Mismatch
Page 18
We’ve reached Rumsey Park and find a picnic table to sit at. Jennifer perches on the edge of the bench with one shapely leg crossed over the other. A male jogger turns his head as he runs past. I’m pretty sure he’s not looking at me, not in my jeans and giraffe print T-shirt.
“How did you meet him?�
Jennifer leans forward to tell me the story. She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, and I can see a fond smile on her face. “I was working in a diner,� she says. “I was serving Ethan one day. He wasn’t a chatty customer. He ordered and didn’t make small talk. I only served him, didn’t start a conversation. I was serving some other tables that night. One of them was a family of four who dined and dashed on me. When my manager found out, he said I had to pay for their food out of my tips. I couldn’t even argue because I couldn’t afford to lose the job.�
She shakes her head. “I broke down. I took Ethan’s bill to him, and he could see I’d been crying. He asked me if I was okay, and I don’t know what happened. I poured my heart out to him. I’d been treated like shit by my customers all evening, and my manager was a heartless prick. Ethan was the first person to treat me like a human all day. I started telling him my life story.
“I told him about my broken relationship. The father of my one-year-old son had recently walked out on me and wasn’t paying child support. I was working two part-time jobs as a single mom and still wasn’t making ends meet. I told him about the family that had dined and dashed and what my manager had done. I told him about how I was giving life everything I had, but coming up short.�
I’m captivated. I lean forward, eyes wide. “What happened then?�
“Ethan took hold of my hand, looked me right in the eye, and told me I deserved better. He said he was a businessman, and he wanted to offer me a job. I told him I didn’t have any qualifications and that I had a kid at home. He said it didn’t matter. I had the attitude he was looking for.
“I wasn’t sure what to think. I thought it might have been some line to get me into bed or something. I don’t know. I didn’t have a lot of faith in men at the time. Ethan left me his card and told me that if I got in touch, a job would be waiting.
“I went home and looked him up. That’s when I saw who he was. He wasn’t quite as big back then, but I think he’d recently turned his first five million or something. He was up and coming. I called, thinking he’d have forgotten all about me, but I was put straight through. Ethan said the offer still stood. I took a leap of faith and accepted his offer.
“He did everything he said he would and more. He gave me a job that paid the bills with full benefits for my son and me. He even set up a college fund for Noah, my kid. He saved us.�
My heart grows warm. Now I know that Jennifer has seen the side of Ethan I truly know and love. “That’s a beautiful story.�
Jennifer is wet-eyed. She brushes away a tear with her thumb and smiles. “He’s never treated me like a charity case. He treats me like a professional. He’s always shown me respect. I had no idea what I was capable of until Ethan opened the door.�
I smile. “Sounds like Ethan saw what you could do long before you saw it in yourself.�
“I still don’t understand why he did what he did for me.�
“Has he ever told you about his mom?�
“Small things. I know she raised him on her own, and she passed away when he was a teen.�
“That’s right. She was a single mom—like you. She worked really hard. Ethan adored her. I think his upbringing has stayed with him. He has a lot of respect for people like you.�
“The feeling’s mutual. He may be a complete idiot sometimes, but he’s a good man.�
I laugh. “He doesn’t always get it right, then?�
“He told me about leaving you when you were kids. I’m sorry. That must have been so hard for you.�
An old pain twinges, but I push it down. Ethan’s back now. “It was,� I confess. “But I tried to understand. I know how hard it was for Ethan when his mom died.�
“He loves you, you know.�
“He says he does,� I nod. “I guess I still worry, though. He’s left me before.�
“Oh, he’s not going anywhere this time, Lily. I mean, he gave up the defense contract for you! He wouldn’t do that for anyone. That deal was worth billions.�
I frown. “Defense contract?�
Jennifer returns my confused look. “You know, the Department of Defense?�
“I don’t know about it. What do you mean, he gave it up for me?�
She flushes red and waves her hands. “Forget it. I thought you knew.�
Jennifer stands, but I grab her wrist. “Jennifer? Tell me.�
Her face is pained. I can see tears beginning to rise. Whatever she’s talking about, she knows she’s said too much. “I can’t.�
“Jennifer, please. Tell me what you mean. I’m only going to ask him anyway.�
Her voice lowers to a whisper. “I shouldn’t have said anything.�
“Tell me.�
Jennifer slowly sinks back onto the bench. Her hands are shaking. When she glances at me, her gaze is guilty. “You know Vincent Oswald.� It’s not a question. Jennifer knows the whole story.
