It was late and I was long beyond tired. I wanted nothing except a quick shower and bed, but as I climbed up the stairs, I met May on the stairs. With her was a man I’d never seen, older and grey too, but with a quick smile and sharp, dark eyes.
“I’m afraid your grandmother kept us all up past our bedtimes,” May said with a warm smile. “This is my brother, Henry,” she said nodding at the gentleman. “I don’t think you two have ever met… This is Emily.”
He took my hand. “The pleasure’s all mine, Emily,” he said kindly. “Lovely… just like Justine.”
“Henry’s come to stay with me for a while, so he joined us for cards tonight,” May said. “He and Jussy quite it hit it off,” she added discreetly. I blinked and she smiled. “You can catch her if you go right in,” she added. “She said she planned to wait up for you, just a little longer.”
She gave me a dry kiss on the cheek and Henry smiled indulgently as we said goodnight. I opened the door to find Gran fully dressed, and sitting on the living room loveseat. It had been years since I’d last seen either of those things…
“It’s late, Gran,” I said, taking her arm to help her stand. She brushed me off and straightened on her own. But she was smiling and her cheeks were pink. I noticed she had put a touch of powder on her nose and her usually dry lips had a hint of moist color. Tiny pearls bobbed from her ears. She looked… happy…
“I can do for myself,” she said, blinking at me pleasantly. “You’re home earlier than I expected.”
“And you’re up way past your bedtime,” I said with gentle concern. “I met May and her brother in the hall… They didn’t keep you up too late…?”
“Nonsense, she shot back as I followed her to room. “If anything I kept them up. And I won almost every hand,” she bragged. I reached to help her undress and again, she waved me off. She sat down at her dressing table and handed me her hairbrush. I stood behind her, taking out her long braid and working the soft bristles through her thin locks. She took off her pearls and watched my reflection in the mirror.
“I wasn’t sure if I’d see you tonight,” she began. She watched me as I caught her gaze. “I was hoping we’d have the chance to finish our little talk. At my age, it doesn’t pay to put things off… any longer than I already have.” I continued to brush, waiting. I’d never seen her like this, never heard her like this. I barely dared to breathe, for fear that she wouldn’t go on…
“I was in love once,” she said, a dreamy quality to her voice. “So long ago, I’d nearly forgotten. Something about your young man reminded me, I think. The look in his eyes when he said your name… that wonderful feeling of being young and alive, and having everything still ahead of you.”
“I know how hard it was for you when Gramps died,” I said. “My mom and dad too… You had to raise me like your own…”
“I’m not speaking about your grandfather, dear,” she said softly. My hand stopped. “This isn’t about loss, although I did love him very much. What I’d forgotten is what falling in love feels like.
I met him before I ever knew your grandfather, Emily. I was young… only sixteen years old. But I felt about him the way you feel about your Mr. Chase. And he loved me too. I recognized the look when your young man came here to see me. My Robert was tall and handsome too. And I would have given anything to have spent my life loving him…”
“What… what happened, Gran…?” It came out a whisper, I was so afraid of breaking the spell. She had opened up to me… she was sharing her heart with me…
“Papa didn’t approve,” she said quietly. “He was poor, and Papa said his prospects were even poorer.” She sighed heavily. “In those days, a girl didn’t make such decisions for herself. My parents forbade me to see him again, and I was introduced to your grandfather We were married after only a month. But the leaves had started to turn the day Robert and I said goodbye and every year since those colors came again, to remind me of everything I had wanted… and everything I had lost…
But I didn’t spend too much time looking backward… it was just too painful. I lived my life and did my duty as a wife,” she said. “And I did grow to love your grandfather very much. I want you to know that.” She looked into the mirror, into the reflection of my face. My hand rested softly on her shoulder and she touched it with hers.
“But I’ve also lived long enough to understand, that after all these years, my feelings for Robert never really died. And even now, an entire lifetime too late, I can’t help but wonder
… what might have been…”
42
Chase
Saturday
“You must be out of your mind.”
I stood opposite Sutton in his oversized, overpriced living room and met his eyes as he tried to stare me down. “There’s simply no fucking way. You have no right to commit so much of the company’s assets without my approval. And half my fucking salary? You’ve lost your goddamned mind, Chase. I did what you wanted… I got Pam to back off and I had my lawyer send a letter to a few of the rest. I apologized… without admitting anything they could act on legally. They’ve backed down… there’s no fucking scandal. It’s over, Chase. We can forget the whole ugly mess now, and just move forward.”
“Without paying the price, or learning the lesson?” I asked, dully. “And you just go right on the way you always have. No consequences… no compassion.”
“You can’t run another man’s life for him, Chase. I get it, you’re all wrapped up in this sense of guilt and some sudden concept of morality…”
“I’m talking about integrity, Sutton. And conscience. A sense of responsibility,” I shot back. “I can’t tell you how to live your life, but I am telling you this. If you want Envisager to survive, if you want to continue as a partner, you’ll do everything I’m fucking telling you to do. I’m giving you one last chance. If you don’t take it, I’m walking. Away from you, the company, everything. And you can deal with the consequences on your own. All on your own.”
