by Taylor Lee
As if testing her knowledge, Titus shrugged. “Hmm, perhaps. Could you be a little more specific, Tara?”
“Well, for example, you know that I likely would have gone out of my mind in that crazy elevator if Griffin had not been there. But true to form, Dad, rather than asking me or telling me what you planned to do, you went to the source.”
“Yes, I did. I hope I don’t have to tell you how upset I was to see you as shattered as you were that morning. It brought back some very challenging memories. It was critical to me that I confront Griffin Black, who, up until that time, I knew only as the arrogant man you’d declared your archenemy. I needed to let him know what would happen to anyone, no matter how powerful, who hurts one of my daughters.”
“But . . . that wasn’t what he did.”
“No, Tara, he didn’t. To my surprise, instead of an imperious, authoritative man, I met a man who was as powerful as I’d assumed he’d be, but was also caring, even surprisingly humble. Which is how he described his reaction to your terror. To say that was reassuring to me can’t be overstated. He also told me a bit about his personal life that, in surprising ways, mimicked my own.”
“In that he was also challenged by how he allowed his relationship with his former wife to harm his children?”
Titus shot her a troubled gaze and nodded.
Tara leaned over and reached for his hand. “Dad, you need to know. You were not responsible for what my mother did to me. She was an evil, sick woman. You didn’t know—”
Titus held up his hand, stopping her in mid-sentence. “You’re correct, Tara. I did not know what your mother was doing to you. But you need to understand, the fact that she could have suffocated you or caused you irreparable harm is a burden I will bear for the rest of my life.”
Shaking her head fiercely, Tara disagreed. “No. Please hear me. You did what you did because you thought it was important for us three girls to have a mother, even as disreputable as she was. The instant I told you what she was doing to me, she was gone. You made that happen.”
Titus held up his hands, a defeated gesture, and said bitterly, “And you were left to deal with emotional scars that could have ruined your life.”
“But they didn’t. Because of you.” She waited until he finally nodded in semi-agreement, then continued. “I want to tell you more about Griffin, Dad. What is going on in his life at the moment. You were right about him. He is a much more complicated man than he allows people to know. For example, the first night that we were together, he left for an emergency. I only later learned that his ex-wife had tried to commit suicide. Not only did she do that, but she did it in front of their children, ensuring that they would find her suicide note. In that note, she said she was killing herself because she couldn’t bear for them to leave her and go to their dad.”
At Titus’s hard frown, Tara continued. “Hopefully, that is exactly what will happen. That because of her egregious actions, Griffin will get custody of his children. His former in-laws convinced a court to prevent Griffin from seeing his children, insisting that he had caused their daughter’s suicide attempt. Thank goodness, a higher court has agreed to hear his appeal. In fact, even as we speak, he is flying to New York, and if all goes as he hopes, Griffin will be able to plead his case before the new judge tomorrow afternoon.”
Titus shook his head. “I’m grieved to hear what Griffin has been going through. As I told you, when I went to see him, I met a more complex man than I expected. I also met a man who was clearly moved by you.” Titus rose to his feet, then strode to the bar and retrieved the bottle of Jameson. Without asking, he refilled her glass as well as his own. Sinking back down on his chair, he was quiet for a long moment. Then, facing her, he said carefully, “It appears that a very complicated and, I might add, powerful man has come into your life, Tara. In addition to being exceedingly wealthy, he has accumulated that wealth doing what you have labeled ‘raping pristine lands.’ Which in my mind, is an overstatement. However, without question, he is an arrogant man. He is clearly accustomed to taking what he wants, apparently believing that is his right. While I’m not asking for details, he is also an experienced man—as it relates to male-female relationships. No doubt, he has had a hundred times your limited experience in that problematical arena. To add to that ambiguous equation, he has a much more thorny personal life than even I was aware of. He has an ex-wife who, along with her wealthy parents, is determined to make him pay for, I presume, the fact that he divorced her. In addition, he has two minor children who have become pawns in their parents’ challenged relationship.”
