Snowed In with Her Ex

by Andrea Laurence

  “If you don’t, I’m going to get a lawyer and sue you.”

  Ian’s brow furrowed into a frown. “Sue me for what?”

  “Sexual harassment.”

  Ian almost choked. It wasn’t true. Not even remotely, but once a charge like that was thrown out there, it was hard to overcome in the court of popular opinion. “Please tell me, Missy, how I sexually harassed you. As I recall, you’re the one who came to me, plying me with alcohol in your seduction plot. You’re the one who pretended to be pregnant so we would get married. How is that me harassing you?”

  “Well, you see,” she said with a sly smile, “I didn’t really want anything to do with you. I brought you that dinner as a peace offering. I never expected you to demand sex in exchange for another record contract. I didn’t know what to do, so I gave into your insatiable sexual appetite.”

  “That’s a lie.”

  Missy shrugged. “Only you and I were there. Prove which version of events is fact.”

  “How will you explain the fake pregnancy scandal?”

  “You threatened me.” Missy’s dark eyes were wide and innocent, putting on a show for his benefit. “Even after I gave myself to you, it wasn’t enough. You were still going to drop me from the label. You even said you’d ruin my career so I’d never work anywhere again. So I did what I had to do.”

  Ian shook his head. “Because marrying the guy who harasses you is always the best plan.”

  “People make dumb choices under duress. My lawyer will produce specialist after specialist who will get on the stand and tell everyone how I was being terrorized.”

  “Terrorized?” Ian could hardly believe this. Missy didn’t have a stitch of evidence to back up her outrageous story, but with enough lawyers and enough money, it wouldn’t matter. Either in court or out, she could destroy him. Destroy SpinTrax.

  He took a deep breath to collect himself. He couldn’t let himself get emotional. This was business and he was first and foremost a businessman. He wasn’t going to let Missy manipulate him. She was threatening him because she expected him to lie down and take it. She figured she would get her way, just like she always did. But that would end here.

  “Okay,” he said calmly.

  “What do you mean ‘okay’? You’re going to sign me to a new deal?”

  He shook his head. “Absolutely not. There’s no way in hell you’re getting another contract from SpinTrax, Missy. Go ahead. Take me to court. Drag my name through the mud. I don’t care. All you’ll do is destroy the record label and put a lot of hardworking people out of a job. Either way, you’ll end up without a record deal. You think you’re a hard sell now? Just wait until the president of every record label sees what you did to me. Their lawyers won’t let them touch you with a ten-foot pole. You might take me down, but you’ll destroy us both in the process. Is that what you want?”

  Missy’s lips twisted as she tried to decide what to do. He’d called her bluff. He didn’t want to lose his record company. He didn’t want all of his employees to lose their jobs. But if it happened, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. He’d make sure every one of his employees got placed at another label. They were all talented, dedicated people and it wouldn’t be hard to find them another contract. The only person who would be out of work was Ian. And Missy. He was okay with that.

  Two weeks ago, he wouldn’t have felt the same way, but today, he just didn’t care. Being with Bree had taught him that he wanted more from his life than just a successful business. He wanted a musical career of his own, even if he never achieved the level of success he dreamed of. Playing for others made him happy, be it for an audience of two or two thousand. He wanted a family and he wanted Bree to be a part of it. The engagement ring in his coat pocket was evidence of that.

  That didn’t mean he wanted to lose everything he’d built, but it wouldn’t destroy him. He wouldn’t let it. He’d done this once, so he could do it again. This time, he would have Bree at his side. The idea of it made him feel invincible. Let Missy just try to ruin him.

  As calmly as he could, he looked down at his watch and realized how late he was for Bree’s show. By the time he got there, it would nearly be over. He tried to maintain a bored countenance as he looked down. He didn’t want Missy to mistake his anxiety over being late for concern about her threat.

  “So, I’m glad we talked, Missy. It’s been enlightening on several levels.” He slid his phone back into the holster, stood and made his way toward the door to usher her out. “Have your lawyer call my lawyer and we’ll move forward with this if that’s what you want to do. Either way, this discussion is now over. I have somewhere to go and I’m already late.”

  “Meeting the wedding photographer?”

  “Not that it’s any of your business, but yes.”

  Missy flung her blond hair over her shoulder, lifting her defiant chin to look him in the eye. “I can’t believe you brought her to that party the other night. You can point fingers all you want, but sleeping with the woman there to take our engagement portraits is pretty low.”

  “I’m not arguing with you about this, Missy. Our relationship is over. What I chose to do after that is none of your concern.”

  “From an international pop star to a lowly wedding photographer,” she mocked. “Sounds pretty desperate to me.”

  Ian snorted. Even with half the male population lusting after her, Missy was incredibly insecure. And she should be. She couldn’t hold a candle to Bree. “You’d know desperation when you saw it, wouldn’t you, Missy?”

  Missy’s face scrunched up in anger. “You go to hell, Ian!” She spun on her expensive heels and marched out of his office.

  “Good riddance,” he said, stepping out into the hallway and closing the door behind him. He had to get across town to Bree’s show and now.

