The sound of a ringtone came from another room.
“I need to get that,” said Embry.
“I’ll wait.” I gave her a polite smile and watched her leave, then sprang into action, hurrying over to his desk and shuffling through the papers. Glancing up, I checked the doorway to ensure Embry didn’t catch me rummaging around and continued my search in the filing cabinet.
Oh, thank God.
I found it lying underneath the files in the bottom drawer, as though he’d gone out of his way to hide it. Maybe he’d not wanted Embry to know he was helping me out by keeping it safe, since it might have set off an argument.
I shoved it into my handbag and walked over to the window just as Embry returned.
“Hey,” she said. “That was Damien on the phone. He wasn’t expecting you.”
“Would you rather I wait until he can be here?” I asked kindly.
“I think it would be best.”
“I can come back. I’ll be in the area for a while.”
“Oh?”
“I’m visiting Astor.” She didn’t need to know our relationship had crashed and burned last night. I ignored the way she glanced around Damien’s office to see if there was anything missing.
We walked back toward the front door.
“I have to get ready for work,” she said in way of an excuse.
“Of course. I should have called you. I thought Damien would be home.”
Her face became unreadable. “He told me he spoke to you about what my father heard about the Beauregard family.”
“I’m taking it all with a grain of salt until I know more.”
“You like him a lot, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.” And even now after everything we’d been through, I missed him.
Her sigh spoke volumes. “Be careful. He comes across as a bit of a playboy.”
“That was my first impression, too.” And I’d not forgotten how she’d batted her eyelashes at Astor, either. My ex was no match for him.
“We just don’t want you to get hurt,” she added.
“Well, first impressions can be wrong,” I said. “Take the first time I met you—though met isn’t really the right word for it. Your ass was in the air and my husband’s dick was in your pussy. Understandably, I jumped to the conclusion that you were a whore.”
Her back stiffened. “Damien told me you were separated.”
“Which you later discovered was a lie, right?”
“You were having problems.”
“Another lie, Embry. One which you fell for.”
She raised her chin. “The fact you had no idea your marriage was failing—”
“Not a fact, a lie.”
She gave me a thin smile. “You’re divorced now so it’s all in the past.”
“It still hurts.”
“People fall in love.” She shrugged.
Yes, bitch, I was in love with my husband before you swept onto the scene like one of those hurricanes you’re so fond of and then decimated my life.
Or maybe, just maybe, she’d set me free…
“Just get to know Astor better, okay?”
“Your concern is touching, but I already have. He’s a great man.”
“He’s good looking, but I’m not so sure you’re a good match.”
My deep sigh reflected my sadness. “Can’t you just be happy for me?”
“If I was you I’d be digging around looking for more answers on him.”
“Maybe I could speak with your dad, then?” I gave a shrug to let her know I wasn’t letting her ruin my day with her jealousy.
She stepped through the front door to close down my visit. “Apparently Astor’s mom was in the room when his dad died. She has all the answers, it seems. Why don’t you ask her?”
A car alarm went off and it grated on my nerves.
“Have a safe trip back to Dunedin,” she said as she turned and rested her hands on the door, ready to shut it. “I want you to know, Raquel. I’ve always prided myself on celebrating women’s rights. On being a good friend. I never envisioned myself as the other woman.”
“What are you trying to say, Embry?”
“I’m sorry.”
There was still too much pain in my heart for me to make the leap to forgiveness. “Statistically speaking, it’s likely he’ll cheat on you, too. You know that, right?” I couldn’t help myself.
“Don’t come back here,” she snapped.
“I don’t need to.” I tapped my handbag. “Got everything I need right here.” I turned and walked away, my hands shaking.
“You better not have stolen anything!” she called after me.
I offered her a warm smile and climbed into my car, started the engine, and drove away from the house, still trembling from finally facing off with her.
With a punch at my dashboard, I had Adele singing about how her ex was a loser and it actually lessened my grief. No, what had changed was Astor Beauregard had come into my life. I allowed myself to think back to our time together. Despite all we’d been through there were enough memories to soothe me.
I wanted that again.
I want him back.
As I drew closer to his offices, my body tingled with an equal measure of anticipation and excitement. This is what he did to me, he made me feel aliveness that until now I’d not experienced.
At three in the afternoon the traffic in South Beach was light and I managed to get to The House of Beauregard quickly. With my ledger clutched to my chest and my mouth dry, I hurried into the reception area bracing myself to see Astor.
I gave a polite smile to the receptionist on the first floor who watched me head up the staircase to the upper level. When Taylor saw me her eyes widened in surprise and she stood up to greet me.
I approached her. “Hey, Taylor, I’ve come to see Astor.”
“Raquel, what happened?” she said, lowering her voice. “Why did you leave so suddenly?”
I hated seeing that conflicted look in her eyes. “It’s complicated—”
“What were you doing in Penelope’s office? I mean, really?”
“Looking for something that belonged to me.”
