The Tattered Bride

by Peri Elizabeth Scott

  What had happened? She knew working for his father made Logan insane on many occasions, and the senior Doherty wasn’t a nice man—to anyone. But he was powerful and wealthy. Very business savvy. Why had Logan done it? And how?

  Scrolling, she read nothing that gave her further insight, only basic information about the takeover. There were more pictures of Logan, new captions titling him the New King of Doherty Holdings. Her finger paused on the pad, and a cold fist squeezed her insides. The elegant blonde standing at Logan’s shoulder, the one with the adoring look on her striking features, appeared in nearly all the subsequent images. Adrienne Parker.

  Knowing she was twisting the knife, she searched the woman’s name and confirmed she had joined the Doherty firm three months prior to the wedding. The non-wedding. Logan had never mentioned her, despite Adrienne holding the position of his father’s personal assistant. That in itself should tell anyone something. She was tired of speculating, of wondering, and it should be a relief to finally know. She hadn’t been enough for Logan, but it stung like salt in an open wound that another woman had waited in the wings—or had been center stage.

  There was some kind of a weird triangle operating and her imagination ran rampant. Sean Doherty was having an affair with this Adrienne and Logan wanted her. So he cleared the way by calling off the wedding and then had his father voted off the board, obtaining her for himself.

  Sean hated Victoria so hired Adrienne to tempt Logan. It worked. He decided not to marry Victoria, then Sean decided he wanted Adrienne for himself. He and Logan faced off and Logan won. To the winner went the spoils.

  Logan’s womanizing history and his preference for big-titted blondes colored her take, she knew that. He hadn’t looked at anyone else since the date they met if she believed him. And she did. Had. She dropped her face into her hands and tried to clear her head. She had no idea what to believe and wished she hadn’t given into prurient curiosity.

  Regardless, a huge change had taken place at Doherty Holdings, taking its toll on Logan, though his well-being was probably in good hands. Blonde hands. She reminded herself it didn’t matter, because she was no longer remotely involved or interested. Erasing her browser history didn’t change the fact she’d broken her rule of no updates, no cyber stalking, no displaying interest in one Logan Doherty. And now she couldn’t decide if being replaced felt better than him finding her inadequate. Except it was the same thing.

  She cleaned up the tea and set the cup in the sink, moving mechanically as she went through her bedtime routine. Her mother would arrive tomorrow—a welcome distraction—and the day after would take care of itself. She’d taken a step backward, but there was nothing she could do about it, except carry on. And on.

  ****

  Logan wasn’t sure if he had the wherewithal to go out to his car and make the drive home. The past few weeks had been filled with moments of inspiration but primarily gut-wrenching subterfuge. The press conference had been carefully orchestrated, the legalities perfected by none other than Robert Vermette and his firm, and the timing … exquisite. His father had been at his country house for the weekend, and unavailable for comment—unable to mount a viable defense. Nothing like administering his own medicine to give Logan utter satisfaction.

  Keeping up appearances in front of the old man had taken the bulk of his energy, but somehow he’d pulled it off. No word of his attempts to reach out to Victoria had leaked. His father actually patted him on the back on one occasion and congratulated him.

  “You did the right thing, boy. She’d have been a millstone around your neck, what with no real connections. I hear she’s moved away. Best thing for both of you. Time now to consider a woman who’ll be a benefit to your future and that of the company.”

  Funny how he could recall only that side of the conversation, right down to the way the old man’s lips twisted and his eyes gleamed. He must have responded appropriately, because his dad hadn’t put his nefarious plan into action and was still walking around, breathing.

  Dismantling the scheme had been an exercise in extreme skill and caution. It helped that he’d found an ally in Adrienne Parker, his father’s personal assistant. Adrienne had willingly procured anything and everything Logan required, without question. If she thought he was an extension of his father’s will, all the better. As to why she didn’t discuss any of his requests with the old man, well, that was a mystery, but it saved him presenting the carefully crafted reasoning to the old man if he’d asked—and eased the risk that he couldn’t fool him.

