Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
STELLA
“ T he house is actually in excellent condition.” I’m walking through the house my uncles Will and Matt recently bought next door to mine. The closing finally happened, and now we’re able to get a better look at it together. I can’t believe it’s been a whole month since Danny got married. Time definitely flies. “I think all it’ll take is some fresh paint and a few small repairs, and it’ll be ready to go.”
“We can do all of that in a weekend,” Will says with a nod. “Do you think we need a bigger window in the living room? Does it seem dark in here?”
“You’re just used to all the windows in our house,” Aunt Meg reminds him.
“We could do a bigger window,” I reply. “But it’ll also add more heat from the sun because this is a west-facing wall.”
“Let’s just leave it as-is,” Matt suggests. “We’ll do a little party this weekend and have the family over to help with the painting, repairs, and cleanup.”
“I know that everyone will be happy to help, especially since the kids have an opportunity to live here.”
“It feels like it’s going to be like a fraternity around here,” Nic, Matt’s wife, says with a sigh. “But it’s also going to be a safe place for all the kids, and I think it’ll be fun, too.”
“I agree. Also, I have some furniture and accessories that I had to take out of a client’s house because she didn’t like them, and I couldn’t return them. We might as well use it all here.”
“Wow, that sucks,” Will says with a frown. “Hey, how did it go with Florence? I haven’t heard much.”
“Then you obviously don’t pay attention to online gossip rags,” I mutter, shaking my head.
“What happened?” he asks.
“Wait, you recommended her to Florence ?” Meg props her hands on her hips and stares at her husband. “Why in the world would you do that?”
“Because the woman needed a decorator, and our Stella is the best.”
“Not according to Florence,” I say with a half laugh. “She hated everything I did. Twice. I spent six figures of my own money trying to fix it, and she still humiliated me in front of a live viewing audience. So, let’s just say that it didn’t go well. Oh, and I’m now starting my own business because I got fired.”
The room is silent for a heavy thirty seconds as all four of them stare at me in shock.
“Fuck. That.” Will rubs his hand over his mouth. “I’ll make some calls.”
“It’s done,” I say flatly.
“Why in the hell didn’t you call me to help?” he demands.
“Because it was my job. And because it was embarrassing. She made a point to say that she expected more from Will Montgomery’s niece.”
“Fuck her,” Matt mutters, shaking his head. “That’s some manipulative bullshit right there.”
“You’ll get that money back,” Will fumes. “Tell me you’ve already filed a lawsuit.”
I frown and press my lips together, and Meg rests her hand on my shoulder.
“Honey, you can’t just let her have your money after all of that. It’s not right.”
“It’s over.”
“Nope.” Will shakes his head adamantly. “Absolutely, fucking not. Stella, you cannot just turn and run and hope it all just goes away. We’re not talking about a few hundred dollars here. She worked you over and did it on purpose, and I’m not sure why because I’ve personally never had a problem with her. Until now.”
“Isn’t your boyfriend an attorney?” Nic asks. “That’s what I heard, anyway.”
“He’s not my boyfriend anymore,” I say with a sigh. “Because he filed lawsuit papers without asking me first, and I really just want this to go away.”
“Your parents raised you better than this,” Will says, surprising me.
“What?”
“I know for a damn fact that they didn’t teach you to cut out and run when things get hard. You stand up for yourself, and you do what’s right. You’re so much better than this. Maybe the dude should have communicated more,” Will continues, and I’m stunned speechless, “but he didn’t do the wrong thing. You take that bitch to court and get your money back and then some. She can fucking afford it.”
“I didn’t pursue it for you ,” I yell at him.
“Excuse me?”
“If I do that, if I stand up for myself and confront the bully, she’ll take it out on you. All of this could really hurt you in the media, and I will not drag our family through something like that.”
“So, you think I want you to just roll over and take a fucking beating?” Will demands. “I’m not even playing for that bitch anymore, Stel. And if I were, I would happily tell her to go fuck herself for you. Our family has had some serious shit happen in the media. This won’t last long, and then it’ll be over.”
“Especially given that you’re in the right ,” Matt agrees. “And if it was caught on film, all the better, because anyone with half a brain would see that you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I thought I was doing the right thing,” I say with a sigh, feeling ridiculously close to tears.
“I love that you were trying to protect us,” Meg says and wraps her arm around my shoulders. “What did your parents say?”
I think back to the phone call with them the week that everything happened and cringe.
“Dad wanted to sue her himself. I’m pretty sure they’re frustrated with me, too. I just love you guys so much, and I felt embarrassed because Will recommended me for this important job, and I obviously messed everything up so, so badly. I just want it all to go away.”
“It will,” Nic says. “It will go away after you sue her ass off, along with your former job for wrongful termination. You said you’re opening a new business?”
“Yeah.” I nod a couple of times. “With my associate, Danny. We’re opening on Monday. You should all come to the open house at the new office that afternoon.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Meg says with a grin. “I can’t wait to see your new place.”
“We’ve worked hard on it over the past month or so,” I reply.
Has it been a month since everything went down with Florence already?
“What about the dude?” Will asks.
“What about him?”
“Maybe you should see him. Talk it out. I’ve heard he’s a good guy.”
I sigh. “I tried to call him, but he wasn’t available.”
“Make an appointment,” Nic suggests with a wink.
“Maybe. It’s going to be a busy few days, but maybe after the open house on Monday. Are you sure you’re okay with me pursuing a lawsuit? The thought of your name coming up in anything just breaks my heart.”
