I wanted to hug her and hold her close, but I settled for a relieved chuckle. "I suppose finding me sneaking around in the dark isn't really going to help your cause."
Jessa smiled. "It doesn't count when you were only trying to sneak up on me. I don't know why I didn't turn on the lights."
She flinched, and I rushed forward to put my arms around her. "What is it?" I asked.
"I don't know," Jessa whispered. "I just get the feeling that we're not alone up here."
I chuckled again and pulled her closer. "I can tell you for certain the building is not haunted. I checked it thoroughly when I was a kid."
Jessa looked up at me, going a little stiff in my arms. I should have let her go but I couldn't. Instead, I held on and held her gaze.
"I'm so sorry I lied about who I am," I said.
She shook her head and reached up a hand to caress my cheek. "No. No need to apologize. I know exactly why you did it. You wanted me to get to know the real you, not the rich heir your family created."
I kissed her.
It seemed like the most natural thing in the world to lean down and claim her lips. Jessa's taste was so familiar, so delicious that I couldn't have stopped myself.
And then she kissed me back.
The whole building could have dissolved under our feet, and I wouldn't have noticed. Every curve of her body fitted against me, and I just couldn't get enough.
It took all my willpower to step back and end the kiss. She was still engaged to another man, after all.
"Dayton, please. We have to talk," Jessa said.
I knew if I took her hand and led her to her father's office that we would talk, but only for a very little before I had to make love to her again.
"Not here," I said. "Let's go somewhere private."
Jessa smiled. "What could be more private than an empty office building?"
"Are you kidding? This place has cameras all over. More since the software theft," I reminded her.
Jessa shook her head. "The tech lab doesn't. My father was adamant that it not have any cameras. He wanted his work there to be top secret."
"And that's why there's no security footage of the thief."
"We can talk there, in private." Jessa took my hand and led me down the hallway.
I was so busy lecturing myself in my head over the moral implications of making love to Jessa that I didn't hear anything until she froze.
"That's the sound I heard earlier," she whispered.
I pulled Jessa behind me and proceeded down the hallway towards the sound. It was a strange, rhythmic sound, soft but insistent.
"It's coming from the tech lab," I whispered. "Who did your father give access to after the theft?"
Jessa pulled me back. "I'm the only other one he gave the code to."
She pressed it quietly into the glowing keypad, and the door lock clicked open. The sound inside paused then started again. There was definitely someone there. I could hear them breathing.
"If it isn't you or your father, who would it be?" I asked, inching forward.
"My mother is the only other one."
I held up a hand to stop Jessa before I leaned around the hallway corner to look. Then I stood up, whirled around, and tried to push her back towards the door.
"What? What is it?" she whispered.
"Nothing. I'll tell you outside. Let's just go."
Jessa dug her heels in and refused to move. "Who's there?" she called out loudly.
There was a scramble of noises from around the corner, and I couldn't have stopped Jessa if I tried. She shoved me aside and rushed to see her father yanking his pants up.
There behind the first desk, a tall busty woman with smeared lipstick pulled down her shirt and flipped her hair. "So much for privacy, Maxie."
"Father?" Jessa's voice was high and brittle.
"Jessa! What on earth are you doing here at this time of night!"
I was glad that I was out of sight. I backed up just in time for Jessa to run by me and then followed her to the elevator. We were safe inside before her father had enough clothes on to follow us.
"I'm sorry, Jessa. You didn't need to see that," I sighed.
She shook her head. "No. I think that's exactly what I needed to see. Now I know the truth."
Chapter 19
Jessa
I plugged the lights in, and the full, bright Christmas tree blazed to life. It caused a tight knot in my chest, but I was glad I had decorated for the holiday. It was a great way to celebrate officially moving into my downtown apartment.
I sighed happily and decided to pour myself a celebratory glass of champagne. I was proud.
The old Jessa would have taken such a shock and buried herself in her bed for weeks. With the patient staff at my parents' mansion, it would have been easy for me to hole up. Moving out didn't mean I was any less heartbroken; I just knew life would go on.
The new Jessa was more determined than ever. I didn't let myself go home. Going home was going backwards, and I was ready to move forward with my life.
And the first steps were to clear Dayton Miller's name.
I toasted my merry tree and wondered if my Christmas wish would come true. I wanted my parents to clear the air and reconcile as best they could, but I knew that wasn't my wish to make. I was almost too scared to say my wish out loud.
The way Dayton had kissed me.
I shook off the cherished memory and sighed. It was time to take another step.
Now that I knew why my parents were estranged, I had to confront my mother. We knew plenty of women who had been cheated on. Divorce was acceptable, almost a rite of passage amongst my mother's friends. It was time for her to stop pouting and come up with a course of action.
"How festive." My mother strolled into my apartment without bothering to knock. "I hope you didn't invite me over here to celebrate Christmas early. I'm just not in a merry mood."
"Because Father is cheating on you?" I asked.
My mother's swaggering survey of my apartment stopped, and she turned to me with wide eyes. "How did you find out?"
My voice faltered. "I walked in on them."