  “Logan?” His father’s PA smiled at him from the doorway. He needed to talk to her about her future with the company because she was extremely valuable. But not when he was so worn out. Today had been all about transferring leadership after yesterday’s takeover, the office dead quiet on a Sunday.

  “Hey, Adrienne.”

  “Long day.”

  “It has been. Thanks for coming in. Did you get my father’s office packed up?” His dad wasn’t allowed back in the building—ever.

  “Done, and my pleasure. I arranged to have it couriered to him.” She advanced into the room and set her hand on the back of a chair. The position artfully displayed her curvaceous body, something he absently noted before powering down his laptop.

  “Would you like to get dinner?” She ran a hand through her long, blonde hair.

  “Hmm? Oh, sorry, Adrienne. I was just wondering how I’d get home, let alone go someplace to eat. I’m pretty much worn out.”

  “I’d be happy to pick something up for you and bring it by. Drive you home, if you like.”

  Danger, Will Robinson. He blamed missing the signals on his fatigue, as well as his single-minded focus on saving the business and everyone affected by it, rather than seeing it all collapse. Never mind that there wasn’t anyone else for him but Victoria. In any event, he hadn’t picked up on Adrienne’s interest.

  Miss Parker had been so helpful because she’d read the writing on the wall—clever girl—and bet on the younger horse. Now she was coming to assert her claim and ride the winner.

  Logan wasn’t particularly vain. His mother had seen to that. But women had always come easy and he’d seen no need to turn them down, cutting a wide swathe. Before Victoria.

  “No. But thanks.” He waited and watched, wondering if she was as astute as he believed.

  It took but a few seconds before she nodded, only a slight tightening around her eyes betraying her state of mind. Not like Victoria who wore her feelings openly.

  “Did you call off your wedding because of your plan to take over from your father?”

  He supposed he owed her some sort of explanation. “Something like that.”

  “But you’re not… I mean, are you reconsidering that action?”

  “My next project.”

  “I see.” She arranged her face in a professional smile. “Can we set up a time to meet about my future here?”

  Adrienne either knew when to cut her losses or had only been interested in a brief fling. He didn’t care, either way, but he’d know not to turn his back on her. “I’d already decided on finding a time tomorrow. Your aid didn’t go unnoticed.”

  “I’ll see you then.” She moved gracefully toward the door, still poised and working her tight skirt for all it was worth. Letting him know what he was missing out on. Except his real loss had taken place three weeks, six days and some hours ago, and only one woman could assuage it.

  He’d found out where Victoria had gone. Social media was a wonderful tool when it wasn’t a curse. He’d be in Boston on Wednesday and nothing was going to get in his way, though he wondered if dealing with his father would turn out to be easy by comparison.

  Chapter Five

  “I wish you could stay longer.” Victoria heard herself, whining like a toddler.

  “I’ve been here the two days, Tori. Well, two days if you don’t consider the time you spent on the phone with the office and the emergency trips to address ‘issues’ there.” Her mom
folded another item for her suitcase.

  “I know. But if I screw this up Jon will replace me. In a heartbeat.”

  “And I appreciate that. I didn’t expect you to dedicate all your time to me. I came to visit because I needed to know you were okay.”

  Something in her mother’s tone indicated her hopes hadn’t been realized. “I’m fine, Mom.”

  “You’re a shadow of your former self. You’ve always been driven, but seriously, Tori. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were pregnant with the way you avoid food.”

  Her head spun and she stared blankly at her mother. “I’m not pregnant.” Logan’s baby, someone to lavish all my unrequited love on. She snapped out of it. Not a way to burden a child.

  “I know you’re not.”

  “How do you know?” It was stupid to continue in this vein, but she was curious.

  “I know when you have your periods. I lived with you. So unless you’ve been with someone else since … well, you’re not pregnant.”