“Well, look who came back.” I heard Penelope’s voice behind me. “I’m surprised you’re brave enough to show your face, Ms. Wren. My brother told me what you did. You have some nerve.”
I swallowed hard. “Can I speak with Astor?”
“You’ve done enough damage,” she said.
I turned to face Astor’s office hoping he’d overhear us and come out to greet me.
“I only need a few minutes with him.”
“Please escort Ms. Wren from the building, Taylor.” Penelope’s expression was triumphant.
I stood my ground. “I know you had something to do with stealing my formula.”
She looked defiant. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I found this,” I said, raising my ledger, “in your office.”
Her gaze narrowed. “Sounds like you planted evidence to cover your tracks.”
I clenched my jaw as a dull ache of realization hit me—I’d never be able to prove I was the victim.
“Show us evidence that the perfume came from you.”
I raised my ledger. “I’m going to show it to Astor.”
Penelope sneered. “It’s Mr. Beauregard to you. My brother fired you. Get out.”
Taylor shot me a worried look. “What did she do?”
“Corporate espionage. Ms. Wren stole a formula.”
“I didn’t.” I spun to face Taylor. “Please, tell Astor I’m here.”
Taylor took my arm and whispered, “Walk with me.”
I let her guide me away and down the stairs. I didn’t want a scene that would make me look like a disgruntled ex-employee. I wanted to stay calm and keep my dignity.
When we made it outside, I eased my arm out of Taylor’s grip and walked toward my car. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.” Tayl
or glanced back up at the building.
I suspected she was looking to see if Penelope was watching from the upper floor window.
“What’s going on? I don’t understand.” Taylor sounded hurt. “Tell me you’re not a corporate spy.”
“You don’t really believe that, do you?”
“I don’t know what to believe.”
“Well, I’m not. My formula ended up here.” I’d wanted answers, but wasn’t going to tell her that was why I had accepted the job.
This was my problem to solve and I wasn’t in the mood to try to convince her. I hated that our blossoming friendship was tainted with suspicion.
“But you work here,” she said. “It’s in your contract that anything you create—”
“Before,” I told her. “It was stolen before I came here. I found this in Penelope’s office.”
“I let you in her office. I trusted you.”
I chose to ignore that. “I know the new fragrance they’re about to roll out is mine.”
“Can you prove it?”
“I’m trying.”
“You hurt him, you know,” she said softly. “Astor really liked you.”
“That upsets me more than anything.”
“I mean, what is so important that you’d throw away what you guys had?”
“He told you about us?”
“He was giddy over you, Raquel. He’s a great guy and I can’t get over how you’re willing to throw that away.” She held my gaze again. “Why is that perfume so important that you’d risk ruining your relationship with him?”
“It took years to create. My heart and soul are in it. If I license it I could save my shop. But I don’t care about any of that now. I just want to see Astor and prove my intentions were good.”
“Can’t you just create a new one?” She cringed as she spoke the words. “I mean, why blow up your job and betray Astor…”
“It represents all that I am,” I burst out. “It’s the scent of my soul.”
“Oh, God,” she said. “You really believe that?”
I swiped away a tear. “Tell Astor I never meant any of this to happen. Tell him I love him.”
Taylor watched me get in my car, and then tapped on the window.
With a press of a button I lowered it. “I’m sorry if I put you in a tough position, Taylor. I value our friendship.”
“I’m fine.” She glanced up at the window again. “Look, I didn’t tell you this but Astor’s at Bridgestone. If you leave now you’ll catch him.”
Swiping at another rogue tear I gave her a nod of thanks.
“Drive safe,” she said. “Promise?”
I nodded, giving her a watery smile.
She’d gifted me with a chance to persuade him I was telling the truth. All I had to do was show him the formula in this ledger and I would be exonerated.
Why hadn’t I done that before?
Because you wanted even more evidence than that, I reasoned. A perfume made with him in the store would have been indisputable.
They say hope is a dangerous thing, but it was all I had to hold on to. As I drove up the road leading to Bridgestone Manor, a sense of calm came over me. Maybe it was because I was drawing closer to seeing Astor again, or maybe it was because I knew deep down we’d shared something precious that neither of us could deny, something that would outlast this nightmare.
The remnants of the hurricane could be seen in the scattered leaves and ragged palm trees—though South Beach had been spared the brunt of the damage.
Astor’s Range Rover was parked outside the manor. I felt a jolt of excitement when I saw proof he was here. I parked beside his car and headed toward the front door.
After five minutes of waiting for someone to answer the doorbell I went for it and entered. Standing in the foyer I called out, “Hello!”
The entryway was vast and lavish…a true statement of wealth with its tall oriental-style vases holding their lush green plants and the bright touches of color that reflected their Cuban heritage.
I tried to imagine what it would have been like growing up in this big house. My flesh chilled as I thought about Astor spending his childhood here and then being forced to leave it suddenly.
