studio let me know that you would no longer be doing Hollywood Tonight. Of course, I'm extremely disappointed, but I can't say I'm surprised."

Alex was confused. She'd told Ms. Wong not to tell her mother that she asked to be removed from the show. "Why are you not surprised?" She asked.

"I had a difficult conversation with Mr. Harmin, the other day, and I anticipated there'd be some type of retaliation."

"What?! Retaliation, for what?" If her mother had done something to cause friction with the studio, she should have made Alex aware immediately.

"He called when the Damien scandal broke and words were exchanged. I wouldn't be concerned about anything else happening. I think they'll be quite happy with the turn of events. I must say I'm quite impressed at how you handled that situation. I didn't know you had it in you."

"Had what in me?"

"The Damien situation. For Christ's sake you had lunch at Sand Dunes...on the patio! You obviously wanted to be seen, it was genius." Pamila smiled, "You had me nervous for a moment with Jordan, but I should have trusted you.  You were thinking three steps ahead. It's smart to keep him around, for a bit; he's very useful. You might as well take advantage, while you have his eye. Very strategic."

Alex was confused. Did her mother think Alex was leading Jordan on to manipulate the press?

"Take advantage while I have his eye? He doesn't think I'm some fling. And I'm not using him either. Jordan and I are together. We're in love."

Pamila scoffed as if Alex just made the most ridiculous statement she'd ever heard.

"Alexandra, don't be stupid. You're young, beautiful, and you're not easy. Men like Jordan don't love women; they love a challenge. Jordan doesn't love you, honey, trust me."

Pamila sat back and crossed her legs. "Johnathan was the same way, you remember! Handsome, big-shot CEO, who was falling all over me. But once things stopped being about him, he wanted a divorce. I don't want that for you, honey!"

Alex took a breath to calm her nerves, but still found herself beginning to shout, "Just because Johnathan was like that doesn't mean Jordan is the same way, mom! He's not going to be jealous of me or my career. He doesn't make things all about him. You're so busy projecting that you won't even give him a chance!"

"I don't need to give him a chance, Alexandra, this is Hollywood! Trisha Garcia, Jennifer Smith, Cassandra Scott -- Jordan runs through them like water!" Pamila stood up and picked up her purse and keys.

"Love is about sacrifice. Your father loved you. I love you. Jordan's not going to sacrifice for you. He didn't sacrifice for them. All of those girls are on 'Where Are They Now' lists, but if you want to add your name to those lists, I can't stop you."

Pamila stared at Alex with a disdain that Alex had never seen in her mother's before. Pamila then turned towards the entrance and walked out of the apartment.