"Rachel," I hear him say as I head to the restroom. I go in there and stare at the mirror as I take some deep breaths. I need to be tougher. I can't let these people walk all over me. If I do, I'll live up to their stereotype of the sweet, naive farm girl.
Victoria walks into the bathroom. "Is everything okay in here?"
Her face displays a smug grin, like she's pleased with herself for getting a reaction out of me. But I'm not letting her affect me again.
I smile. "I'm fine. Just freshening up."
I take my lipstick from my purse and reapply it, even though I don't need to. I don't even like lipstick, but I felt like I should wear it. At least it's a soft pink shade. Victoria's is bright red, which looks harsh against her pale skin.
"So are you happy with Pearce?" she asks, smoothing her hair as she looks in the mirror.
"Yes. Very happy." I put my lipstick back in my purse.
"He's such a naughty boy." She takes out her compact and blots her face with some powder. "But his looks make up for his bad behavior."
I don't respond, not wanting this conversation to continue.
"Royce is certainly no angel, but Pearce has been with far more women than Royce." She snaps her compact closed and drops it in her purse.
"I'm going back to the table," I tell her.
"Wait." She holds my arm. "You do know the men aren't faithful, don't you?"
"I need to go."
She won't let go of my arm. "It's in their nature. They're boys. They can't help themselves. And given their extreme wealth, they can have any woman they want, so why would they settle for just one?"
"Maybe because they're in love," I say, glaring at her.
She laughs. "They love their jobs and their money. Not their wives. We're just something to come home to. Someone to have their children."
"That's not how Pearce feels. Now would you let me go?"
"I'm just trying to be honest with you. This is your life now, Rachel. You'll be expected to stay at home with the children and do charity work, while Pearce spends his time at work and with other women."
"You don't know what you're talking about."
She smiles. "Do you ever wonder where he goes?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you ever find that sometimes Pearce will be gone for hours and you're not sure where he went? Or he tells you where he went, but it seems like a lie?"
I DO feel that way, but I'm not going to admit it to Victoria. And even if Pearce doesn't always tell me where he goes, I know he's not off having an affair with another woman. He wouldn't do that to me.
She finally lets go of my arm. "It's just something to think about." She checks her hair in the mirror. "I enjoyed our girl talk. We should do it again."
I storm out of the bathroom and back to the table, stopping when I see a tall, gorgeous blond woman talking to Pearce. She's leaning down so that her cleavage is at his eye level.
I go and stand behind him. "Pearce, I'm not feeling well. Would you mind if we left?"
He quickly stands up and turns to me. "Are you okay?"
"I'm not sure. I feel kind of sick to my stomach."
He steps away from the table and puts his arm around me. "Let's go."
I notice the blond woman staring at me. She smiles. "Hi. I'm Rielle."
Rielle. Where have I heard that name? I know I've heard it before. From Pearce's father. That's where I heard it. Holton said Pearce had been with Rielle, and hinted that they were still together when Pearce and I were dating. But I'm sure Holton was lying. He had to be lying.
"Royce, we'll see you later," Pearce says.
We walk to the front of the restaurant, passing Victoria on the way out.
"Leaving so soon?" she asks.
We ignore her and keep walking. We get our coats from the coat check, then go outside.
Pearce stops just beyond the door, his hands on my shoulders, his eyes full of concern. "Are you really sick, or just upset?"
"A little of both."
He brings me into his arms. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I told you Victoria was an awful woman. And Royce is just as bad. Those two are made for each other."
The way Pearce holds me, stroking my hair, kissing my head, I know that he loves me and I know he wouldn't cheat. So why did I even let my mind go there?
"Let's go home," he says, taking my hand.
When we're in the car, driving away, I say, "I'm sorry for making us leave. I should've stood up to her more."
He reaches across the seat for my hand. "There's nothing to be sorry for. You just saved us from a night of pure hell. Although that restaurant does have excellent lobster."
