When he arrived, he noticed her Toyota wasn’t in the parking lot. So he used the key she’d so graciously given him one night a couple of weeks ago. She’d given him the spare and told him to use it anytime he wanted. He’d teased her about her being afraid of him looking through her drawers, but she’d said she had nothing to hide and he’d believed her.
Was he that bad a judge of character?
The apartment was empty, but the lights were on. She must have run to the store, Julian thought, closing the door behind him. He could use a drink and he was sure she could after the day she’d had with Curtis. He would have a bottle of wine open and ready.
Julian was walking to the kitchen when he noticed several files sitting on the coffee table. He didn’t know what made him look, but when he glanced down, he saw a file labeled “Locketts” and another labeled “Atlanta Cougars.” Any other day, Julian might have left them there because Elyse had been hired to work for the Cougars team, so they were probably work-related. But given what his father had insinuated, his curiosity had him opening the top folder.
Inside were dossiers on each and every one of the Lockett family members, including himself. There were several news clippings and printouts of online gossip columns about him and his dating life. What on earth was she doing with all this?
Julian glanced at the legal pad and saw her scribbled notes about Curtis, but upon further inspection, he realized there was more. She’d listed a strategy to save the Atlanta Cougars and a strategy to destroy them. Julian’s stomach sank, his eyes blurring as he read the flowing script that ripped his heart out.
Everything they’d shared had been a lie. A farce. Elyse had used him to get close to his family and gain information. Hadn’t her research showed Roman would have been the better subject? As a team doctor, Julian had no power at the company, yet she must have thought she could use him in some way. Why hadn’t he seen through her act? He’d opened up to her about his family, about wanting to be of value as a physician, and allowed her to see the real him.
She was a damn good actress because she’d honestly had Julian believing he’d fallen in love. That what they shared was real, lasting. He’d been played.
Anger bloomed inside him, but he would rein it in. He would like to see the seductress’s face when he called her out on every one of her lies. Because the time for truth was now.
The door slammed shut and Julian spun around to face Elyse.
“Babe, what are you...” The words died on her tongue when she saw Julian holding her notepad.
“You were going to bury us!” he shouted. “Weren’t you?”
“No!” Elyse rushed toward him but Julian sidestepped her and walked to the farthest side of the room. He couldn’t stand to be near her because that sweet scent of hers might lure him into her web of deceit again.
“I know what you’re holding in your hand is damning, but I wasn’t going to use it. I would never betray you.”
“Lies, Elyse. It’s all lies.” Julian tossed the notepad across the room. “My father told me everything. I know you’re Frank Robinson’s daughter. Yet you’ve been using the name Elyse Harper.”
“Harper is my mother’s maiden name.”
“You used it as a cover so no one would recognize you, least of all my father because you blame him for ruining yours.”
“He did!” Elyse yelled.
“So you admit it?” Julian charged, pointing at her. “Okay—” he tore off the blazer he was wearing “—now we’re finally going to get somewhere.”
“I don’t know what your father told you, Julian—”
Julian interrupted her. “He told me the truth. Something you wouldn’t know anything about.”
“I know he swindled my father out of his share of the Atlanta Cougars.”
“And did your father tell you about his gambling habits?”
“Yes. I know about them, but at the end of the day, Josiah was supposed to be his friend and instead he took what was rightfully my father’s.”
“Because he would have gambled it all away,” Julian said. He couldn’t believe he was defending his father, of all people, but in light of what Elyse had done, it was the right thing. “But all of this...this past history between our fathers is beside the point. The point is—you sought me out and I want to know why.”
“I—”
Julian held up a hand to stop her. “Don’t you dare lie to me! I want the truth, Elyse. That’s if you know how to give it.”
Tears rolled down her beautiful fawn cheeks. It hurt Julian to see them because he cared about her so deeply, but he’d been a blind, besotted fool. No more. He wanted answers.
Elyse wiped away tears with the back of her hand. “I’d done my research. I knew you were the playboy in the family who liked women. I knew I wasn’t bad on the eyes and might have a chance with you, but I had no idea how to go about it. It’s not like we traveled in the same circles.”
“Go on.”
“But one day I happened to be in the ladies’ room when I overheard Tiffany Mayes talking. I saw that as my window of opportunity to meet you, so I switched places with her.”
“You’ve already told me this. I know the how. I want to know the why.”
She lowered her head briefly. When she looked up at him, the guilt in her eyes betrayed her. “Because I thought you were an easy target.”
Julian nodded. He’d wanted to know and now he did. He’d been played for a fool.
“But then I got to know you, Julian, and I realized you weren’t just the playboy that you presented to the world. There was so much more to you. I began to realize that the revenge I sought wasn’t going to be black-and-white.”
“But you were prepared to go far, weren’t you, Elyse? You let me make love to you over and over and over again. Do you know what that makes you?”
“It makes me a woman in love, Julian.”
Curses fell from his mouth as his temper flared. “Please, Elyse, stop acting. Don’t demean yourself or me with this farce anymore. You’ve been caught, found out.”
