by Leanne Davis
She lay back on the bed, flipping her shoes off. She wanted to want to be back here…but she didn’t. Though her family’s wealth was ridiculous, her own was not. She’d spent the last four years on her parents’ dime completing her business degree. Something she had loved doing. But now that was over and there was no reason for her to be living in Seattle any longer, since she was soon to be starting at the corporate offices here in Almstad.
She sat up with a jerk. Her eye always started to twitch when she thought about it. She poked a finger at her temple to stop it. She had to get over it. Her entire life she’d been preparing for this; why was it freaking her out so much?
Just last week her dad had taken her to Andrews’ Enterprises. And what had he shown her? The office he was having renovated for her. He was paying an interior designer to come in and decorate her office. She had stood there, frozen in horror. The office was directly between her father's and Trent’s.
She had often visited her father at work during her lifetime. His office was bigger than most apartments. And as his only daughter she’d always ran in as if she owned it. She’d been allowed to twirl in the deep, cushy black chair and rifle around his paperwork. She’d played around on the floor, careless and fancy-free, not concerned with the priceless valuables he displayed. Aaron Andrews’ offices were for her; simply an extension of her father. A father she had always adored.
It had never been a deal to her until recently. Until she was suddenly brought in there not to play around in her father’s world, but to join it.
That’s probably why she’d first slept with Trent. He had been nothing to her until one company Christmas party her sophomore year in college. He was a couple of years older than her and had recently been promoted to be her father’s assistant. After all this time he had caught her eye one day when she was picking her dad up to go to lunch, and his well-groomed, well-mannered, totally handsome assistant had quietly come into the room to drop off some paperwork. And she’d decided then and there to go to the corporate Christmas party that year. And he’d been there.
She probably shouldn’t have had sex with her father’s assistant in the janitor’s closet on the fourth floor. Not her best move. But she had... and he’d called her cell phone a bunch. At first she’d blown him off. He didn’t seem to get that she’d just been blowing off some steam, maybe rebelling in some way against her father.
She adored her dad. He was everything to her. She never wanted to disappoint him. But…he expected so damn much from her. No one was good enough as-is. Even straight As, and honors from a prestigious private university wasn’t enough for Aaron Andrews. He needed perfection.
And he wanted it most from her.
So sometimes she let off steam. And Trent had been just that. Only he’d kind of let on he’d mentioned to her father they were... friendly. And she’d felt compelled to see Trent more. She could not have her father finding out she’d gotten drunk and slept with his assistant in a closet. That could never happen. So she’d started out meaning only to placate Trent. Do damage control. But eventually she’d realized he was good for her. He was smart and articulate. He was handsome and charming.
And her father adored him.
So she’d given him a real chance. At first her father had been wary of them. But the more serious they become, the more he approved. And so she’d finally seemed to have won his approval. Her four-point-oh grade point average, her honors from a prestigious college, her perfect manners, the perfect reflection of him that she displayed for the world—none of that had won Aaron Andrews’ total approval, but getting engaged to Trent Gallagher had.
And now that she had graduated, wasn’t it simply wonderful that she could devote herself to planning her wedding? And then... after a proper honeymoon, of course, she could start working with her dad and husband. Wasn’t it all just wonderful?
She kicked her bed. Yeah, just great. Why, then, had she decided to kiss Trent’s estranged brother? Was it like the janitor’s closet with Trent? Was she thumbing her nose at the man she most wanted to love and accept her? For wasn’t her father’s approval the final motivating factor behind almost everything she ever did?
But why couldn’t her dad just... love her? Be proud of her? Why did it take all this crap—good grades, perfect schools, perfect poise, perfect friends, and the perfect fiancé—for her father to finally say he was proud of her?
Chapter Four
Christine dug her fingers into Trent’s hand as they entered the crowded room and applause sounded in their honor. They were quickly drawn into the crowd with handshakes and kisses. Family, friends, distant relatives, and business associates soon had the room buzzing with pleasure at what a beautiful couple they were. Trent didn’t seem to notice her nails nearly drawing blood from his hand as she tried to keep her smile in place. Trent was happy, laughing in response to all the attention. And all the while, she was painfully trying to hold back the stupid tears that she felt like spilling. All because she didn’t want to be at their engagement party.
The banquet room was lovely, lit with candles and low wall sconces. A beautiful buffet took up one side of the room and a band playing soothing jazz occupied the other. Kay, her mom, had outdone herself in planning this engagement celebration.
And her reaction? Dread. Complete and utter dread. Ever since discovering the lie Trent had so easily concealed from her, she’d been uncontrollably angry at him. No matter how much he tried to explain it. Even after sharing a kiss with his brother, she still couldn’t shake the sense that he should not have hidden something so basic from her.
Her smile wavered when she saw her parents approaching them. They both took a turn shaking Trent’s hand.