I laugh. "Then we'll have to go back sometime. Just the two of us."
"Since we didn't have dinner, would you like to stop and get something?"
"Could we maybe go to a pizza place?"
Now he's the one laughing. "In a suit and a dress?"
"Sure, why not?"
He lifts my hand up and kisses it. "Or we could get a pizza to go, eat at home in front of the fire, and see what happens after that."
"I like that idea even better."
So that's what we do. And it turns out to be a great night. I never asked Pearce about Rielle. I don't need to know why she was talking to him. I'm not letting Victoria plant seeds of doubt in my mind about Pearce. He's not like Royce. He's a good husband. And although it's true he could have any woman he wants, he chose me, and only me.
The next day I go to the gym and swim laps. It's a very nice facility. The pool is kept at a perfect temperature and the locker rooms are immaculate.
Pearce is at home, but later this morning he's taking his car in for maintenance. Speaking of cars, I'm now driving a brand new BMW. Pearce bought it for me soon after we got back from Vegas. He insisted I get a luxury vehicle, but I didn't want a Mercedes like his, so we bought the BMW. I've never had a new car, so anything new would've felt like a luxury to me, but the BMW really feels like luxury.
When I get back from swimming, I shower and dress and wait for Pearce to get home. We're having lunch together when he gets back. It's weird that we're both home all day. My job at the museum ended last week. Months ago, I told my boss when my last day would be, assuming I'd be moving away for a job in New York or somewhere else, so they had another grad student already lined up to take my place.
"Pearce, I'm in here," I say as I hear the elevator door open. "I'm in the bedroom, putting my earrings on."
He doesn't answer. That's odd.
"Pearce?" I leave the bedroom and see Holton standing in the living room.
"Hello," he says. As usual, he doesn't say my name. I don't think I've ever heard him say my name. Then again, I've only met him one time.
"Hello, Mr. Kensington." I walk over to him. "Pearce isn't home. He's getting his car fixed, but he should be home shortly."
"I'm not here to speak with my son. I'm here to speak with you."
A shiver runs through me. I don't know why, but Holton scares me. He shouldn't scare me. He's Pearce's father. But for some reason he makes me very comfortable.
I motion to the couch. "Would you like to sit down?"
He takes off his coat and holds it out in front of him. Then he sighs and lays it over the back of the couch. I guess I was supposed to take his coat, but right now I'm too nervous to follow all the proper etiquette rules. Why does he make me so nervous?
He sits in the chair next to the couch. He has on a black suit with a white shirt and a dark gray tie.
"Would you like something to drink?" I ask, trying to make up for the coat mishap.
"No. I won't be staying long."
I sit down on the couch. "What would you like to talk about?"
His eyes narrow. "How long do you plan to be married to my son?"
I can't believe he just asked me that. What kind of question is that?
"Well, hopefully forever," I say, trying to keep my voice even. "I don't know why you would ask such a question."
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"A woman like you has a motive. Money. Fame. You're hoping to get something out of this. So name your price so we can end this."
Hurt and anger hit me all at once. Is that really what he thinks of me? That I married Pearce for something other than love?
"I don't think you understand," I say. "I married your son because I love him. I don't want his money and I definitely don't want to be famous."
"And yet you alerted the press about your engagement and are doing interviews for the papers."
"Yes, but that's only because Pearce said we should. I didn't—"
"By the way, does it bother you that you're not involved in planning your own wedding?"
"Yes, it does," I say honestly. "Maybe you could talk to your wife about that."
He lifts his chin slightly. "My wife? What does Eleanor have to do with the wedding?"
Holton doesn't know Eleanor is planning the wedding? How could he not know this? Or is she not really planning it? Did Pearce just say that so I wouldn't get involved? Why would he do that? Does he not trust me to plan it?
"That ring." Holton points to my engagement ring. "A woman who doesn't care about money wouldn't ask for a ring that size. I'm sure that will be the first thing you sell after the divorce."