  “Oh. Right.” She pretended the conversation wasn’t bothering her. She and Logan planned to have children, but it was a blessing that she wasn’t carrying his child. He’d be forced into her life because of parenthood. And she’d be a shitty mother anyhow.

  “I think you should come home.”

  “What? No. I’m fine.”

  “You need your family to take care of you.”

  “Mom, I’m twenty-eight. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time.”

  “And doing a terrible job of it recently. You’re going to fall prey to some bizarre virus and won’t have the reserves to fight it.”

  There was no dealing with her mother when that woman got such things in her head. “I’ll start. Today.”

  “How?”

  “I’ll have lunch with you before your plane leaves. And I’ll buy more food for here.”

  “You’ll eat?” Margaret’s voice was infused with doubt.

  “I will. I can’t afford any more clothes so I’ll have to eat my way back into the ones I own.”

  It was doubtful her mom put a lot of faith in her promise, but Victoria vowed she would try. If she became ill, everything she’d worked for would crumble. Mother’s wisdom made sense.

  The drive to the airport was quiet. She really didn’t want her mother to leave, and she knew her parent was thinking dark thoughts, primarily because she was worried.

  “Logan has taken over his father’s business and from what Robert said, the elder Mr. Doherty is out of a job.” Her mom didn’t think much of Logan’s dad, and only her good manners had kept things civil around him.

  Why was her mom bringing this up now? “I know.”

  Her mother twisted to face her, and Victoria shot her a glance before returning her attention to the road. She rarely drove the company car, stored in the underground parking lot, and it had far more power than her own.

  “Have you been in contact? Did you talk to him?”

  “No. I inadvertently saw it on the news.”

  “I see.” Her mother’s disappointment was clear.

  “He has someone.” Saying it out loud made her breathless, a kind of floating sensation that didn’t marry well with driving.

  “You saw that on the news?”

  Caught. Damn. “I searched for the article, and there she was, all cozied up tight with him. She’s the kind of woman he was always featured with.”

  “You know better than to believe everything the media says.”

  That was true. But it didn’t matter anyhow, despite the fact her mom was still entertaining some kind of strange hope she and Logan would talk. “We’ll stop at Dino’s. I hear it has good food and it’s close to the airport.”

  “That sounds nice.”

  Victoria ate her salad, spearing the shrimp with grim intent and choking them down. The greens were fresh and succulent and doused with a dressing she used to favor, but it took additional effort to swallow them. Her mother worked her way through a grilled chicken breast and a massive side order of fries—her guilty pleasure, and one Victoria knew she didn’t indulge in very often.

  “Are you okay?” Margaret gestured at her plate.

  “I’m not very hungry,” she admitted. “But I’ll eat three squares, Mom. I promise. I don’t want to get sick and I don’t want you worrying.”

  “I always worry, even when there’s nothing to worry about.” Her mother contemplated the dessert menu and Victoria groaned inwardly. Her meal, far larger than anything she’d consumed in … close to four weeks or so sat uncomfortably in her belly.

  “I’ll have coffee,” she said.

  “There’s some sherbet, nice and light. We’ll both have a bowl.”

  It was like she was a little kid again with Mommy deciding for her. She bit her lip. Her mom was leaving and she’d miss everything about her in no time. “Sure.”

  Over a spoonful of the cool, light confection, Margaret said, “I found your ring.”

  “What?” Bombarded by the recollection of her engagement ring bouncing away from the trash can momentarily transfixed her, and the sherbet slipped off the spoon into the bowl. She stared after it and drifted again. Somehow that tenuous connection between the dessert and the curved utensil became vastly important, and she set the spoon down with a shaking hand. It clattered against the china.

  “Tori? Honey, I’m sorry. I said I wouldn’t talk about him.”

  With an effort, she looked up and tried a smile that didn’t cling any better than the sherbet. “It’s okay. Just tell me that it’ll get better.”

