4. Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Nova
I sat on a chair right next to Anson and across from Nina.
I could smell him. His cologne was different—but beneath that musk was just him—Anson, my man, my love, my heart.
I'd made my face back up and made sure my eyes got a shit ton of Visine, so no one would know I'd cried my heart out.
What does one say when sitting next to the man who you gave your heart and love to—and he threw it away as brutally as he could? Not just threw it back, but made sure that I was physically torn apart as well. What kind of man did that? Not a good man. Not a decent man. Even, say, I did steal from him, did that give him the right to have me sexually assaulted for it?
He thought he hated me and found me disgusting—well, hell, I may be a whore's daughter and, according to him, a thief, but Anson Larue was morally bent, as far as I was concerned.
How could this man have been my friend? How could he have been so kind and gentle with me? How could he have said he loved me, and then treated me the way he did, and for what? Jewelry?
Rich people were only interested in having things . They didn't understand emotions and feelings. They didn't care about people. They cared about what they owned.
After I moved to Savannah, I threw myself into studying at Savannah State University. I refused to let Anson affect me. I didn't deal with what happened in Raymond Carre's prison cell—not until I went out on a date, and an innocuous hand on my arm caused me to have a nervous breakdown.
That's how I met Trevor.
For some reason, Emmett had still been listed as my emergency contact since it was his assistant who had gotten me out of Sentinel, and had me seen to by Emmett's private doctor.
"The bruises will eventually fade," the doctor had kindly told me. "And I'm glad you weren't raped, but you've gone through immense trauma. I recommend seeing a psychologist to process this."
I had fought Raymond Carre as hard as I could, and thankfully, before he could rape me, I'd been rescued. No complaint had been made against the Deputy Sheriff for placing me in the same cell as a convicted sex offender, who was spending the night in jail for drunk and disorderly. The defense lawyer Emmett had hired for me had been ready to do so, especially since she was convinced that the evidence against me for theft would not hold up in court.
Emmett had put a stop to that. He said that getting me out had been complicated enough without having to make an official complaint against the deputy, which would reveal how the Governor had interfered in having me released. Since I'd been in no shape to take on Sentinel's sheriff's son, I'd not pursued the matter.
I had also not seen a psychologist, which had led me to spending seventy-two hours under suicide watch after my nervous breakdown. That was when Trevor and I became friends, and given his mother's recent heart issues, we decided to keep my being his half-sister under wraps.
Trevor had considered telling Beau, his older brother, but we decided against it, unsure of how he would react. For now, Beau believed I was simply a friend of Trevor and Katya, and that was enough. We were careful to never discuss it. The more people who knew, the greater the chance my true parentage would be revealed, and I didn't need the complications that being connected to the famous Bodine family of Savannah would bring.
The Bodines, like the Larues, were old-money Georgia. They were connected to the elite of the state and lived a privileged life. But unlike Anson and his sister Alma, Trevor was a down-to-earth, decent man who had chosen to become a schoolteacher. He had plenty of money that he'd inherited from his grandparents and father, but he and Katya lived simply, even if their wedding was going to be, as Katya put it, "A crazy, rich people wedding, that makes me want to elope."
Anson was probably going to have a big wedding like that, when he married Bailey. They got engaged six months ago, but I hadn't seen a wedding date announcement, not that I was keeping track or anything.
I snapped out of my reverie when Nina asked me if I had time to be the project manager on the Sentinel Heights project, which based on my rough on-the-back-of-a-napkin calculation, was worth one hundred fifty million dollars. I usually managed smaller projects, so the lead architect was not bogged down with administrative tasks. This would be a BFD for my career and me.
I nodded thoughtfully, and turned to look at Anson. I schooled my features to show no emotion. "Mr. Larue, considering how you spoke with me a while ago, I want to make sure that you'll be okay with me managing this project. And I'd need reassurance that your behavior earlier was an aberration and will not be repeated."
I saw surprise and reluctant admiration flicker in Anson's eyes.
Did he think I'd remain the innocent girl he ripped apart? I knew how to take care of myself now. No one mistreated me—I didn't allow it. I protected myself, always.
"If you remain professional, Nova, I'll do the same. In any case, you'll be workin' with my fiancée," he grinned maliciously. "She's heading the project for Larue Homes. Would that be okay with you?"