I cover my ring with my hand. "There's not going to be a divorce."
He sits there, silently watching me, then says, "Pearce will not be faithful to you. No man with our kind of wealth is faithful to only one woman. I have never been faithful to his mother and Pearce will not be faithful to you. Women who are married to rich, powerful men understand this. But given your background, I feel the need to tell you."
I glance away from his penetrating gaze. "Was that all you needed to tell me?"
I really don't like this man and I just want him to leave.
"He lies to you." Holton's lips turn up just slightly as he crosses his legs. "He knows you're trusting and will believe anything he says."
"I think we should end this conversation." I get up and walk over to the window, wishing Pearce's car would appear at the gate so he could get up here and deal with his father.
"He tells you what you want to hear. It's what he's been taught. And it's how he gets what he wants."
I feel like I'm talking to Victoria again. Being told that Pearce is not the man I think he is. But that's not true. I know it's not. I may have only met him a few months ago and may not know everything about him, but I know he's a good man. And I know that he loves me.
"Where does Pearce go when he's not with you?" Holton asks.
I turn back to him. "Pearce is a grown man. I don't keep tabs on him. And he doesn't keep tabs on me."
"Is that so? He has a man watching you every Saturday when you work at the homeless shelter in New Haven. Is that considered keeping tabs on you?"
A heavy, sick feeling gnaws at my stomach. "That's not true."
"Is he really getting his car fixed right now?" Holton smirks. "Or is he somewhere else?"
I can't take another minute of this. Holton is lying and I'm done listening to it.
"Mr. Kensington, if you're trying to make a point here, then do it. Otherwise, I'm going to go finish getting ready. Pearce will be home any minute now and then we're going to lunch."
"Do you know where Pearce was yesterday morning?"
I take a breath and close my eyes, then open them again. "He was at the gym."
Holton chuckles. "Is that what he told you?"
I don't answer, so he continues.
"Yesterday morning, my son was meeting with a friend of his. A friend of the family, actually. A man by the name of Jack Ellit."
I freeze, remembering the name. Jack Ellit was the man who came to my apartment. I was suspicious of him, so Pearce said he'd have his security guys find out who this man was. Pearce acted like Jack was a stranger, not a friend.
"Have you ever met Jack?" Holton asks, in a tone that implies he already knows the answer. I don't respond, so he says, "I've known him for years. He owns a communications company, but also dabbles in security and surveillance equipment. Jack and my son have developed a friendship the past year, and a few months ago, Pearce asked Jack to run background checks on you to see if you were just some con artist trying to steal his money. I'm surprised Jack didn't stop by your apartment to meet you in person. He usually does that, in addition to the background check."
That sick feeling intensifies. It's not true, I tell myself. Don't listen to him. But how does he know about Jack? Is Jack really a friend of the family? Why wouldn't Pearce tell me that? Is it because he sent Jack to spy on me?
"I'm sorry, I need to go," I say, racing off to the bedroom. I go in the bathroom and splash cold water on my face to alleviate the nauseous feeling in my stomach. Pearce wouldn't lie like that, would he? But he lied about Shelby. For months, he lied about knowing her. Oh, God, what if it's true? What if everything Holton said is true?
"Rachel, I'm home."
I hear Pearce's voice and quickly dry my face and hurry back to the living room. Holton is nowhere to be found.
"Where is he?" I ask, noticing his coat is gone.
"Where's who?" Pearce asks.
"Your father. He was just here a minute ago."
"My father?" Pearce takes his coat off. "My father was here?"
"Yes, but he must've left. You didn't see him leaving?"
"No." Pearce comes over and holds my arms a little too tightly. "Rachel, why was my father here? What did he want?"
My eyes drift to the floor. "He came here to talk to me. To tell me things."
"What things?"
"He said you…" I pause for a moment, trying to sort out everything Holton said.