"Oh, honey." My mother rushed over and wrapped me in one of her rare but fierce hugs. "What a terrible way to find out. I should have told you, I knew."
"Are you okay?" I asked.
Estrella slipped from my arms and retreated to a far window. "Fine is a relative word. I'm keeping calm."
"And liquidating all your assets," I reminded her.
My mother sighed. "I'm being prudent. I've known for a while and, while I wanted revenge at first, I'm slowly coming to grips with things. I'm almost ready to be out on my own."
"So you're not going to bail out Lauren Corp?" I knew the answer, but I had to ask.
My mother scoffed. "Sorry, darling. I know you'll find your way but your father let that business wither a long time ago."
"But you had such a hand in it." I poured her a glass of champagne and settled her down on my new sofa.
"Well, let's just say I'm ready to break new ground." My mother toasted me. "And it looks like you are too."
I smiled. "I am, but I have some unfinished business first."
"Robert?" my mother asked.
I squirmed but stayed focused. "Dayton. I know he's innocent and I'm determined to clear his name. Can you help me?"
My mother floated up and paced around the sofa, heading for the door. "Oh, darling, I'm not going to be much help."
I knew I was pushing her. My poor mother just wanted to find a way to sever her marriage and move on, and all I could do was badger her about old news.
Still, I couldn't help myself. "Do you at least remember who else had access to the tech lab?"
"Only me, your father and that plastic-filled hussy of his." My mother handed me her empty champagne flute and whirled towards the door. "I love what you've done with the place. See you, Christmas Eve, dear."
I finished my own glass in the deep peace of my apartmen
t, but my mind wouldn't quiet down. It hounded me until I went to the computer and started digging into the new patent that had been filed. A familiar name jumped out at me, and my heart almost stopped.
Maybe, just maybe my Christmas wish would come true.
I made a few, quick and genial phone calls, wishing everyone happy holidays, and within the hour I flopped back down on my sofa in shock.
So, it was true: Robert had helped push the new patent along. It had bothered me for so long how Robert had talked jealously about my father's business. He had always wanted a new invention or something amazing of his own in an egomaniacal way.
When I dumped him, Robert must have decided to take that distinction from my father as revenge.
I lay there with my heart thundering. I had been right about Robert and his petty cruelty. I had been right to dump him when I did. And now I had all the reason in the world to do it again.
My relief and joy were so immense that I lay flat on the sofa in shock; almost giddy.
There was no denying it now; I loved Dayton.
Just the mere thought that I could soon be free to see him had sent my happiness into the stratosphere. And I hadn't wasted a single thought worrying how Robert might take the sad news.
Finally, I leapt up from the sofa and retrieved my phone. I dialed before I could turn coward and bit my lip until Dayton picked up.
"I don't know who else to call. I have a theory about who stole the software and no one to discuss it with," I said, in an embarrassed rush.
"Discuss away," Dayton said, with a chuckle.
"Where are you?" I asked.
Dayton laughed. "At work."
"Do you mind going up to Marcus' desk and asking to see the security footage from the night the software was stolen?" I asked.
"What's the theory," Dayton asked on his way.
"I think Robert knew my father's mistress. I think he blackmailed her to steal the software for him," I said.
We spent over two hours on the phone together as Dayton combed through the security footage, but we never connected Robert with my father's mistress.
"They could have met elsewhere," Dayton said.
"No. There's still something missing. What am I missing?" I paced my apartment and thought through all the people Dayton had noted. "Wait. What was my mother doing in the office?"
"I don't know. She spent a little time chatting with Robert," Dayton said.
"That's strange, right? Why would my mother meet up with my ex-fiance?" I asked aloud.
"Ex?" Dayton said before holding his breath. "Sorry. None of my business."
I wanted to tell him. I was bursting to tell him how I felt, but I had to find out who stole the software first. I had to make up for all the false accusations.
Instead, I said, "I forgive you. I mean, I get why you lied about your money and everything. It wasn't a betrayal. I over-reacted."
I hung up before Dayton could say anything else. Everything felt so close and so possible, but I still had to tie up all the loose ends.
I raced to my parents' mansion. My father was off somewhere with his mistress, so I found my mother alone at home. Then it occurred to me how strange that was. Estrella was the queen of shopping while upset, and I had suspected she had gone straight to Saks after leaving my apartment.
"Are you meeting someone?" I asked when our butler showed me to my mother waiting in the library.
"No. Just steadying my nerves." Estrella showed me her delicate sherry glass.
I waved for her to pour me one too and sat down, especially since it looked like my mother did not want me to stay. "I think I found a connection between one of the men on the patent committee and the thief who stole the software," I declared, watching her closely.
My mother didn't spill a drop of sherry as she handed me my glass. "That seems like an impressive stretch. Though, dear, I have to say I think the police detectives will dismiss your theory. Not enough, what's the word? Substance?"
"Substantial evidence," I corrected.
Estrella sipped her sherry and nodded. "Yes, that's it."
"You don't even want to hear my theory?" I asked.
"Oh, of course. Just keep in mind I am very distracted these days," she said. My mother walked to the window to mask her feelings.