  “You haven’t been able to put it away after all. I think that’s for the best.”

  “And feeling like someone just jumped on my chest is a good thing?” Her lunch roiled ominously and she swallowed against a rush of saliva. Weren’t mothers supposed to soothe their children?

  “Tori. Of course, it’s not a good thing, but it only gets better when you separate out how you’re feeling. Your father humiliated me. He took a shot at the core of who I was as a woman. No longer fertile. Unable to produce a son.” Her mom’s full lips, so like her own, set in a thin, hard line before relaxing into a laugh. “At first, even knowing it was his fault—if blame was to be assigned—didn’t help. I was too ashamed.

  “Once a little time had passed and people supported me, not to mention having three children to raise without their father, I came to accept the truth. It wasn’t about me. My pride was bruised, for certain, and I missed him. We’d been married for over fifteen years. But the horrible things he said, the way he treated you especially… I discovered I didn’t love him, or at least not the person he had become. People change, but your father took that to the extreme.”

  It wasn’t the same, at least it didn’t feel the same, but perhaps it was too soon. Victoria said, “So I’ll get over this in time. Logan humiliated me and hurt my pride so once I recover from that—”

  It was as ludicrous as it sounded, spoken at a table for two in a nice restaurant. She loved Logan, no matter how much he’d changed, no matter what he’d done, and a yawning, black cavern opened up inside to fill with despair. She’d never get over him, so begging people to reassure her was a useless endeavor. A person couldn’t wallow and hide, however, without starving to death. She had financial obligations, so she’d be grateful she had her career. She glanced at her watch. “We need to get going.”

  “Honey—”

  “Not helping, Mom.”

  “He hasn’t given up.”

  She wasn’t interested in how her mother knew that. She. Was. Not. Fumbling for her wallet, she tugged out a credit card and looked around for the waiter.

  “I was trying to explain that this wasn’t about you. Delores—”

  Cutting her mom off, she said, “It’s been a month. I had the bandage in place. Don’t you understand? It doesn’t matter what Delores says or what explanation Logan comes up with—even if I should happen to hear it. Nothing is going to take away what he did, what it did to m
e. You’ll have to be disappointed, Mom. In me. Because I’m simply not capable of trusting that man again, regardless of how he envisions connecting with me. It was all or nothing.”

  Her mother’s face drained of color, and her eyes filled with tears before she looked away. She might have said something else, but the server arrived and both of them recovered in the time it took to sort out the bill.

  Small talk filled the awkward silence right up to the flight being called, and Victoria forced herself to set her negative emotions aside. They weren’t really directed at her mother, despite the woman’s probing of the mortal wound.

  “Thanks for coming. I’ve missed you. Come again when you can.”

  “I will.”

  Victoria doubted it.

  “I love you, Tori.”

  With a final hug, her mom’s small form passed through security, and Victoria wanted to run after her. She wasn’t sure if it was because she needed her mom to stay or if she needed to follow.

  Emotionally drained, she trudged out to her vehicle, parked in the short-term lot. She sat for a while, her head tilted against the side window. At least she’d had nearly two days with her mom, despite the interruptions of the office, without a mention of the one person who had spoiled the past couple of hours—in absentia. It would suck if she became this despondent each and every time she saw her family, being reminded of him. Even by them.

  Slapping the steering wheel, she set her teeth. Hadn’t she promised herself she wasn’t going to allow him to impact her precious family? He wasn’t going to leave her with nothing.

  She drove back to work, struggled through finding someplace to park, and was in her usual focused frame of mind when she arrived.

  “Victoria! Did your mom get away all right?” Dawna beamed at her and passed over a file.

  “She did. It was great to have her here.”

  “Too short a visit with one’s mom. I know how much I miss mine.”

  Guilt lashed with Dawna’s innocent comment, and all she could do was nod. “What’s this?”

  “The Tattered Bride spread. Some report from marketing.”