"Rachel, tell me."
I feel Pearce's eyes on me, but I won't look at him.
"Do you have someone watching me when I go to the shelter?" I ask quietly.
He loosens his hold on my arms, but doesn't answer.
"Pearce. Do you?"
"Yes," he says in a quiet tone. "But only because I worry about your safety. He's not spying on you. He's just making sure you're safe."
I feel tears building and a lump forming in my throat. "Your mother isn't planning the wedding, is she? You just said that to keep my mom and me out of it."
"Why would you say that? Who—"
"Are you denying it?"
He hesitates, then says, "No."
More lies. How many are there?
My shoulders slump and I squeeze my eyes shut and say, "Jack Ellit."
"What about him?"
I keep my eyes shut. "You know him. You're friends with him."
I hear nothing but silence, so I open my eyes. And when I do, I see Pearce looking at me, his eyes desperate. But I don't know what they're desperate for. My forgiveness? My trust? Or are they just desperate for me to believe his lies?
"You sent Jack to my apartment to make sure I wasn't some con artist."
"What?" His brows furrow. "No. Jack went there on his own. I wasn't aware that he'd done that until after you'd told me."
Tears pour down my cheeks as it hits me that I really don't know Pearce. He's my husband, but I don't even know him.
"Rachel." He reaches for me as I back away from him. "Rachel, just listen to me. I've known Jack for years, but I promise you, I never sent him to your apartment. When I found out he did that, I was furious."
"Why did he do it?" I ask, wiping my tears.
"Because he doesn't trust people. Jack treats me like a son, and when he found out we were dating, he took it upon himself to make sure I wasn't getting involved with someone I shouldn't be. It was wrong of him and he never should've done it and I told him that."
"Why didn't you tell me you knew him?"
He sighs. "Because I was afraid of how you'd react. I had just met you and I knew we had something special between us and I didn't want anything ruining it. I assumed if you found out I knew Jack, you'd assume I sent him over there and then you'd think I didn't trust you."
"You keep lying to me, Pearce. How do I know if anything you say is true?"
He's quiet. So what does that mean? That there are more lies? More he hasn't told me?
I look him in the eye. "Pearce. I want to trust you, but right now, I don't. I think we need some time apart." I turn and walk back to the bedroom, fighting back tears.
"Rachel, no!" He finds me in the closet, tossing clothes in my suitcase. "Rachel, you're not leaving."
"I need time to think." I drag the suitcase into the bedroom and zip it up. "I'll be at my apartment."
"We're married. You can't just walk out like this."
"I can't talk to you right now. I need time to think and figure things out. And figure out what I'm going to do."
He grabs the suitcase and sets it behind him, then pulls me against his body. "Don't say that. You're not doing anything. There's nothing to figure out." He holds me tighter and says in a hoarse whisper, "I love you, Rachel. Please stay."
"I'm sorry, but I can't." Tears are pouring down my face, soaking into his shirt. I place my hands on his chest and push away from him and look into his eyes. "You lied to me about Shelby. And I forgave you."
"Rachel." He tries to pull me into his arms again, but I press back, keeping us apart.
"I forgave you, Pearce, even though I didn't want to. You had sex with one of my closest friends and then acted like you didn't know her. You lied to my face and you did it for months. Most women would never forgive you for that…but I did. I just don't know if I can keep forgiving you."
I go behind him and take the suitcase and wheel it to the elevator. He silently follows me.
When the elevator door opens, I get on and see him standing there in the loft, his eyes filled with so much sadness it nearly breaks my heart.
"Please, don't," he says.
The elevator doors close and that's the end of our fight.
I just hope it's not also the end of us.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
13
PEARCE
I watch the elevator doors close. Rachel is gone.
She knows I lied to her. Again. But this time she may not forgive me. This time could be the end.
This is all my father's doing. He came here and exposed all my lies to Rachel, hoping it would make her divorce me. And maybe it will.
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