Fee For Doing What? [Fiction]

Ivy Kent-West leaned back in her swivel chair, legs crossed in confidence, watching the estate agent and her lawyer leave the conference room. No more raised voices and threats. The mediation was in her favour. For a second, she almost burst out laughing but held it in.

The smug smile on her face slipped when her eyes met the mediator's. He was an old friend of her mother's. He didn't look pleased with the decision but it was the only sensible outcome in the circumstance.

“I should be on my way,” he said, packing up his files into a worn leather bag. “Have a good day, Mrs and Ms Kent-West.”

Ivy nodded as her mother who was also her lawyer stood to shake his hands. They watched him leave the room. Only then did she let her chair spin in a circle, the tension easing from her shoulders.

Her mother slapped an invoice on the table in front of her. Ivy stilled the chair, squinted at the paper and gazed up in surprise. “Fee for doing what?” She asked in disbelief, just like an entitled person would, her lips curled in distaste.

Mrs Tia Kent-West adjusted her handbag staring Ivy down. “For my services, of course. Did you think my time here was free?” Her voice was calm, her eyes narrowed. “I warned you to do your due diligence before paying for that house. Did you listen? No.”

Ivy was on her feet, her earlier confidence draining away. “Mama.”

“You are not a child anymore,” Tia said, her hand already on the door handle. “Whenever you need my services, you'll pay for them.”

The door clicked shut and Ivy's shoulders slumped. She stared at the invoice and the room felt colder. When did she stop being a daughter and become just another client?

I hope you enjoyed reading this short piece. It's inspired by the Freewrite #dailyprompt phrase "fee for doing what?".

Thank you for visiting my blog.

^{_{Image credit: Mohamed_Hassan}}