“It’s true, Julian. I fell head over heels in love with you in Saint Lucia.”
Julian laughed as he shook his head. “My God. You’re an incredible actress. I have to give you that.” He had to get out of there. Otherwise, she’d have him believing her. That’s how much she had him wrapped around her pinky finger. “From the moment we met, it’s all been lies. We’re over, Elyse. I never want to see you again.”
After snatching up his blazer, he started for the door. Elyse grabbed his arm, holding on to him, but he continued walking. “Please don’t leave, Julian. Not like this. I love you. I would never hurt you.”
When he reached the door, Julian peeled her fingers from around his forearm. “You didn’t, Elyse. Didn’t all your research tell you I don’t have a heart to hurt?”
Julian left Elyse’s apartment a broken man.
Sixteen
Elyse awoke early the next morning, well before dawn, to find herself on the couch where she’d crumbled after Julian had walked out on her. She’d tried to explain the truth to him, but he’d already come to his own conclusion after finding her notes. Why, oh why, had she left the files and her notes out like that? Because she’d gotten the emergency call about her father at the bar. And now her entire life was falling apart.
Because Julian was her life.
Elyse didn’t know how it happened, but he’d become her whole world and, less than ten hours later, it felt like the rug had been pulled out from underneath her. She’d tried to call Julian after he’d left, but her calls went straight to his voice mail. She didn’t blame him for hating her.
She’d lied to him. Deceived him. She had no one to blame but herself. She’d wanted to do right by her father, but she hadn’t been able to. There was no going back. What was done was done. Telling the world about he
r father’s poor decisions and Josiah’s ruthlessness would only make Frank look foolish.
But she could do one thing right. She could finish what she’d started and help free Curtis Jackson from the negative spotlight. She was certain the Locketts would fire her, so she would have to do a preemptive strike and get to Tim Jackson first. It was a long shot, to prove to Julian her intentions were pure, but it was all the ammunition she had.
And so she showered and dressed with care in a tailored pantsuit and drove into the heart of downtown. She arrived at 7:00 a.m. and was greeted by a bleary-eyed Tim Jackson, who was surprised to find her on his son’s doorstep so early.
“May I have a minute of your time?” Elyse asked. “I know it’s early.”
“Well, you’re here, so you might as well come in.”
Thirty minutes later, after she’d filled him in on all the gory details of how and why she’d come into the Lockett circle, Tim stared back at her. “You’re a gutsy lady. The Locketts won’t be happy that you’re here trying to intercept them.”
“I’m aware,” Elyse said. “But I have to do this because I gave you and your son—” she glanced at Curtis, who’d emerged several minutes ago to sit with them “—my word that I would get him out of this and I can, if you allow me the opportunity.”
“And refresh me on how you will do that,” Tim said, “because my son has worked his entire life to be where he is.”
Elyse outlined her plan to save Curtis’s image to his father from the morning TV show appearances to the sports programs to the charitable organizations he was helping roll out in the community. “We can turn the tide, Mr. Jackson.”
“I don’t doubt you know your job, Elyse, but your family’s past with the Locketts is a complicated tale. Why should I trust you?”
“I came here today and told you the truth at great risk to my career because, quite honestly, it’s all I have left.”
“Maybe,” Tim replied. “Julian is like any man. His pride is hurt because you used him, but forgiveness makes strange bedfellows.”
“So what do you say?” Elyse asked. “Give me seventy-two hours to turn the tide. I promise you, you won’t be disappointed.”
“You’re on. I liked you from the start, Elyse, and I listen to my instincts. It hasn’t led me wrong thus far.” Tim Jackson shook Elyse’s hand and she breathed a sigh of relief. But it was only one stop on her road to penance and hopefully winning Julian’s heart back one day.
* * *
“Thanks for putting me up last night, Shantel,” Julian said when he strolled into the kitchen in yesterday’s attire.
“You’re welcome,” she said as she poured him a mug of coffee from the carafe.
He’d arrived on her doorstep a hot mess. He’d thought his brother would turn him away because it wasn’t like the old days when he could turn up at Shantel’s and commiserate his woes, but Roman had been in a giving mood.
Julian and Shantel had stayed up talking for hours. He’d shared with her everything Josiah told him and Elyse’s explanation. Julian still couldn’t believe he’d fallen for her routine hook, line and sinker.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Julian,” Shantel said. “She had us all fooled, but she could be telling you the truth that she wasn’t going to betray you.”
“And pigs can fly.”
Just then Roman walked in, his phone to his ear. “Thank you, Tim. Thanks for letting me know.” He ended the call.
“What’s that look for, Rome?” Julian asked at the angry look crossing Roman’s dark features.
“That girl of yours has struck again.”
Julian tossed back his head. He couldn’t take much more. His chest constricted in a tight vise. “Jesus, what now?”
“She went to the Jacksons and pled her case. They’ve agreed to keep her on as their publicist—against my wishes.”