  * * *

  Bree was a fool. She’d suspected it for a while now, but standing in the middle of the Whitman Gallery with a half-empty glass of champagne and Ian nowhere in sight, she was certain.

  She hadn’t noticed his absence at first. She’d figured he wouldn’t be there on the dot anyway, and she’d been busy when the event had first started. The gallery owner had introduced her to the waiting crowd and she had spoken for a few moments about her collection and its inspiration. Then she’d made her way through the room, meeting people and chatting about her work. Before she knew it, nearly two hours had passed and there was no sign of him.

  She pulled her flip phone out of the pocket of her dress, but it was just as she expected. No calls. No texts. No surprises. The show was almost over and he had stood her up once again.

  Bree slammed the phone shut and shoved it back in her pocket. She was trying not to let this ruin her night. She had worked long and hard to get to this point. A lot of important and influential people in the industry were here tonight to see her work. Big things could be on the horizon for her if she played her cards right. That meant she had to focus, smile and schmooze with the people strolling through the gallery. And she had. But as the night went on, it was getting harder to keep a smile on her face.

  It helped that so many of her friends had come to support her. All her coworkers and even some of the couples who had appreciated the work she’d done for their weddings were in attendance. Both her parents had come, which was a miracle on its own. She’d figured her mother would show, but her dad’s arrival had caught her off guard. He’d torn himself away from his construction business for Bree’s big night. He knew how important it was to her. How could Ian not see that?

  “Oh, Bree, this one is wonderful.”

  Bree pulled herself out of her funk to see Amelia beside her. Her eyes were focused on the large black-and-white photo in front of them. No wonder her thoughts had gotten so dark. She didn’t realize she’d stopped in front of that particular portrait until that moment.

&nb
sp; It was the photo she’d taken of Ian in the mountains. She hadn’t planned on adding additional pieces to her collection this late, but once she saw the shot of him playing his guitar, she knew she had to include it. It might very well be one of her best pieces in the gallery tonight. She’d been proud of that shot. Now she was looking at having her most well-received piece being a photo of her ex. Of course.

  “I’ve never seen this photo before,” Amelia said. “I thought I’d seen all your work.”

  “It’s a new one.” Her tone was noncommittal, trying to keep Amelia from pushing the subject. In addition to this portrait, she’d also printed out the picture Ian had taken of her in bed that morning in Gatlinburg. It was a beautiful shot with the morning sun giving a golden aura to her shape. Because she hadn’t taken it, it couldn’t be in her collection, but she was going to hang it in her apartment somewhere. He’d been right. There weren’t enough photos of her.

  “I really love it. Is that Ian playing the guitar? The Ian?”

  Bree took a deep breath. “Yes, that’s him. Soak it in. It might be all you ever see of him.”

  Amelia turned to look at her with a frown. “Why? What’s going on? I thought he was supposed to be here tonight. I was looking forward to meeting him.”

  “I was looking forward to introducing you to him.” Bree could feel unwanted tears start to form beneath her eyelids. She wasn’t going to cry at her showing. She wouldn’t. She could hold it together until she got home and could mope privately.

  Amelia wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulder. The caterer and pastry chef of From This Moment was big on the power of love. She was a true believer, unlike Natalie, who thought the whole concept was bunk. Bree fell in the middle of the spectrum. She believed in love; she just didn’t think that love alone could solve all her problems.

  Bree hadn’t mentioned how she felt about Ian to her, or anyone for that matter. If she had, Amelia would be telling Bree she had no doubt that Ian would charge in on his white steed and sweep her off her feet.

  “He’ll be here,” Amelia reassured her. “I’m sure he got caught up in something, but he still has time.”

  He had fifteen minutes. Even if he showed up, it wouldn’t matter. He would have missed the whole thing.

  “I’ll be fine, Amelia. Don’t worry about me. Enjoy yourself. Drink more wine before the bar closes. I’ve got to go wrap up a few things with the gallery management before we’re done.”

  Amelia departed reluctantly. The look on her face made it obvious that she knew Bree was just making excuses to be alone. The crowds were starting to dwindle and it was a cue for everyone to go home. Bree thanked the last folks as they made their way out, then sat down on the bench in the center of the room.

  This part of the gallery was a white-walled rectangle with track lighting to illuminate the art. Bree was facing four pictures, each showcasing a part of Nashville that she loved. She had never been more proud of her work than she was tonight. Yet her heart was heavy. She’d wanted to believe that Ian meant what he’d said when he told her he’d be here come hell or high water. Just like she’d wanted to believe him back in school. But the results were just the same. She was alone. Forgotten. Discarded.

  “Bree!”

  She looked up to see Ian burst into the room. He looked panicked. Frantic. And he should. There were only five other guests in the gallery. Catering was breaking down. The party was over. And here he was. She supposed she should be pleased that he arrived at all, but at the moment, she just couldn’t make herself appreciate that fact.

  Bree stood slowly. She turned toward him as he approached her, but she didn’t go to him the way he expected her to. She knew that by the way he stopped short of pulling her into his arms.