“Yes.�
“He’s not a good man.�
My suspicions burn hot. “Seriously, Jennifer. What’s going on?�
“Ethan was trying to protect you.�
“Please tell me what you know.�
“Vincent bought out the deed to your apartment. He was going to evict you if Ethan didn’t give up the defense contract. It’s a huge contract worth billions. Steele Industries has been working on it all year. Vincent was after it, too.�
I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. “And Ethan gave up the contract?�
“In return for the deed. To save your home.�
My blood is boiling. Tears sting behind my eyes. My voice catches in my throat. “And that’s why Vincent up and left suddenly? He really was using me to get to Ethan?�
Jennifer lays her hand gently on my arm. “I’m sorry, Lily. Ethan came to Payson to warn you. He had a feeling that Vincent was up to something.�
“It was business this whole time.�
“Lily.�
“Ethan only came back because of Vincent. He wasn’t coming back for me at all. He only wanted to make sure that Vincent didn’t get me. He got him out the picture by making a business deal. This whole thing, it’s only been one big competition between them, hasn’t it? They’ve been using me as a pawn.�
Jennifer is openly crying now. “It’s not like that, Lily. Ethan only wanted to protect you.�
“Protect me from something that was his fault to begin with. From maybe having a happy life. He used me.� I stand and stride toward the building where Ethan has set up his temporary offices. “He practically bought me from Vincent. Who does something like that?�
“It’s not what it seems.� Jennifer races after me. “Please, Lily! Take some time to think about it. He was never trying to hurt you. He loves you.�
I stop and spin on my heel to face Jennifer. We both have tears streaming down our faces.
I throw my hands up in despair. “I can’t trust him, Jennifer. It’s never the whole truth with Ethan. If I’d known wh
at had happened with Vincent, maybe I wouldn’t have fallen right back into his arms, but he made me believe he was there for me when I needed him. Really, he was pulling the strings the whole time.�
“Please, Lily, try to see it from Ethan’s perspective.�
“I’ve tried to see it his way! I tried to see it his way when he first left. I made excuses for him because of what he’d been through, and when he came back, I forgave him. He sleeps with me and vanishes, and I forgive him again because I tried to see it from his perspective. Now I find out he’s pushed Vincent out of my life to make it easier for him to sweep back in, and they were both using me to score points against the other the whole time. Those aren’t the actions of a man in love.�
“He wasn’t thinking, Lily.�
“He never does.�
“Please take some time to think.�
“I’ve given him enough time and enough chances. No more. We’re done.�
Ethan
In addition to the boardroom and general office space we’ve rented for the time we’re in Arizona, Jennifer and I have joined offices. I’m in mine—alone.
Jennifer enters first. She casts me a frightened glare, mouths the word ‘sorry,’ and then scurries away, her head bowed.
Behind her, Lily. She looks furious. Her skin is flushed with rage, her hands shaking.
I run through scenarios in my mind, trying to figure out what’s happened. She and I were so happy this morning. Now Lily is glaring daggers at me.
I stand from my desk. Jennifer has disappeared behind her door and quickly closed it after her. I put my hands on my hips. “What’s wrong?�
Lily storms toward me, coming to a stop a couple of feet away, her arms crossed in front of her. “What’s wrong? You tell me, Ethan. What have you done that might make me mad?�
I stare at her blankly, and my gaze travels to Jennifer’s closed door. She’s said something to Lily to make her this angry. I can only think of one thing: the defense contract. “She told you about Vincent.�
“Yes, she fucking told me, Ethan. Jennifer assumed you’d have been man enough to tell me what games you’ve been playing, but obviously, you didn’t want me to find out.�
“It’s not like that, Lily.�
“What’s it like, Ethan? What am I missing? Because to me, it looks like you and Vincent have used me as a pawn in your stupid fucking games.�
“I never intended for you to get dragged into anything that was going on between Vincent and me.�
“Then why didn’t you walk away? When you found out Vincent was seeing me, why didn’t you let it be? His plan only worked because you got involved.�
“He was going to evict you, Lily. He bought out your building.�
“And when did you find that out? Before you fucked me and left? After?�
“Lily.� I shake my head. “I tried to warn you that Vincent was playing games, but you wouldn’t listen.�
“Why would I have listened, Ethan? Everything you say is a lie.� She sobs, her hands falling loose at her sides, her face crumpling. “When you called me that day, and I told you all about Vincent, you knew. You knew that he was leaving because you’d given up the contract. You could have told me then, and let me make my own decision. Instead, you swoop in, pretending to be the hero. You let me feel bad that Vincent had left because it made it easier for you to take his place. Do you have any idea how that makes me feel?�
“I didn’t want you to know what he’d done. I didn’t want to hurt you.�
“You should have told me the truth. I let you back into my life because I thought you wanted me. But that’s not real, is it, Ethan? If Vincent hadn’t matched with me on Destiny, you’d have gone on living life in New York, never thinking about me at all. All of this was about revenge and getting one up on him. Nothing more.�
