by Sarah Peis
“She mentioned she was seeing someone who wanted a kid. I guess that’s where Josie comes in. Pissing me off and getting money out of it is just an added incentive.”
“Could she know about Denver?”
“Honestly? She is sneaky and now that she’s found equally as sneaky friends, anything is possible. If she got money together, she could definitely find out where I am. I’m not exactly hiding.”
Gunner nodded as if he already knew I was going to say that. “I’m going to head out and see what I can find. Don’t leave the building without an escort.”
Great. Just when I thought I’d got rid of my shadow.
“I’ll stay with her,” Rhett said and my head snapped around to focus on him.
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said. I’ll walk you home, and I’ll stay with you. Anna is out of control. We don’t know what she’ll do next. She might not want to wait for the courts to make a decision. You need to tell your lawyer if she threatens you.” He studied my face and sighed. “You still don’t have a lawyer, do you?”
Of course he was right. And since he knew it, and I knew it, there was no point arguing. At the mention of my non-existent lawyer, I looked away, unable to hold his gaze.
“Emmi.”
I was still pretending to be fascinated by Josie, who was trying to put together a giant puzzle. She was too little to match the pieces, but she was having fun anyway.
“Please tell me you’ve found a lawyer.”
“I would love to tell you that I found a lawyer, but it’s impossible to do since I haven’t.”
“Why the hell not?”
“I’ll figure it out. Don’t worry about it.”
He didn’t respond, and I looked up just as he was picking up the phone on his gleaming desk. Someone must polish the wood every day it was so clean. “Lexie, get Lester over here.”
“What are you going to do? I’m fine to—” I was cut off by a commotion outside the still open doors.
“Get out of my way, you skank. I have a right to see my grandchild.”
That sounded an awful lot like Anna. This wasn’t good. She’d found me. And was making a scene in front of Rhett’s employees. I chanced a glance at Rhett, and he looked livid. His fists were balled, his face tight and he was stalking towards the noise.
“Anna,” he said, his voice emotionless, his face a mask. “How can I help you?”
I followed him outside, hiding behind his big frame. Josie was oblivious as usual, happily rearranging the toys and humming to herself.
Anna cackled when she saw Rhett, her eyes squinting up at him. “Of course you’d be involved in this. Never knew how to mind your own business. Always thought you were better than us.”
As soon as Anna saw me standing behind Rhett, she focused her wrath on me. Her already skanky outfit was rounded off by platform stripper heels today. All class as usual. “Well, look who it is.” Her tone was mocking, her eyes narrowed. “The little traitor. I knew it was only a matter of time before you’d whore yourself out. Two guys at the same time though? Even I have to be a little impressed by that.”
That hurt more than it should have, but I refused to show Anna how effective her words were in tearing me down. Instead, I stood up taller and looked down my nose at her. We were the same height so it was more like staring at her head on. “I learned from the best after all, didn’t I?”
Someone gasped, and I realized we had turned the office into a Jerry Springer show.
“Always wanted him, ever since you were little. Following him around everywhere. Does he know about the other guy you’re seeing?”
Rhett nodded at someone. “Lester. Good to see you.”
A man that looked like Santa Claus joined our circle. “Rhett.” He nodded at me. “And this is Emmerson, I presume?” He held out his hand for me to shake. “Pleasure to finally meet you.”
I shook his hand, too confused to form words. Who was he and what was he doing here? And why did he know who I was?
“This is Anna McAllister,” Rhett said and pointed at my mom.
“I see,” Lester said.
“Anna. This is Emmerson’s lawyer, Lester Dermot. All communication will go through him. It would be best if you could let your lawyer know, so they can sort it out. No need for personal visits,” Rhett said. His expression was hard, making sure Anna knew that this was not a suggestion.
“I will talk to my daughter whenever I want to,” she said, ignoring common sense.
I had to hold back the tears. Not only was she making a scene in front of the whole office, she was wrecking everything she could.
“Your daddy thought he could pay me off,” she spat at Rhett. “But he’s not around anymore.” The last was delivered with a happy snark.
Rhett stepped next to me, his arm on my back, his body strung tight. He was about to explode. “Funny how we thought with all the money we paid you, the matter was closed and a non-disclosure wouldn’t be the issue.”
I tried to step out of his reach, unsure of what was going on, but his arm was holding tight.
“Get out before I get security to remove you.” He pointed to the side where four big security guards waited to jump in should they need to.
“You little shit, think you can tell me what to do just like your daddy? I’m not going to let you get away with it this time.”
Rhett nodded to the security guards, and they came up, flanking mom on both sides. “We’ll see you in court,” he said.
The guards each took one side when she refused to move. Anna wasn’t about to go quietly and she screamed the whole way to the elevator. “You’re going to regret this. I hope your little whore knows what you’ve been up to. Because I’ll make sure she does.”
With that parting shot, the doors to the elevator closed, leaving us behind in stunned silence.
“The show’s over. Back to work everyone,” Rhett said and pulled me into his office and closed the door, leaving everyone including Lester and Gunner behind.