Titus leaned back in his chair and took several quiet sips of his drink. Tara waited, knowing her father well enough to know that he wasn’t finished with what at least on the surface appeared to be quite an indictment. The fact that his expression had darkened, become more brooding as he catalogued Griffin’s professional and personal attributes, should have been cause for concern to Tara.
Fortunately, after he studied her for a long moment, his frown cleared and he actually smiled. “Given that we’ve already discussed the way that he peremptorily strode into the Bitter n’ Twisted and hauled you away and that you are one of the three people I love more than anything in the world, I need to ask you an important question. One that only you can answer. Tara, how do you feel about the inimitable Mr. Black?”
Tara wasn’t surprised that the tears she’d fought when she first came to see her beloved father had once again surfaced. After all, the question he asked her was an exceedingly important and challenging question. After a long moment, she swiped at her tears and then gave her father a watery smile. “I don’t know how else to say it, Dad, except that in some crazy and wonderful way, I love him.” She added softly, “And what’s even crazier and more wonderful is that he loves me.”
Chapter 22
Griffin, please tell me that you were able to meet with the judge.”
Tara tried to keep the anxiety out of her voice but it was useless. She’d barely slept the night before and hadn’t heard from Griffin during what seemed like a very long night and now day. She’d almost dropped her phone when she saw his number on her caller ID. Racing from the conference room where she was chairing an editorial meeting, she was already asking her breathless question as she hurried to her private office. To her great relief, she could almost feel his banked excitement over the ether.
“Yes, Tara, I did get in front of the judge. I have to give my dour attorney credit. Until we were ushered into the courtroom, it was our understanding that we would be meeting with Judge Gaynor’s clerk, who would decide whether the judge would see us. But Colin Fitzpatrick managed to convince the judge’s gatekeeper to show the judge a copy of the suicide note that Carolyn wrote. After some challenging back and forth, we were told that Judge Gaynor himself would meet with us.”
“Please tell me that he ruled in your favor, Griffin.”
“It was touch and go, Tara. I had to endure a blistering attack from my ex-father-in-law and then a sobbing entreaty from his wife. Margaret Mason was disconsolate. She said repeatedly that the reason Caroline tried to kill herself was that she couldn’t bear the thought of me having access to the children. She begged the judge not to destroy her family as I apparently have been trying to do.”
“God, Griffin, how did you manage to sit through that? I can’t imagine how hard it must have been.”
“Like I said, it was challenging. But my canny lawyer just let them speak, seemingly willing to let the facts speak for themselves. And by God, they did. When it was our turn to testify, Colin interviewed Carolyn’s psychiatrist. We were able to put into the record that this was the third time that she’d tried to commit suicide, making it clear that Caroline is unstable. The doctor underscored the ultimate point that we were trying to make, which was that this time Caroline had likely designed her suicide attempt to ensure that Brooke would find her. Which she did.”
“God, Griffin, how horrible. The judge must have seen the hideo
usness of her attempt.”
Griffin’s hard sigh over the ether was apparent. His voice was soft when he spoke. “Actually, the person who made her mother’s deviousness clear was Brooke.”
“You saw her?”
“Yes, I did. Neither Fitzpatrick nor I knew that the judge had interviewed both Brooke and Hunter and certainly not that they would be testifying. I can’t begin to tell you how I felt when my two young children were brought into the court. They were as surprised to see me as I was them. After a tearful and incredibly emotional reunion that lasted at least five minutes, Judge Gaynor asked me to leave the courtroom. He ordered the Masons to leave as well. After we left, my attorney indicated that in response to the judge’s questions, Brooke said that her mother had told her to meet her at five o’clock, that they would be going out for dinner. When Brooke went to Carolyn’s room at the designated time, she found her mother unconscious with an empty bottle of Xanax beside her, along with the incriminating note. It was clear that Caroline intended to overdose because she had crushed the pills into a fine powder and snorted it. Apparently, inhaling Xanax ensures that it enters the bloodstream at a rapid rate, ensuring a potentially lethal overdose. I’m convinced, and I think the judge was as well, that Caroline timed her ‘overdose’ to coincide with Brooke’s expected arrival. The fact that Brooke got there when she did saved Caroline’s life. It also underscored my former wife’s perfidy and what I consider to be her genuine insanity.”