“What?” Julian straightened. “They can’t do that.”
“They just did!” Roman said, tossing his iPhone on the counter. He strolled over to his wife, still in her robe, and leaned down to give her a kiss.
“Did you tell them she can’t be trusted?”
“Apparently, Tim thinks otherwise because she came clean with him about everything including her family’s past history with our father.”
“She didn’t?” Julian was surprised. That took guts.
“Yep. And he refuses to back down,” Roman said, “despite my misgivings.”
“I think it’s a good thing,” Shantel said, looking at both Lockett men, who were staring at her as if she’d fallen off her rocker. “It’s my guess that this is Elyse’s attempt to make amends to the family by showing she holds no ill will.”
“She could have fooled me,” Roman snorted.
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see how this plays out,” Julian stated. “And if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to head to my place to get cleaned up. Roman, I’ll see you at the office.”
In the car, Julian wondered about Elyse’s motivations. Was Shantel right? Was she trying to make amends? Or was this all another elaborate ploy to sabotage his family by using the Jacksons?
If it was, he would make sure she never worked in this town again.
* * *
“He hates me, Andrea,” Elyse cried to her friend when she came over later that evening.
Andrea had brought a bottle of wine along with a pepperoni pizza with her, and Elyse was thankful. She hadn’t had an appetite all day and had been holding it together thanks to energy drinks.
“He doesn’t hate you though maybe he should. What you thought about doing was terrible, Elyse,” Andrea said, sipping her wine on the couch after they’d polished off half the pizza.
“Don’t you think I know that?” Elyse huffed. “I thought you were my friend.”
“A friend would tell you it’s wrong to lie and deceive people for revenge. But by the same token, you realized you couldn’t do it so I’m glad about that. And as for Julian, I’ve seen how he looks at you. He adores you.”
“Maybe he did once,” Elyse said, tucking her legs underneath her on her sofa, “but he doesn’t anymore.” She took a long generous sip from her wineglass.
Andrea shook her head. “He’s upset and disappointed in you, as he should be, but that doesn’t make what you and he shared any less real.”
“I was fooling myself thinking I could have a man like Julian,” Elyse replied. “Especially when I’d built our relationship on lies and half-truths.”
“It’s not over,” Andrea said. “You never know, he could forgive you and you guys will kiss and make up.”
Elyse chuckled at Andrea’s rose-colored-glasses view of the world. “I love you, sweetheart, but I don’t know if anything can heal the rift between me and Julian.”
“I don’t know about that. Once he sees everything you’ve done for Curtis, he’ll realize you’re meant to be.”
Oh how Elyse wished that were true. Wished she could go back in time and tell him the truth about their fathers’ past connection. He might have believed her then, if she’d come clean, but too much time had passed. Now he questioned her motives, their lovemaking—hell, everything that had ever happened between them. Their time together had meant everything to Elyse. Julian was the only man she’d ever loved and she was certain he always would be, even if he never forgave her.
* * *
“You know I should have fired you,” Pierre told Elyse several days later when she was called into his office.
“Why didn’t you?” Elyse had been wondering about that. She was certain the Locketts would have wanted her head on silver platter, considering she’d gone over their heads to Tim Jackson.
“Because your client’s father intervened,” Pierre replied. “He insisted you be allowed to implement the plan you’d outlined to save his son’s reputation. And bully for you, it worke
d.”
Her strategy to help Curtis Jackson put a positive spin on his scandal was working. His interview on the morning program and on the national sports talk show had turned the tide. And to help their case, the exotic dancer had come forward to reveal how Curtis was the one who’d saved her from being assaulted.
Everyone was calling Curtis Jackson a hero and the negative whispers had been obliterated. And Curtis’s positive press was great for the Atlanta Cougars, too.
“Thank you, Pierre. I know it wasn’t easy going against the Locketts.”
“This is my firm and I run it how I see fit,” Pierre said. “But you have to know that you were crossing the line.”
“Yes, I know that and at the end of the day I didn’t betray their family or your business.”
“But you thought about it.”
Elyse nodded.
“You’re a good publicist, Elyse, which is why I didn’t fire you, but you’re on probation, and if I get one whiff of wrongdoing, you’re out!”
“Thank you, Pierre.” Elyse exited his office without another word.
She was happy for a career win, but Elyse couldn’t say the same for her personal life. If Julian had seen the positive press, he hadn’t said a word to her. She’d even sent him flowers. Could he not see that she was trying to right the wrongs she’d done?
Elyse didn’t know what else to do. She was at the end of her rope. Still, it didn’t stop her from loving Julian. If he never forgave her, she would always love him. His charm. His humor. His kindness. She didn’t know if she’d be lucky enough to ever meet someone as special as him.
On the way to her desk, the receptionist came up and whispered something in her ear. As she listened to what the woman was saying, her blood ran cold.
Elyse was shell-shocked but she sprang into action, rushing to Andrea’s desk to tell her the news. “I have to leave. My father is in the hospital.”
Blind Date with the Spare Heir Page 15
