He Hurt Me, Now He Wants Me Back novel Chapter 4

THREE YEARS LATER….

Imogene Scott

“Your gallery’s grand opening is tomorrow night and you’re telling me you fired Lily’s nanny?” Elinor’s voice is sharp on the other end of the line.

I grunt and place my phone on speaker, then put it on the kitchen’s counter. Shit! Shit! Shit! I wouldn’t have fired Mei Mei if she hadn’t been so careless with Lily. How could she leave a two years old toddler alone in a tub while on call with her boyfriend?

“Mei Mei was bad news.” I curse under my breath as I walk across the room. Then I pick Lily up from the only couch in the empty living room and place her into her scroller.

The couch is the only thing I will be leaving behind in my high rent two-bedroom apartment in West Virginia. I’m moving back to LA for the grand opening of my second art gallery.

“Plus, I was going to fire Mei Mei anyways. I can’t have her move back to LA with me, can I? She has her life here.” I add.

By ‘her life’, I mean her boyfriend. How I wish she knows how unreliable men can be.

There’s a long pause at the other end of the line, and it gives me time to rush into my room to grab the only suitcase remaining in the apartment. All my luggages have already been moved to my new apartment in LA a few days ago. But I had to wait behind because I needed to oversee some things before leaving.

As soon as I walk back into the empty living room, Elinor’s voice echoes through the room again.

“I’m glad you’re finally returning to Los Angeles. But you’ve been staying in West Virginia for three years now. Away from ‘you know who’ and everyone that might ever try to hurt you or Lily. Are you sure you’re going to be fine?”

My lips curl into a smile. Elinor and I always refer to Damien Shaw as ‘you know who’. No one’s ever allowed to mention his name. Mostly because of Lily who can easily pick up people’s names when mentioned.

“I’m over the past, Eli. Right now, my only focus is on Lily and my goals.” I reiterate.

“Are you sure?”

I know Elinor is only trying to look out for Lily and I. She’s been doing that for the past three years like she’s my real family. She’d helped me move far away from ‘you know who’ when I was at my lowest.

She had even encouraged me to reopen my art gallery here in West Virginia and it became a success. She and Lily are the only reason I made it this far.

“I know you’re worried about Lily and I. You’re worried ‘you know who’ might come back into our lives. But Los Angeles is a big city with millions of people. There’s zero percent chance I might cross path with him.”

A beat of silence. “Are you sure about this, Imogene?”

“I’ve never been so sure of something in my life.” I trail off. “I really gotta go now or I’ll miss my flight.”

I don’t wait for Elinor’s response before ending the call. I toss my phone into my purse, then swing it around my shoulder. With one hand, I grab my suitcase while I use my other hand to push Lily’s scroller.

A cab is already waiting outside. The driver helps onload my stuff into the truck, and I sit in the back seat, placing Lily firmly on my lap.

As the car drives closer to the airport, my feet suddenly feels cold so I let my mind wonder. Is returning to LA the best thing to do? Maybe not but I need to face my fears in order to expand. LA is the hottest spot right now for art and I’m not going to miss this chance just because I’m scared the city might open some old wounds.

I’m stronger now. Any woman will become stronger if she had to raise a child like Lily on her own. It hasn’t been easy for me, in between proving myself as an artist, organizing art auctions, finding the undiscovered talented artist, and making a name for myself.

But my hard work over the years has paid off and I’m now opening my second art gallery which is definitely going to be a success because a possible investor will be present at the grand opening. I can really use the opportunity for expansion.