Tara heard the anger in Griffin’s voice and could barely contain her own anger. “Dear God, Griffin, surely the judge understood what had happened.”
“I’m confident he did, Tara. But you need to understand how powerful the Masons are, particularly Charles. That son of a bitch has managed to beat me in court for the last five years, detailing the earlier years when I was absent from my children’s lives. Unfortunately, back then, I gave him a shitload of ammunition. He has reams of purple press showing the profligate Griffin Black with a hundred different women, traipsing around the world while making a minor fortune. Hell, Tara, he even used your language to make his case. Accused me of shady business practices including raping the land. I used to have to hear that from a guy who wouldn’t know a legitimate business practice if it kicked him in the ass. A man who’d connived with the most scurrilous Wall Street villains to make a financial killing—on the backs of everyday investors.”
Hearing him struggle with his anger, Tara was horrified when Griffin said that Mason had used her language. It was challenging to realize that at one point, he must have included her in the cadre of angry people who’d criticized his success in such ugly terms. Forcing herself to hear the excitement in his voice, she managed to quell her angst about her previous attacks and concentrate on what she prayed was good news.
“Please tell me, Griffin, that you are going to get custody of your children.”
“I won’t know for sure until Monday when the court announces its ruling, but my attorney, who is the least optimistic man I know, is ninety-nine percent sure that the judge will rule in my favor. All I can say is that he sure as hell better because I will not allow my children to spend another week in that hellhole.”
Surprised at his venomous tone, Tara sought to move to more positive things. “Were you able to say good-bye to your children?”
“Yes, Tara, I was. We had a very emotional couple of minutes together—again in front of the judge. Both Brooke and Hunter were crying and begged me to come and get them. I promised them that I would. And, Tara, nothing and no one is going to stop me from keeping that promise.”
After answering a few more of her questions, Griffin changed the subject. “Tara, I need to stay in New York for a couple of days. Fitzpatrick and I have several loose ends we need to address. I’m also meeting with a couple of landowners who have been trying to capture my interest. I’ll be back on Friday afternoon. I didn’t have a chance to tell you yesterday that Governor Simpson asked me to host an event of sorts at which he could show his support for my project. Apparently, he planned to be in Tucson Friday and asked if it would be possible to schedule the event on Friday night. I decided that would be useful and asked Jia Yanlin to make it happen. Of course I want you to attend.”
When Tara hesitated, Griffin quickly added with what she was sure was a grin, “I promise you it will be an understated affair, sweetheart. Just a formal event with a hundred or so prominent business and government leaders from around the state.”
“And you include me in that rarified stratum, Griffin?”
He laughed. “You’re damn right I do. After all, I’m not sure that the irascible editor of the Sierra Vista Gazette has come on board my project. I figure if I wine and dine her, I might be able to convince her that I’m not the rattlesnake she thought I was.”
“Hmm, I’m not sure that including her among the state’s elite is the best way to convince her of that, Griffin. You never know if the crotchety editor might throw a tantrum and spoil your hoity-toity event.”
Clearly teasing her, Griffin said, “In a way, I hope that she does act up. I believe I have demonstrated that I have a number of ways to deal with a crotchety young woman. At least if my consigliere has anything to say about it.”
Annoyed that she’d walked right into that licentious threat and not wanting to put a damper on Griffin’s obvious excitement about his children, Tara swallowed a tart reply. Instead, she turned to every woman’s tried-and-true excuse. “Honestly, Griffin, I don’t have anything to wear. And before you disagree, I’ve already worn my one ‘little black dress.’ The one that your vicious cohort—make that your shrewish assistant—made clear was a dress she would never stoop to wear. Even you know that there is no bigger faux pas than to wear the same dress twice.”