A noise coming from upstairs drew my attention, and I held on to the banister as I ascended, ready to explain why I’d turned up unannounced. Surely Astor felt the same about not giving up on us so easily, that we were worth fighting for. A connection as deep as ours couldn’t be thrown away. Surely some part of him believed that, too.
My gaze swept up. To the right of the balcony stood an elegantly dressed older woman, her familiarity to Astor convincing me she was his mother.
“Sorry to bother you,” I called up. “I’m looking for Astor.”
“Raquel?” Her expression was unreadable.
“Yes, Astor told you about me?”
She gave me a thin smile, then turned and headed away.
I hurried up the staircase and along the balcony, following after her, hoping she’d not consider me rude. “Mrs. Beauregard, may I speak with you?”
I caught her subtle nod as she walked into a room. I followed her, feeling like this encounter might in some way vindicate me. A woman who had endured life’s cruelest blows would have empathy for others…an ability to see both sides.
She’d led me into a spacious bedroom. Though the drinks trolley was out of place.
“My son informed me you are no longer together.” She walked over to the drinks trolley and poured herself a Scotch. “Want one?”
“No, thank you.” Saying it was too early would be rude. “I need to speak with Astor,” I said. “I want to explain something.”
Her gaze settled on my ledger. “My daughter told me you stole something from them.” She took a sip from her glass.
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
“I see.”
“Astor grew up here?” I asked softly.
“Of course.”
“You have a beautiful home.”
Her expression changed. “Circumstances were not kind to us.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” I looked around wondering if this was where it had happened. It wasn’t just the chill in the air…it was the way Mrs. Beauregard glanced at me, as though sensing I knew more. She’d stayed in this house, in this room, prolonging the agony.
What happened in here?
“Why was Astor sent away?” The words slipped out in a whisper.
“When you have children, Raquel, you do whatever it takes to protect them. But when one of them falters you are left with a dilemma that will affect you for the rest of your life. Everyone suffers.”
“I’m sorry you went through that.”
She swallowed, hiding the pain. “I was powerless.”
“Astor…”
“My beautiful boy was taken from me. I should have protected him. Should have told them what really happened.”
“What do you mean?”
“I failed him. That’s why I refused to sell this place all the time he was away. I believed he’d come home and I would make up for his lost childhood. I was forbidden to have any contact with him. With my own son.” Bitterness weighed heavily in her words. “And I agreed to it for his sake.”
My heart ached for her.
“When he did return he was not the boy who had slipped from my arms. He was changed irrevocably.” She shook her head. “He refuses to come into this house.” Her sadness was reflected in her gaze. “He’ll visit his beloved horses and then he always asks me to meet him in the garden.”
“What happened in here, Mrs. Beauregard?” I stepped closer.
“When you marry someone you’re not thinking of the children you’ll have, you’re thinking of yourself and how the other person makes you feel.”
“That makes sense,” I said softly.
“I didn’t know he was violent. After we married…”
“Your husband hurt you?”
Her sorrowful gaze rose to meet
mine. “I never thought I’d become so lonely.”
I looked around her self-imposed prison.
She stared off into space. “My husband was so loud he woke the children. We were arguing. Well, he was. I knew well enough to remain silent. They found me lying on the floor with my jaw broken, barely conscious.” She squeezed her eyes shut.
“When one of them falters.”
My thoughts scattered as I realized if she was on the floor barely awake then it had been one of the children who had defended her. And it had been Astor who had been sent away. Penelope had been so much younger than him.
I heard the floor creak behind me.
“Raquel?” Astor stood in the doorway.
Guilt made me tongue-tied for a moment. “Astor.”
“I see you’ve met my mother.” He gave me a rueful smile. “Why don’t we go for a walk?”
With a nod of thanks to Mrs. Beauregard, I turned to go.
“Raquel,” she whispered.
I faced her.
“I had a choice,” she said softly. “And Astor insisted he make it for me.”
I tried to unscramble what she meant.
“Please, Ms. Wren,” said Astor.
I followed him out into the hallway. “I was looking for you.”
“Well, now you’ve found me.” He gestured toward the stairs. “Shall we?”
Gripping the banister, I descended the steps alongside him, looking over to gauge his reaction, but he was too hard to read.
“I hear you stopped off at my office?” He glanced my way.
“I wanted to talk with you.” I followed him to the center of the foyer.
Astor looked over my shoulder. “It’s fine, Arthur.”
“You know her, sir?” said the middle-aged man dressed like a butler.
I was once again reminded how wealthy they were.
“Yes, I do. Thank you, Arthur.” Astor took hold of my wrist and led me down a long hallway.
“Are you okay?” I asked him.
He gave me a humorless smile. “How are you?”
“Not good.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Astor, I lo—”
“Don’t say it.” His hand shot up. “Not now. And not here.”
I clutched the ledger to my chest. “How’s Caine?”
“He was a stray. He was boarded at a dog rescue and escaped through a hole in the fence.”
Perfume Girl Page 25