  He stood awkwardly a few feet away, a bundle of white daisies in his hands. They were her favorite flower, but she didn’t know if he remembered that or if it was just a good guess. Either way, a couple of flowers couldn’t make up for what he’d missed.

  “These are for you,” he said, holding out the bouquet.

  “Thanks.” Bree accepted them, but it didn’t do much to soften the hard, armored exterior she’d built up waiting for him to arrive.

  “I’m so sorry I’m late. I can explain,” he began, but Bree didn’t want to hear it.

  “You don’t have to explain, Ian. I was expecting this,” she said with a sad shake of her head. “I didn’t want to be right. I hoped I was mistaken, but I knew how this night would end.”

  He looked mildly stunned by her cold response. Apparently he thought flowers and a good excuse would get him off the hook. “How does it end?”

  “It ends with you going your way and me going mine. Just the way it should have when we left the mountains. You and I both know we were putting off the inevitable by trying to make things work between us.”

  “No,” Ian argued, reaching out to touch her shoulder, but she pulled away. “Bree, listen to me. I was on my way here when Missy barged into my office and threatened to sue me. I dealt with her as quickly as I could and rushed over here. I didn’t want to miss this. Tonight was supposed to be special. I wouldn’t have deliberately ruined it.”

  Bree shrugged. It sounded like a pretty fantastic story, but the truth was it didn’t matter why he’d missed the show. A pileup on the expressway. An emergency with one of his artists. A flat tire in the rain. There was always something and there always would be. That was just the kind of man he was.

  “I’m sorry to hear you’re having more trouble with Missy,” she said. “But I’m not interested in excuses, Ian. My father was always full of excuses and apologies. He never blew off school programs or special events on purpose. He wanted to come, but time and time again, his work interfered and he’d promise to make it up to me next time. I don’t blame you for being late. At the same time, I don’t have to tolerate it, either.”

  Bree watched a parade of emotions move across Ian’s face. Each of them lasted only a second, every one different from the next, leaving her unsure of what he was thinking or feeling. At least until he spoke.

  “Tolerate it? You don’t have to tolerate it?” Ian repeated her words with incredulity. He took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair. “You know, that’s funny you should say that considering what I’ve tolerated with you over the past week and a half.”

  Bree was taken aback by the unexpected assault of words. What had she forced him to tolerate? Her cooking? An unwanted photo session? “With me? Like what?”

  “Like your constant needling to change me. You act like you want to be with me, Bree, but you really don’t. You want to be with that coffee-shop musician from nine years ago. You practically shoved that guitar into my hands, nagging me until I had no choice but to play or listen to you go on about it. You didn’t give a damn how I felt about the whole thing. I had good reasons for not playing that guitar, but you didn’t care. When you looked at me, all you saw was this fantasy musician you lost and were desperate to get back. Never mind what I wanted. Never mind what was healthy for me. You wanted what you wanted and you were determined to get your way.”

  “How dare you! You’re acting like I forced you into a life of crime instead of convincing you to face the fact that you’re unhappy with your life. You miss your music, but you just won’t admit it to yourself because you’re afraid to play and fail again. Don’t pin your insecurities on me just because I’ve been successful. I told you the other night that I didn’t love you just because of your music. I love you for you and I just wanted you to be happy again. I’m sorry if that makes me into some kind of harpy.”

  Ian flinched at her words, his gaze narrowing at her. “Yeah, Bree,” he said at last with a mocking bitterness underlying his words. “I’m sure you’re only interested in my mental health and well-being.”

  Bree could feel her entire face flush in anger. H
er heart pumped furiously in her chest, making the sound of her blood racing in her ears almost deafening. She glanced around the room and noticed that everyone was gone now. She didn’t know if they’d left on their own or the scene she was causing with Ian had made them uncomfortable and driven them away. She supposed it didn’t matter at this point. It was better not to have an audience for this, anyway.

  “You know, my father made it tonight,” she said. “The King of Emergencies. The Duke of Last-Minute Meetings. He was here for once in his life. On time. He sat through the entire introduction of me and my work, staying around to look at every picture. When he left tonight, he told me he was so glad he could be here and how proud he was of me.”

  Ian didn’t respond to that. He just stood there, watching her with a tightly clenched jaw.

  “And sitting here, alone, I realized how pathetic it was that I was so pleased he came. Somehow it negated the twenty-eight years he missed. And it shouldn’t have, but I wanted his approval so badly. I wanted him here for my big showing. That’s all I wanted from you.”

  Ian swallowed hard, considering her words. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be here for you tonight. I’m here now. I brought you flowers. I was prepared to...” His voice trailed off and he shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. Apparently that’s just not good enough. You know, all I ever wanted from you was to be accepted the way I am. Most people would be pleased with a wealthy, successful businessman, but not you. No matter what I do, I’m never good enough. I got enough of that from my father and my college advisors. I certainly don’t need it from you.”

  Bree felt a momentary hitch in her chest. “You are good enough, Ian. You’re more than good enough. You are an exceptional person. The only person who doesn’t believe it is you, but how can I convince you of that when all you hear are criticisms?”

  “So you’re saying it’s my own fault I feel like a loser? Thanks, Bree. That really helps.”

  “No! I would never—”