My heart hammered at the thought of seeing Bailey again. She and Alma, I was sure, were the reason I'd been arrested, the reason why we'd ended so violently.
"He's engaged to Bailey Hyatt," Nina explained.
I pretended as if this was the first time I heard that news, and smiled solicitously.
"Congratulations on your engagement. I have no problem working with Miss Hyatt."
"Are you sure?" Anson asked sarcastically.
"Did you know her?" Nina inquired.
I chuckled. "Yes. Miss Hyatt was one of the popular girls in high school and…I wasn't." I turned to Anson. "Neither of us is in high school any longer, Mr. Larue. I don't see a problem."
"Call me Anson. Mr. Larue makes me feel like I'm my father." He spoke pleasantly enough, but I could see it rankled him that I wasn't showing any emotions that could be construed as me hanging on in any way to my past and him. If only he knew. I was desperate to get away from him, find a bottle of wine, and binge-watch a show on Netflix.
Or maybe I could take an Ambien and sleep through the confusion seeing him again was causing.
I hated this man.
I loved him as well, because love was an idiot.
I never got over Anson. I'd never be with him again, but I'd always, always want him, even though I'd seen him at his worst. That was love. Stupid and pathetic. Impossible to kill or live with. It was easier when I didn't see him, but now I would, a lot. I'd see him with his fiancée. It would break my heart again and again.
Your heart is tougher than you think, girl. Just put on your big girl panties, and show him how good you are at your job. Maybe then he'll finally believe that you're honest, and that you have integrity and moral fortitude.
"I prefer Mr. Larue." I saw him flinch at my refusal to use his name. I felt the sourness he felt for me reach out and choke me. "Could you please send me all the materials you have for this project? Once I've reviewed them, I'd like to meet with you and the Sentinel Heights team to gain a better understanding of the project."
"We don't have a lot of time," he growled. "I want the project team to meet with you next Tuesday."
Today was Thursday, so, the asshole was obviously pushing it; testing me .
Before Nina could tell him that, I nodded. "Of course. Would the team be coming down to Savannah?"
"No," he said as if enjoying himself. "You'll have to come to Sentinel."
I felt a chill run through me. I hadn't been back there, not since that night. I'd promised myself I'd never go back.
"Okay."
"We can set you up to stay the night at the mansion," Anson continued, smiling. Nina probably couldn't see the cruelty of his statement, but I did. I'd never set foot in that place, not even with a gun to my head.
"I'll come back home to Savannah after the meeting. It's not a long drive," I said softly.
"It would be more convenient—"
"I'm afraid, Mr. Larue, it wouldn't be convenient for me," I cut in calmly. "I have some obligations at home. Regardless, you don't have to worry, I'll be available to you, when and where as needed, with regards to this project."
Nina watched us with what I knew was cautious amusement. She didn't interfere or babysit any of us, but when we needed her, she was always there. She was a hard taskmaster as a boss, and the most loving mentor and friend one could imagine. I loved Nina. She'd saved my life in more ways than one by hiring me and believing in me.
She'd been friends with Emmett, and I suspected she knew I was his daughter. We never talked about it, but she treated me like I was family as she did everyone who worked at Savannah Lace, which I was grateful for.
"Rachel has Anson's EA's contact information," Nina interjected. "She'll coordinate meeting times."
Anson rose. "Nina, I think this is going to be a very fruitful partnership." He then looked at me. "May I have a word with you?"
I wanted to scream, no . "Yes. We can go to my office."
"Thank you, Nina." Anson hugged my boss and kissed her cheek. "Take care of yourself, and I'll see you soon."
I walked out with him, and when I felt his hand on the small of my back, a gesture so familiar that it was painful in its intensity, I deliberately and forcefully stepped away from his touch.
"Excuse me?" I faced him, anger in my eyes. Who the hell did he think touching me like that?
He cocked an eyebrow. "I was just being a gentleman."
"This is a workplace, Mr. Larue. Keep your hands to yourself."
He raised both his hands and winked at me. "Whatever you say, Sugar."
I realized he wasn't going to make this easy for me. In fact, I was sure he wanted me to work on this project so he could make my life miserable.