“Two points on that response, Tara. Number one, I don’t know when I have ever seen a ‘little black dress’ that was sexier than the one you wore to the Oaks. Although, I’ll admit that when I spirited you off to my lair, the first thing that had to go was that gorgeous dress.” Before she could interrupt, Griffin continued. “Besides, I’ve already taken care of the dress issue. I saw a gown in New York that blew me away, mostly because it seemed to have been made for you. I ordered it, and if it hasn’t yet arrived, it will by the end of the day.” He must have sensed her refusal because Griffin made it impossible for her to say no. “Tara, the party on Friday night isn’t only about Shadow Peaks or the governor’s request. It is an opportunity not only to celebrate the fact that I’m soon going to have custody of my children but that you are in my life. If that isn’t a reason to give the most beautiful woman in the world a dress that is worthy of her beauty, I don’t know what is.”
****
“I swear to God, Tara, I have never seen a more beautiful dress. Damn, I don’t know how to describe it given that it doesn’t have much of a back and precious little front.” Tanya shook her head in disbelief. “Seriously, I don’t know another woman who could pull off this amazing creation except maybe Tatiana.”
Tatiana raised her hands in disagreement. “You’re wrong, Tanya, I would never have the courage to wear a dress like this. But you’re also right. It looks absolutely spectacular on you, Tara. Like Tanya, I have never seen a more gorgeous dress.”
When the boxes had arrived earlier in the day, Tara had called for the cavalry, insisting that both her sisters come over immediately. When she took out the white dress shot through with silver threads, she was sure that it wasn’t for her. After all, white wasn’t a color she usually chose, assuming that her blonde hair looked better with darker colors. Now, glancing at herself in the mirror, Tara had to agree with her sisters. The startling white dress made her tanned, golden skin positively glow. Coupled with the strappy, four-inch, high-heeled stiletto shoes that were also silver and white, Tara had to admit she’d never seen a more beautiful dress or a more outrageous pair of shoes.
But it wasn’t the color of the dress or the sexy shoes that stole her breath. It was what both did t
o her body. As to be expected, the stiletto shoes made her already willowy frame that much taller and appear even more slender. Tanya wasn’t far off base when she’d described the dress. The risqué back scooped low and came to rest scant inches above her butt crack. In contrast, the front of the dress would have looked almost demure if it weren’t for the way it showcased her ample breasts, allowing them to surge over the neckline. The dress clung lovingly to her curvy hips. The entire concoction, stopping inches above her knees and coupled with the traitorous shoes, ensured that if Tara didn’t bring down the house with her attire, the audience would have to have to be deaf, dumb, and definitely blind.
Not wanting to add to her sister’s already agog reactions, Tara reached uncertainly for the slender box that had accompanied the amazing couture. Handing it to Tatiana, knowing how Tanya would react, she hoped that the jewelry inside wasn’t as expensive as it had appeared to her. Tatiana’s gasp when she removed the top of the box shot that hope to hell.
“Oh my goodness, Tara. This . . . this necklace . . . and these earrings . . . have to be even more beautiful than the dress.”
Tanya’s aghast “Ya think!” confirmed what Tara already knew. She was about to go to a party wearing an outfit that likely exceeded the cost of her entire closet of clothes, shoes, and jewelry by who knew how many thousands of dollars.
She finally said what she was sure both her sisters were thinking. “You’re right. There is no way that I can wear this jewelry. Frankly, I don’t know if I can wear any of it.”
To her surprise, Tanya glared at her. “Why the hell not, Tara? Why shouldn’t you look as gorgeous as you do, as beautiful as you are?”
Tara hesitated and then said what she’d been thinking since she first opened the designer boxes. “But . . . but everyone will know that Griffin bought these for me.”