I was a jumbled mess, my mind going a hundred miles a minute. Did his dad pay my mom money? For what? And what was Rhett’s involvement?
“What was she talking about?”
He started pacing ignoring my question, looking less like the cold-hearted businessman than ever. If I didn’t know any better, I would say he looked worried. Before I could say more to press him, he went on, “Stop making up crazy scenarios in your head. It’s bad, but not as bad as what you’re probably thinking right now.”
“You don’t know what I’m thinking. Maybe I’m just trying to decide what to have for lunch.”
My joke was as misplaced as it was untrue, because the money was all I could think about. Rhett still hadn’t explained his sudden disappearance to me. Was it connected to the money?
“I’m going to tell you something that I hoped would never get out.” He shot a look at Josie who was oblivious to what was going on, still enthralled by her new toys. “But I don’t want to lose you again. And I feel like if I don’t come clean, you are going to run away so fast I won’t be able to stop you.”
Honesty. Good idea. But did I trust that what he was going to tell me was actually true? And would it stop me from still running? Okay. Focus. I could do this. I was gonna let him talk first. Because there was no point freaking out yet. Except that there was definitely a lot of money. And Anna was involved. A match made in hell.
“It doesn’t exactly inspire trust if you have to come clean about something. It sounds like you’ve done something wrong,” I said, putting distance between us. I couldn’t think when he was close.
Josie waved a Lego block in front of me. “Mimi, look.”
I bent down and admired the toy. “Looks amazing. What are you going to build with it?”
She kneeled in front of the pile she had emptied on the floor and pulled another bit out. “House. You help.”
“I will, Spatz, just give me a minute.” She was good at playing by herself, but
she was still little so her attention span was short and she got bored after a while.
Seemingly satisfied with my answer, she went back to rearranging the blocks. Rhett had watched the exchange with what could only be described as a wistful expression on his face. I stood back up and faced him, ready to hear this confession.
“You remember the summer when you stayed over at my house? Just after Nate left?”
Oh boy did I remember that summer. I was staying in the Cormack’s guest bedroom for weeks, heartbroken that Nate had left and confused about my feelings for Rhett. Oma was busy taking care of Freddie. I tried to help as much as I could, but a fourteen-year-old wasn’t exactly interested in watching her younger sister play with her Barbies.
Rhett started playing with his pen, clicking it open and shut, open and shut. He was nervous. Something I had never seen him be. I nodded at his question, indicating him to go on.
“Then you’d also remember that my mom and dad were fighting the whole time. He was hardly ever home, but when he was, they were going at it.”
We had stayed out of their way, shutting ourselves into Rhett’s bedroom, watching bad television and talking about everything and nothing. I was happier then than I ever remember being.
“Dad had an affair. They nearly divorced when Mom found out.”
Made sense. Rhett’s dad had been a harassment suit in the making. He hit on anything with boobs. Openly and without shame.
“It was with your mom.”
“What?” I croaked out, not able to process what he just said. I didn’t expect that. What the hell was going on? My mom and Rhett’s dad? How? When?
“It was going on the whole summer. She said she was pregnant and wanted money. Turned out that she wasn’t but we paid her off to keep quiet. A scandal like that would have seen our shares plummet. The company would have suffered.”
I was now staring at Rhett, blinking rapidly. This couldn’t be true. Was it?
“She signed a non-disclosure after we paid her. And she is wrong. Her non-disclosure still stands, even with dad’s death. So we could sue her. But that would just mean poking a hornets’ nest. My guess is she wants more money and once she’s got it, she’ll go away.”
I would say his guess was right. She wasn’t only trying to get Josie’s money but also squeeze more out of Rhett. It was so her.
“I don’t know what to think. This is crazy.” I wrung my hands and started pacing. “Is this why you disappeared? Did you think I was as bad as her?” Holy crap, this explained everything. He didn’t want to have anything to do with me anymore. Like mother like daughter. I felt sick. Did he still feel that way?
He was in front of me within two seconds, pulling me close. “No, Emmi. Never. I know you’re nothing like her. Please don’t think that. My reasons were much more selfish. Dad promised to fund my company if I left Butler. He wanted me as far away as possible. I couldn’t say no. You knew how much that company meant to me. And he knew how much you meant to me. But I ran. I’m so sorry. I chose wrong.”
His company was worth more to him than I was. Tears pooled in my eyes. This was too much. I couldn’t do this. I had to get out. “It couldn’t have been that important since you aren’t running your own company but your dad’s.” Yet he still chose it over me. Bile rose in my throat, threatening to choke me. “I need to go. I can’t be here.” I pushed away from him, putting up my hands when he tried to grab me again.
“Emmi, please, I didn’t do a very good job of explaining myself.”
“I think you did just fine. I have to go.”
Without a second look, I grabbed Josie and left. I had to get out and I had to get out fast.
“You forgot your bags.”
I blinked. Then I blinked again, willing Gunner to go away. When he didn’t budge from the door I foolishly opened only seconds ago when I heard a knock, I stepped back to let him in. He knew the code anyway. If I closed the door in his face like I wanted to, he’d come in anyway. The knocking was a gesture if nothing else. “You also left without an escort. Stupid thing to do, especially after what happened at the office.”