“Well, what do you think? How did it turn out?” Her mother embraced her in a tight hug. Kay Andrews was a small, elegant blonde who had made a career out of fundraising for nonprofits around Almstad, and not in a bored, trite way. She brought in thousands of dollars a month all year round. She was as respected as Aaron for her contribution to the community. Christine was nothing but proud of her. Because of those skills her mother could throw a party unlike anyone else she knew. There was no detail too small. Kay had brought that same flair to the engagement party. They’d had it planned since March, when Trent had asked Christine to marry him. At first she’d been enthralled with the idea. Now she wished she’d simply settled for a picture in the local paper.
“It’s spectacular, Mom. You always out do yourself.”
Her mother tugged on a curl hanging down Christine’s back as she would to a child. “It’s my pleasure to do so for you.” She and her mom got along like friends. They often shopped together or Kay would come into Seattle for lunch or dinner. They always had a lot to say to each other. They gossiped and laughed. Christine always discussed her school schedule and work with her mom, as her mom told her all about whichever charity she was trying out some new fundraising technique on. The only problem between them was if Aaron was ever displeased with his daughter. Kay didn’t stand up to him or go against him. Ever.
And her mother really had outdone herself. The music was soft and tasteful. The crowd was well-dressed, the count coming in at about a hundred and fifty people. The entire room was as beautiful as a wedding reception. The problem was, her gut was twisting in nerves. In confusion. She was completely confused why, in the short time since she had discovered the existence of Jason Malone, why did all this suddenly feel so stale to her?
She was always expected to be more, to be the best. There had never been a time when she was allowed to waste time being young and irresponsible. There had always been work to do, goals to reach, and a reputation to uphold. And she had always done it. Always tried to be just what her parents wanted of her.
Until now, that is. Until this moment, before the start of her entire life. Suddenly she didn’t know how to do this anymore. How to be the perfect daughter they wanted when everything about this moment, this party, this engagement, felt so wrong to her. Yet she d
idn’t know exactly why it suddenly felt so wrong.
Other than she had kissed another man. The guilt was eating her stomach like bugs infesting her intestines. She was horrified by her behavior, and the fact that she thought about it constantly.
Not that her parents suspected any of this.
“Hello, my darling.”
Christine froze and did not want to turn towards the nasally voice. It was Peggy Gallagher, greeting Trent. She treated Trent as if he were still ten years old and should run up and hug her legs. Christine put a smile on her face and turned towards Trent’s parents.
“Mother, you look lovely.” Trent bent low to accept her kiss on his cheek. He caught Christine’s eye and rolled his own heavenward. She put a hand to her mouth to hide her grin.
“Hello, Mrs. Gallagher.”
“Christine.” Peggy nearly sniffed as she greeted her. Peggy swept her gaze over Christine. She had never warmed up to Peggy. Perhaps because Peggy made it clear Trent was hers and Christine would never be good enough.
“And don’t you look lovely. I think you could be a bride today with how lovely you look.” Terry smiled a wide open grin at her as he came up behind his wife and set his hand on her back. He had always been warm and kind to her, as his wife never was.
They all chatted for awhile longer before another couple pulled Trent’s parents away. Trent took her hand in his and pulled her to him. “I have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise? What?”
“Not what. Who.”
“Okay, who?”
“My dad and I gave some thought to what you said about Jason. That maybe we shouldn’t have handled him how we did.”
Her stomach curdled. “And?”
“My dad invited him here tonight.”
She bit her lip to keep a groan of total dismay to herself. Her eyes darted around looking for Jason, but she didn’t find him. “Why? What did inviting him here do?”
“Dad called him and started with an apology for the agreement. Jason wasn’t, as you would imagine, receptive. But Dad asked him to come here tonight as a start.”
“A start? A start to what?” Her tone was high and weird.
Trent shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe making some kind of amends. Or, at the very least, some kind of truce. I mean, I don’t really know. I think dad realized your horrified reaction to what he did would most likely be the norm. It isn’t something we should have lurking in our history. Besides, what does it matter why? What matters is you’re getting your point across and my dad is actually trying to engage with the son you seem to think he abandoned.”
“And you don’t agree?”
Trent sighed. “To be honest? I’m not sure. Dad’s obsessing about the next election already. I don’t know, maybe he’s right. I still don’t think Jason Malone has anything to do with me.”
She dropped her head and shut her eyes in horror. Why? Why had she done this? She had encouraged Trent to do something about Jason, and now he was going to. But she had behaved so abhorrently that now she didn’t want Trent to fix the relationship with Jason. This, of course, was a very selfish way to react.
But didn’t this start because of her? Because she knew how Jason was treated was wrong? Wasn’t it her threatening to tell her dad that had made the Gallaghers do such an about face? But Jason would know that. He would see that. He could never be drawn into them, simply because he had been paid to pretend he didn’t know them. There was no way Jason would forgive that. So she had to believe he would not possibly come here tonight just because his father asked him to.
While still in Trent’s embrace, she glanced around the room and nearly lost her footing when her gaze landed on the man standing near the back of the room, his gaze already on her. Watching her. Judging her. Mocking her.
Jason Malone. She blinked in shocked dismay. He had actually come.