“You’re fucking bluffing,” he spat back. “There’s no goddamned way you’d walk away from your half of a multibillion dollar company. Even if you did, I could drag your name through the mud right along with me.”
“Threats only work if a man had something to lose,” I replied, coolly. “No company, no billions…
No leverage,”
“You didn’t need to come for my sake,” Emi said, reaching up to run her fingers along my jaw. “But I’m so glad you did.”
In a moment, I forgot the discomfort of my collar and my general dislike of formalwear. She pressed her body against my stiff white shirt and I felt the rest of me go stiff as well. We stood in the church kitchen as Reese put the final touches on the wedding cake. The ceremony had finished a few minutes ago and the happy couple were being photographed. We had ten, maybe fifteen minutes before the reception would begin. I used precious long minutes, kissing her hard. Everything in me wanted more… And by the time I let her go, her tender mouth was pink and swollen, my heart was pounding a deafening rhythm in my ears…
“Consider this fair warning,” I breathed into her hair… her neck. “When this wedding is over, I’m taking you with me, back up to the cabin.” I worked my fingers along the tiny bones of her spine and the first eager drops of fluid seeped from my cock. I stopped my hands in the hollow of her back, just above the curve of her ass. I was throbbing, trapped between the heat of our bodies. “Last time was only a taste,” I whispered. “Nothing compared to the plans I have for you… for us…”
She wrapped her arms around my neck and pressed her breasts against my chest. Even through our clothes, I could feel the hard nubs of her nipples. Her eyes were dark, dilated… I knew she was as wet and ready underneath her prim black skirt, as I was… straining against my zipper. The only thing she wore that broke the severity of her serving uniform was a tiny white apron with a delicate lace edging. For a brief second, I allowed myself the image of her… wearing only that…
“I�
��ve got to take the cake in now,” she said, breathlessly, pushing at my hands. “I’ve got to go… I can’t wait…”
“Neither can I,” I said, reluctantly letting her go. “But I should get back out there too. Ben’s waiting for me. And Sutton’s here,” I said darkly, “though I can’t figure why. He’s got no connection that I know of, to the bride or the groom.”
“Did he back down?” she asked, her hand on my arm. I could feel her fingers gripping tight. “When you told him you’ll walk if he doesn’t cooperate?” Her eyes were brilliant, intense.
I swept a strand of soft brown hair out of her eyes. “He’s weakening,” I said. “He knows he’s cornered and there’s no way out but the truth.” I shook my head. “He can make things right and keep his head above water. Or he can keep on heading for disaster. I’ve made his choices clear enough.”
“And if he refuses?”
I smiled. “I haven’t shown my whole hand. Not yet. I hope he won’t take it that far, but my lawyers have all the papers ready. He fucks up one last time and I’ll sign them.”
“And give up your own company? It isn’t right, Chase. For him to have that kind of power.”
I took her back into my arms and inhaled her sweet, warm scent. She was soft, delicious, curving perfectly to fit the hard angles of my body. I took a long, deep breath and felt my whole heart expand inside my chest. “He has no real power,” I said, looking into her eyes. “I started one company… I can always start another.
I have the only thing I need, right here. I love you, Emi. I can reinvent myself, my whole life a hundred times over, as long as I have you next to me. Whatever else I lose is a small price to pay for everything I’ve gained…”
She leaned in one last time, taking my face in her hands and kissing me hard. “I do love you, Chase,” she said, passionately. Her body radiated heat and her eyes were shining. She bit into her lip, drawing my eyes, and I felt my whole body respond.
“Meet me in twenty minutes,” she said, smiling. “Up in the choir loft. I have a surprise…
Don’t keep me waiting…”
43
Emily
And he didn’t.
Nineteen minutes later, I saw his dark head appear as he climbed the curving staircase. It was dark in the loft, exactly the way I wanted it. Over the balcony’s edge, guests mingled with each other and the champagne was flowing freely. I’d left Reese in charge, with a conspiratorial smile, and climbed up here to wait. Chase had arrived right on cue.
I shivered with excitement as he took me in his arms. I wanted to take this chance all for ourselves… I wanted to give in to the desire that was building in my veins, pulsing between my legs. I felt the excitement of the game, knew the thrill of getting caught. It heated my blood until I thought, when he kissed me, I might come just from that…
“Wait,” I whispered against his mouth, forcing down my rising excitement, pushing against his chest with my palms. “We aren’t alone… I need you to wait, and listen…”
My eyes adjusted to the darkness and I could see the question in his eyes. But a second later, we both turned, watching from our shadowed doorway as another couple reached the top of the stairs. Sutton emerged first, his breathing giving away his excitement. He sucked air through his teeth as he caught the girl’s hand and pulled her hard, into his arms. His hands groped at her body as he buried his face in her neck, in her cleavage. His voice was ragged as he spoke, and I felt Chase’s hand tighten painfully on mine.
“Lean over the balcony, sweetheart,” he whispered harshly, “and spread those baby-sweet thighs for me.” The distinct sound of a zipper cut the air. “We can watch the others from here… while I fuck you against the railing.” He let his pants fall and focused on positioning her. She let him push her forward and move her legs apart. Then he pushed the back of her black skirt up and pulled at her underthings.