He dropped everything next to the kitchen table that was covered in glue, paint and food. I’d needed a minute to myself and so I’d let Josie go crazy with the craft supplies when we got back to the apartment. Luckily they were still in my car. Because there was no way I was going back to the office for anything. What I really wanted to do was drive home, but I was so upset I didn’t want to risk crashing the car.
After Josie painted and I’d sulked, we ate pizza and gorged ourselves on chocolate. What was even better was that she passed out for a rare nap and was now sleeping soundly on the couch. I was debating whether I should snuggle up next to her and watch some mindless daytime television or continue my pacing when Gunner knocked on the door.
He interrupted some serious debating. I hoped he would get on with it so I could get back to brooding. He didn’t seem in a rush, instead his gaze moved around the open living room with raised brows. The mess wasn’t only contained to the table. There were shoes and clothes everywhere. I didn’t want to waste any time finding the paint and paper, so I just turned my bag upside down and emptied everything onto the floor.
“Don’t say it,” I warned and put my hands on my hips for good measure.
He put his hands up and gave me one of his faces. I liked to call this one the I’m going to get up in your business whether you like it or not face.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Not really. But ask me again after I finish the bowl of goodness over there and you might get a different answer.” I pointed to a huge bowl that I’d filled with Woppers, M&M’s , Mars bars and pretzels for quick and easy access. A half eaten jar of Nutella sat beside it.
He sneered at the bowl and took a step back as if being in the presence of all that sugar was going to clog his arteries. “That’s disgusting.”
I shrugged and took another handful of chocolaty goodness. “We can’t all be health nuts like you.”
I made sure to chew as loudly as my already overworked jaw would allow. I had done a lot of eating in the past hour.
“You could try working it out on a punching bag.”
I scoffed and grabbed more chocolate. “No thanks. I prefer abusing my body this way instead.”
“Want some company?”
He was being awfully nice. Too nice. And he was supposed to be off doing his macho Rambo relaxation. “What are you still doing here?” I was suspicious by nature, having learned not to trust anything or anyone very early in life. Anna had made sure of it. “Did Rhett send you?”
His stoic expression didn’t change, no muscle in his face so much as twitched.
I grabbed the giant bowl off the table and walked back into the living room, cradling it protectively. “I don’t need a babysitter. Go and have some fun. You deserve it for all the quality stalking you’ve done this week.”
“I’ll hang out.” Of course he would, because he was told to watch me so he would, no matter what. I ignored him and sat the bowl on the coffee table before continuing to pace.
“Do you have anything that’s not coated in chocolate?” What a silly question. Of course I didn’t. Except for kids cereal. And that was for Josie’s breakfast. The rest of our food came from restaurants around the area that delivered.
“Water?” I half-asked, half-responded.
With a grunt, he walked to the kitchen and got a glass out of the cabinet. There was a tap and filter built into the humongous fridge and Gunner put some ice, then water, in his glass. There was definitely some perks to this apartment. Too bad it was in Denver and right next door to Rhett.
Josie was still fast asleep, buried under a blanket, cradling a chocolate bar.
Gunner sat down in one of the leather chairs that came with a drink holder and footrest. Josie spent an hour pulling the footrest out and pushing it back in the first time we stayed here. I was surprised it still worked.
“
Sit down. Your pacing is distracting.”
I slowed my steps but didn’t stop. “Distracting from what? You’re not even doing anything, just sitting there drinking your boring water.”
“You need to relax.”
“You relax.”
“Sit down.”
“I don’t want to. I’m fine standing up.”
“You mean the standing up that includes pacing like a chicken that got its feathers all ruffled.”
“I’m not a chicken.”
“Didn’t call you one.”
“Why are you even here?”
“To keep you company.”
“Why? I have company already.” I pointed at Josie.
“Adult company.”
“I don’t need adult company. Got plenty of that at home and at work.”
“You aren’t at home or at work.”
“I realize that. Why don’t you just go and leave me in peace?”
“Nope.”
He took another sip of his water, watching me pick up speed. He sat his glass on the table and grabbed the remote, turning on the TV. He stopped at a football game and settled into his seat.
“How long are you planning on staying?”
“Not sure yet. Depends.”
“On what?”
“On things.”
“What things?”
“Don’t worry about it. Finish your pacing and come watch the game with me.”
“I like pacing. And I hate football.”
“You hate football?”
“Correct.”
“You hate it, as in dislike?”
Did I not just say that? Wasn’t that hard to believe, surely? Not everyone liked football. I was just one of those people that didn’t.
“Yes, hate it.”
“Huh.”
Great, now I’d lost even more points in the cool column. Not that I had many in there to begin with. Whatever. I was fine being a football hater. Nothing wrong with that.
The pacing wasn’t doing it for me anymore and I got the bowl off the table before throwing myself into the other chair. The footrest went up and I let out an involuntary sigh of relief. Gunner looked up and winked at me, but stayed blessedly silent.