His gaze held hers for a moment, then slid down her body in a slow, thorough evaluation. Not even one of Trent’s polite, sweet compliments had made her stomach clench as Jason’s simple, frank appraisal of her did. Jason finally looked away. Mild panic climbed up her spine and settled in her head. What was he doing here? And why could he seem so unaffected by her? Didn’t he feel this thing between them like she did? As urgently as she did? She pushed away from Trent and smiled up at him, trying to cover the sudden stabbing fear and dread that filled her heart and numbed her extremities.
It was almost a half-hour before she could make her way over to Jason unnoticed and motion for him to meet her in the hallway.
“What are you doing here?” she hissed as soon as she was within earshot of him.
“I was invited.”
“No. You were asked to come to shut me up.”
He smiled. “I know that. I’m not all that dumb. What are you worried about? That I might give away what I know about you, or that you might give away how you really feel about me?”
“You have no idea what I feel about anything.”
He leaned towards her. “You’re lying. You look really, really worried.”
“I’m not lying. I’m here with my fiancé, because I love him. I want to be with him. Not you. You kissed me, not the other way around.”
His eyes flashed. “You didn’t stop me. It wasn’t all that one-sided. Not like you’re making it out to be.”
“Well, as if I’d want anything to do with you. I mean, ‘call me if you want to fuck’? Did you think that would work? Who says things like that?”
He grinned with wicked, charming delight. Her heart sped up in response. She gritted her teeth. She did not, could not, find him attractive.
“I wished it would work. But no, I didn’t think it would. I thought it would do the trick of getting you to leave me the hell alone. But then, mysteriously, I get this apology and invitation from my dad. To come here. It’s unprecedented. So, I came to see what the hell they could possibly be up to.”
She wanted to punch his arm. “You didn’t come for any kind of reconciliation. You came to get back at me.”
He smiled easily. “I did. I totally came to piss you off. You don’t think you deserve it? You came to me and tricked me. You started this. But I also wanted to see what the hell Terry Gallagher was up to. Because to engage with me, after all these years? He’s got to be up to something.”
She shut her eyes and counted back from ten to keep from snapping at him. “I did start this. But I don’t want anything to do with you.”
“If that’s the fact, then why did you come looking for me?”
“I didn’t come looking for you. I came looking for answers. Unfortunately, I found you.”
“Not so unfortunate for me, as it turned out.”
She exhaled slowly. “I don’t want to see you again.”
“Sure, keep telling yourself that. I suppose now I have to give you my solemn vow not to tell anyone about us.”
“Obviously, I’d prefer you not to tell everyone about us at my engagement party.”
“So there is an us?”
She closed her eyes in horrified embarrassment. “Just, please, don’t make a scene. My father’s here.”
Jason quirked an eyebrow. “And Trent. Trent’s here. I’d think you would worry about him finding out, more than your father.”
It should be that way, but her father finding out about her recent behavior made her hands start to sweat. She had spent a lifetime trying to live up to her father’s expectations. That wasn’t something she could turn off simply because she recently decided she had an uncontrollable libido.
“Of course. Because Trent’s here. I know what happened, and I know it wasn’t all your fault. But please, don’t tell anyone,” she said, hating herself for needing to beg. But she was desperate. If he told anyone about what happened between them, her entire life would change. Trent would never forgive her. Her father might never forgive her. “Please, just leave.”
He stared at her coldly. She could tell she’d pissed him off, and she would swear he look
ed disappointed in her. Like he expected better of her than to hide that she’d cheated on her fiancé. Which was ridiculous, seeing as how he was the one she had cheated with.
“I wouldn’t tell Trent about anything if you paid me. Even this, even though it would...”
“Totally succeeded in destroying him and getting revenge. You’re right. I gave you that. I gave you the opportunity to get back at the brother you think you want revenge on. But Trent didn’t do anything wrong other than do as his parents modeled. As most of us would do. It was his parents who were so awful to you. But he doesn’t deserve this. He doesn’t deserve what I did. But telling him this, from you, is too much. It’s too mean. Please, I am begging you, just don’t.”
He ran his eyes over her. His jaw tightened and his eyelids shuddered, keeping her from gauging his reaction. “I know who did what. Go back to your party, we’re done.”
Tears filled her eyes. She was so in the wrong. She was to blame for all of this. “I shouldn’t be doing anything that needs to be kept secret. I’m sorry and I’m especially sorry for involving you.” She turned away, unable to look him in the eye, ashamed of her role in her mistakes. And sorry to be using Jason and hurting Trent and lying to everyone, when all that she had ever intended was to right a decades-old wrong. Instead, she’d created more wrongs than she could ever fix in ten decades.
****
Jason watched Christine walk away. Her back was ramrod straight as she stalked away.
He shouldn’t have come. He knew that long before he set foot inside the banquet room. His father had never so much as asked him to go get coffee, but now Terry had casually invited him to his brother’s engagement party? The timing stunk. At first he thought Christine had something to do with it. Perhaps she had succeeded in her efforts for reconciliation between him and the Gallaghers. Or maybe Christine’s sudden poking around had gotten his father thinking about him. Maybe feeling remorseful.