“Come here, babe,” Will says, opening his arms. I walk right into them and sigh when he hugs me close. “I’ll be upset if you don’t do this. Stand up for yourself. Be the strong woman I know you are. Hell, I’m shocked that you didn’t punch that old bag in the nose.”
“Oh, I showed considerable restraint,” I reply with a laugh. “Okay. I’ll see to it next week.”
I pull away and take a deep breath.
“Thank you both for buying this house for the kids. It’s going to be a really fun and safe compound for everyone, especially after opening the fence between the two yards and sharing the pool. The parties will be epic. ”
“Maybe we should reconsider,” Will says.
“Nah, I’ll make sure to have the block patrolled every few hours,” Matt replies. He’s been a cop in Seattle forever. He has all the connections.
“Great,” Will says brightly. “Let’s get this started.”
“I had no idea that this many people would come to our open house,” Liz, my assistant extraordinaire, says as she refills glasses of champagne. “And you thought you’d be blackballed.”
“I’m surprised, too,” I admit, looking around our showroom. Our space may be small, but Danny and I decorated it beautifully. “Although I kind of figured that all my family would come, and that’s enough to fill a stadium.”
Liz chuckles as Danny joins us. “I’m still starstruck. Luke Williams, Leo Nash, and Will Montgomery are all within twenty yards of me right now.”
“Along with Amelia Montgomery and freaking Starla ,” Danny adds. “Only the biggest pop star ever. So, yeah, I’m perfectly content with this turnout, honey.”
“And let’s not forget Vaughn Barrymore,” Liz says. “Good God, we could be at a posh Hollywood party. I didn’t dress fancy enough.”
I laugh, grateful that so many members of my family came. There are also several people from our former firm, all of whom I like a lot, and a few of our clients have filtered in and out this afternoon, as well.
“Uh-oh,” Danny murmurs as we see Gray suddenly appear through the crowd. “I’d better go mingle.”
“And I’m going to serve drinks,” Liz agrees and hurries off, leaving me alone with Gray.
“Uh, hi,” I say with a formal smile. Jesus, he’s gorgeous. Tall and handsome with his dark blond hair messy, and his tattoos showing thanks to a short-sleeved shirt.
“Hi,” he replies, his gaze eating me up. “I can’t stay, I just wanted to pop in and see all of this. It’s so great, Stella.”
“Yeah.” I nod and take in the room, trying to ignore so many pairs of eyes looking our way. “Thank you. We worked hard on it.”
“I can see that. Look, I have to go, but I wanted to give you this.”
He holds out a pink gift bag with a white bow, then leans in to kiss my cheek.
“I’m so fucking proud of you, Stella. Good luck to you.”
And with that, he turns and walks away through the crowd and out the front door without looking back.
Shit, that felt so… final.
I look in the bag and feel tears prick my eyes. It’s a blue Tiffany box. When I take it out and pull the white ribbon away, I find a sterling silver business card holder, and on the outside Stella McKenna, Owner is engraved on the front.
“If you don’t call him tomorrow, I might do it for you,” Danny says as he looks over my shoulder. “Seriously, Stella.”
“Yeah, I know. I know.”
“Hell, I think you should run after him,” Liv says as she walks over. “Because I don’t think I’ve ever seen two people light a fire with just a look the way you two just did.”
“He’s already gone,” I say, shaking my head.
But, damn, I miss him so much. I’m so stupid.
“I’ll go see him. I promise.”
He couldn’t get me on his schedule until Friday. I tried to call his cell, but again, he wasn’t available.
So, I made an appointment at his office.
Using a different name.
I’m not going to risk letting him blow me off. Absolutely, not.
I walk into the building and get on the elevator.
It feels like I have a ball of snakes in my stomach. I’ve never been this nervous. Ever.
God, what if he turns me away? He’d be well within his rights to do so. I was so stubborn and so unkind . I wouldn’t blame him if he shoved me out the door and called security to escort me out of the building.
But I hope, with everything in me, that he doesn’t do that.
Mrs. Hadfield looks up from her computer, and when she sees me, her eyes narrow.
“Yes?” Her voice is frosty. I’m surprised there isn’t a thin coat of ice covering everything on her desk.
“I have an appointment with Mr. Sterling,” I inform her.
She checks the computer and then shakes her head. “No, I don’t see your name here.”
“Shelly Jones,” I reply. “I made the appointment under Shelly Jones.”
Her eyebrows climb in surprise, and I shrug a shoulder, not even a little bit ashamed. “I wanted to make sure he would agree to see me.”
“I should send you away,” she says sternly.
“Please, don’t do that.” I clear my throat when I feel it catch. “I really need to see him. I need him.”
She purses her lips as she eyes me for a second, and then with one curt nod, she picks up her phone, punches in some numbers, and waits.
“Mr. Sterling, I have Ms. Jones for you. Very good.” She hangs up and points to the same chair that I sat in the first day I came to see him.
“Thank you,” I say before walking over and taking a seat. Less than two minutes later, the door opens, and his assistant motions for me to follow her.
“Not who I was expecting,” she says as she leads me back. “But I’m happy to see you, Stella.”
“Let’s hope he’s happy, too.”
She opens Gray’s office door and pops her head in. “I have Ms. Jones for you.”
“Send her in.”
His voice is silk.
And when I take a breath and walk through the door, he blinks twice.
“Ms. Jones?”