My Baby’s Gone, Chapter 13

Whitney stood in front of her mirror, looking at her dress.

“ You seemed to be dressing up for someone special. You’ve moved on from Chad?”, Simone asked.

“ Simone..”

“ Whitney. We have to be able to talk. The therapist said so.”

Whitney thought about it. She sat down on her bed. “ Yes, I’m going to the Formal, and Fox is my date.”

” Do you like him?”

” I think he’s a good guy.”

” Better than Chad?”

” Simone, I’m not in the mood. I’m just trying to take it one day at a time. “

“ I understand. “

” Do you?”

” Yeah. Just listening to you in therapy really has helped me.”

“ It has?”

” Whitney, being shot is being shot! “

“ So, Daddy says.”

They both laugh.

” Daddy is, um…intense.”, Simone offered.

“ But, he loves us. You want to know the worst part of the entire L.A. trip?”

Simone shook her head.

“ I had been shot. I had failed. Everything Daddy warned me about had come true before my eyes. And, still I didn’t feel like I could call them. I was too embarrassed.”

” So, let me look at you. “ Whitney models for Simone. “ Well, if you’re not after Fox Crane, you’re putting on a good act. “

“ Yes yes yes.”

There was a knock on the door. TC opened the door. “ Princess, Fox is downstairs waiting for you. I didn’t know you were going out with a Crane.”

Simone held Whitney’s hand. “ Daddy, Whitney’s date is waiting. “

Fox and Whitney walked outside to a waiting limo.

” I need your help.”

” What is the project?”

” It’s better for you if you don’t know. “

” Fox..”

” Whitney, I need someone that I can trust. If you don’t want to do it, that’s ok, but you have to not let on if anyone comes to you with questions. Just act like we never had this conversation.”

Whitney looked at Fox. She had been raised on truth and honesty. She’d thought Chad was honest, but that was a disaster. Fox was being upfront about needing to have secrets. But, there was something in his eyes. She knew it was something secret, but she also knew that it wasn’t something illegal. Not something rotten.

“ Ok, Fox. I’ll be your alibi.”

Fox grinned. “ Thank you, Whitney.” Fox clinked his glass with hers. “ Now, let’s enjoy the night.”

“ Julian.”

“ How are you?”

” Fine. What do you want?”

” How are your plans for Sheridan coming?”

“ Why? You want to report them back to Alistair?”

” Luis, I told you. I’m not working with my father.”

” Yeah.”

“ Luis, you don’t have to believe me. But, understand this. Whatever you’re planning with regards to Sheridan, please know that my father means business. He will try and destroy you.”

” So, why don’t you help me, Julian?”

Luis couldn’t believe it came out of his mouth anymore than Julian could believe he said it.

“ Forget about it. I don’t know what I was talking about.”

” You were asking for help. I want to help you, Luis. But, you don’t trust me, and I understand that. I’m going to ask you one question – Why did you remotely trust Alistair when he said that your baby with Sheridan had died?”

Luis stared as Julian walked away.