“I knew what Vincent was like. I was trying to protect you.�
“From what? You didn’t know he bought the building until yesterday. Otherwise, you’d have already given up the contract before now, and none of this would have happened. When this began, you only didn’t want me to be with Vincent because you couldn’t stand the thought of me with a guy you didn’t get along with in college.�
“Lily, I don’t care about Vincent anymore. I promised myself after all this was done I’d never get involved in any of that again. I only want you.�
“And the amazing Ethan Steele always gets what he wants, doesn’t he?� Pacing in front of me, Lily shakes her head in disgust, “Is this what billionaires do? Put people’s lives on the line and watch them squirm? Is this fun for you?�
I step forward and take her by the arms. “Lily, I did everything I could to stop him from using you. I came to Payson to warn you, and then I gave up the defense contract. For you. That was years of work. Hundreds of hours of manpower. Billions of dollars.�
She tears away from me and scowls, her eyes filled with hot, angry tears. She throws her hands up in the air and stands to face me, her chin raised defiantly. “And what, Ethan? I should fall at your feet because you lost the most? What do you think I am, a prize at an auction? Am I meant to give myself to the highest bidder?�
“Of course, I don’t think that, Lily. I was only trying to do what I thought was right.�
“And what about what I thought?� She waits for me to respond, and shakes her head when I have nothing to say. “That’s right. You didn’t care what I thought. You didn’t tell me about Vincent buying the building so I had the opportunity to lay into him myself. You went over my head and paid him off, and then took all the credit for being my shoulder to cry on. You knew that if you told me the truth, I wouldn’t magically take you back, so you got rid of the competition. It’s terribly underhanded, Ethan.�
“I didn’t give up the contract to try and deceive you into taking me back. I gave it up to save your home. Lily, I know how much that apartment means to you.�
“You don’t know anything about me. If you did, you would have told me what was going on, and we could have confronted him together. You’ve made me feel like I’m nothing.�
“I’m sorry. I was only trying to—�
“Protect me. So you’ve said.� Lily comes to a standstill.
She raises her eyes to me. The anger is gone; there is only a cold defeat in them now. She stands in front of me, her gaze fixed on mine. “Ever since you came back to Payson, you’ve done nothing but mess with my head. You tried to make me believe that you still loved me, but I don’t believe it.�
She runs her hands through her hair and squeezes her eyes shut. She lets out a long, determined breath. When she opens her eyes, they’re full of steely determination. “You’ve always meant more to me than I do to you. That’s why you left the first time without saying goodbye. That’s why you came back into my life, slept with me, and disappeared. That’s why you think you can buy and sell me like a business asset. And it’s why I still come back for more and hang around like a little puppy dog, waiting for you to come back. I won’t do it anymore.�
“Lily.�
She holds up a hand. “Enough, Ethan. Just enough.�
I grab her wrists and bow down to try and catch her eyes again. Now her gaze is avoiding mine. She turns her face away.
“I won’t lose you again.�
She blinks, and tears fall. “This time, itâ�
��™s not your choice.â€�
“Lily, there’s nothing stopping us now. Please, give me one more chance.�
“No. I want you to leave.� She swallows, glancing down at the ground. “Go back to New York, Ethan, and don’t come back.� She casts me one final, wounded stare, then leaves.
I chase after her and try to hold onto her, but she tears away and breaks into a run.
Turning, she lifts a hand in warning. “Stay away, Ethan. I mean it. Let me go.� Lily stands a moment to make sure I won’t follow her again, then turns and strides away.
My shoulders slumping, I let her go, then I enter Jennifer’s office.
She’s sitting behind her desk with her head in her hand, silently crying. She jumps when I open the door and immediately begins to babble an apology. “Ethan, I’m truly sorry. I didn’t mean to say anything. I thought she knew.�
I hold up a hand and offer a tight, forced smile. “It’s okay, Jen. This isn’t your fault.�
Jennifer bites down on her lip, her eyes blinking quickly. She wipes her face, stands, and perches on the edge of her desk facing me. She lets out a long breath and holds up her hands. “I thought she’d think it was romantic.�
“She didn’t.�
“What are you going to do?�
I pick up my jacket from the back of my chair and fold it over my arm. “I’m going to go back to New York.�
“What? Ethan, you have to keep fighting for her!�
I shake my head. “I’m no good for her, Jen. I’m messing with her head; she said it herself. Maybe it’s best if I just walk away now and let her live her life. If she wants to find me, she knows where I am.�
Jennifer is silent for a moment. I can see her brain running through options, trying to think of some miraculous way to turn things around. “I’m sure if you just explained things to her.�
“She knows what happened, and she’s right. I didn’t think about her enough. I was thinking about myself. My business, my rivalry, the woman I wanted. Lily deserves better than that.