“It’s been a fucking long time since I’ve had me a virgin taste of sweet fifteen, baby,” he growled, his hand moving roughly on his cock. “No high school prick for your first time, honey. You’re gonna get a real man.” He poised himself behind her, bracing his legs. “You have no idea what I can do for you…”
“You’re the one with no fucking clue, you twisted shit…” Chase let go of my hand and was next to Sutton in three long strides. He jerked him by the arm, spinning him, as Sutton struggled to cover himself. Amelia was ready at the switch, flooding the loft with light. Tam turned around gracefully, poised, smoothing her rumpled clothes back into place. But Chase saw only Sutton. He had gripped the man’s jacket so tightly around his throat, that his face was turning purple. Sutton had lost his grip on his pants and they slipped down, exposing his now limp dick.
“You goddamned worthless little prick,” Chase ground out. I lunged forward to grab at his arm, as he balled one huge hand into a fist. “So help me, one fucking word out of you and I’ll turn you into something no woman will ever…”
“Stop, Chase… please,” I pleaded, pulling at his arm. His muscles were rock hard under my hands. “He isn’t worth it, I promise you,” I said softly, feeling his grip begin to loosen. “And this isn’t exactly what you think.”
He let go abruptly, disgust evident on his face. Sutton wasted no time pulling his clothes up to cover himself. He stood hunched, his eyes darting. I pulled Chase a few steps back, still holding onto him.
“Tam looks young but she’s legal age, I promise you,” I explained fast. “Sutton just assumed like everyone does, that she wasn’t.” I felt half the tension in Chase’s arm let go as I went on. “He hit on her once before, the night we met… at that very first party. She just walked away from him that night, without ever bothering to set him straight.” I glanced around, catching the looks around the room. “We just wondered what might happen… if he thought he had a second chance…”
“You fucking set me up…,” Sutton said, his mouth hanging slack.
“And you thought you were about to steal the virginity of a fucking fifteen year old kid,” Chase shot back furiously. “Even I didn’t think you were capable of shit like this.”
“And it’s a crime, Sutton,” Amelia said coolly. “A very punishable one.
It doesn’t matter who she is, or how old. It only matters that you believed she was too young to consent, and you were willing and ready to take her anyway. And I’m afraid we’re all witnesses…”
She picked up a file folder from the chair behind her and waved it gently back and forth. “Not to mention I’ve got over a dozen signatures right here. Women you used and then tried to pay off. They all did a little investigating on their own… and they found out about the wagers, Sutton… that you were at the heart of it. They’re willing to let the others off the hook, just not you.” She looked at him and smiled darkly, clearly enjoying herself. “Secrets never stay secret… and there’s a hell of a lot of strength in numbers…”
“You did set him up,” Chase said, turning to look down at me. I didn’t breathe until I saw the corners of his mouth twitch. His dark eyes glittered and I could feel his pleasure. “Were you so sure my methods were going to fail?”
“I couldn’t be more proud to be your sister, Chris, but backup never hurts,” Amelia interjected. Tam went over to her and they linked arms. “And I’ll be getting an A in my journalism class,” she quipped. “No names… of course.”
“And I couldn’t let you walk away from your half of the company,” I added. “Not without trying to do something. I wanted you to have another option.”
“I always did,” he said smoothly, looking at Sutton’s stricken face. “Only one contract had me signing away my interest in Envisager. The lawyers drew up another set as well, because I suspected all along that you’d never meet my demands. And even if you’d tried, I knew it would never last. I’ve decided I’m not walking away from anything. And I won’t share a company with a man I can’t trust.” He stared hard, his gaze unwavering. Although they were almost the same height, Sutton looked s
maller, almost fragile next to Chase. “The second set is for you to sign.
All ties between us will be legally broken. Maybe you’ll stay out of jail… but only at a price. You’ll donate the vast majority of your settlement,” he said calmly. “I’ll make fucking sure that you do.
What you make of your life from here is your own choice and your own responsibility. But it’s over, Sutton. Our partnership in the company, the game, the competition… It’s all over, once and for all.
I know what I want, for the rest of my life,” he said, reaching out to me, pulling me close.
“And she’s right here.”
44
Chase
Ben led Sutton down the stairs. He was a beaten man at last. Somewhere inside, I still hoped he might change, but then he was no longer my concern. I’d cleared my own troubled conscience. Sutton had his own peace to make…
“So it really made no difference to you,” Emily asked, “whether you left Envisager… or he did?” We were finally alone. My sister and our brave Tammy had followed shortly after the others. Emily shut off the glaring overhead lights and slipped her hand into mine.
“It mattered,” I admitted. “Just not enough to let it control my choices.
I’ve lived my whole life… working, struggling, succeeding… all to earn my father’s approval. To earn a moment of his affection.” I shook my head, gathering her softness to me, savoring the feel of her against my chest. “I never thought I’d feel this way, but none of that even matters anymore. He can love me… or he cannot. But I refuse to let his choices influence who I am anymore. Competition… success… they aren’t the same thing as love. I can see that now…
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