"I'm pretty sure Robert had something to do with it," I called to her.
My mother sighed. "Jessa, if you want to call off your engagement again then go ahead and do it. Don't come up with outlandish tales."
"But I like outlandish tales," I smiled. "Like the one you're about to tell me. Why were you seen meeting with Robert the day before the software theft?"
My mother spun from the window and tried to make a dramatic exit, but I blocked her way. "Honestly, Jessa. I'm worried about you. Have you been getting any sleep lately?"
I held my ground. "Just answer the question, Mother."
"Fine. When was this supposed meeting?" My mother tried to wave me back. "It was probably about wedding plans, darling."
"It was after I had broken up with Robert. That's why it seemed so odd to see him at the office again, much less see him meet with you," I jabbed.
"Well, what else would Robert and I meet about?" my mother asked.
"Revenge. You wanted to destroy Father's business, and Robert wanted to see me suffer. So, you convinced him to contact his friend at the patent office. That way you're stolen software could be even more destructive."
"Jessa, that's preposterous."
"Oh, there you are, ladies." Robert sauntered into the room. "I was in the neighborhood, and I saw Jessa's car in the driveway. I hope I'm not interrupting."
My jaw dropped. "So I was right? You were really in on this together?"
My mother shook her head, her face drawn and tight. "No, Jessa. Please. You don't understand."
Robert grabbed my elbow. "Calm down, Jessa. There's no reason to act like a child."
I wrenched my arm free from Robert and backed away. "Don't ever touch me again," I spat.
His eyes narrowed. "What is all this about?"
I could see he was lying. He had been right that we knew each other too well not to be honest.
"You helped my mother sell the stolen software. With your connection at the patent office, the reverse-engineered patent would be able to slip through and make our competitor millions," I said.
Robert snarled. "Just keep your mouth shut, Jessa. Jesus Christ! I've been trying and trying to get you to stop sabotaging yourself."
"Sabotaging myself? You're the one conspiring with my mother to destroy my father and my family business!"
Robert rolled his eyes. "So what? What I've been trying to get you to see is that it doesn't matter. Once you and I are married, we'll be wealthy enough, pedigreed enough, to go anywhere in the world and do anything we want."
"Like lie and steal?" I shrieked. I grappled with the heavy ring on my finger. "How about we make a deal, Robert. I'll marry you if you promise not to lie to me anymore."
My mother tried to stop him, but Robert ignored her and said; "Fine. I may have helped along the patent. I was only helping your mother. She already had the plans to steal the software; I just made it triple. We split it 60/40 on an account that I plan to share my cut with my new wife."
"Jesus! I'll never marry you." I yelled, holding the heavy ring in my hand.
"Don't you dare," Robert hissed. I whipped the ring at him. His face was explosive and he lunged for me. I drew my arm back, balled my fist and hit him square in the face. Stunned, he stood there looking at me. I turned and burst open the library doors. My mother was fine with her nosy staff on hand, so I walked out the front door feeling the weight lifted off my shoulders.
It wasn't until I was in my car at the end of the driveway that I realized I was free.
And, better yet, Dayton's name was clear.
Chapter 20
Dayton
When she swept into the lobby on New Year's Eve, I thought I had finally lost my mind
. Jessa was wearing a flowing off-the-shoulder ball gown that swept out in gentle billows as she moved. There seemed to be a twinkling light around her, and I blinked then stared again.
"I think those are called diamonds," Mike said. "Those shiny things? I heard Vera Wang made the dress for her special."
"Well, that's because she really is something special," I said.
Mike clapped me on the shoulder, hard, shoving me in Jessa's direction but I resisted. She'd skyrocketed into the headlines just days before when she solved the mystery of her father's stolen software.
Her recording of Robert Duncan confessing the scheme had been enough to put both his and her mother's reputations into the toilet. There wasn't enough evidence to link the theft and the new patent to their competitor, so the press had a field day with the family angle.
Out of the chaos, Jessa had emerged like a saving angel. She'd cleared my name, saved her father's company, and shed the weight of her parents' bad decisions as well as her own.
Jessa Lauren was now an icon of honesty, integrity, and she was the new face of Lauren Corp. A fashionable woman on top of her industry.
I watched her in awe.
It was my building's grand reopening, and my first soiree since re-entering society, but I only had eyes for her. Me and every other man in the vicinity.
Jessa Lauren was also, quite infamously, single after dumping Robert Duncan for the second time.
I couldn't quite bring myself to go talk to her. It still seemed so unreal: the official apology the SFPD had issued me; the flood of interest in my historic building; and the relief at knowing Jessa was no longer tied to a man not worth her spit.
Instead, I wandered my party and enjoyed the awkward 'mystery man' vibe my part in the story had cultivated. After being 'outed' as the heir to the Miller fortune, all of my office spaces had rented, and a flood of interested offers for renovations had come in. It seemed like the world was ready to welcome a wealthy yet hard-working man.
And yet I hesitated to be seen near Jessa.
She didn't need any more disparaging headlines, and I still had a criminal past to contend with.
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