Chapter 49
ARI
It’s The Connecting Kids Foundation fundraiser day.
Forty-eight hours of agonizing anticipation have passed since I met with Julie in the bar and I’ve been patiently waiting for the outcome.
Today that ended.
As Max had promised, he moved quickly. This morning, a damning exposé broke—not just in one paper, but across national tabloids and news channels, both online and off—unveiling the shady dealings of Julie and her team at The Golden Telegraph .
With phone-hacking making the headlines, dozens of people have been posting their stories online all day using the hashtag exposingthetruth with calls to shut down the newspaper and charge everyone responsible.
Separate articles were published about Julie and the several injunctions against her, as well as police reports and charges previously filed against her. For Buzz, it was even worse: extortion, bribery, phone-hacking, fake news; the list keeps on growing.
Max kept his promise to keep my name out of everything and only made reference to the fake crash report she created amongst a long list of other documents she forged.
In comparison to the phone-hacking and everything else she did, the fake crash report is insignificant.
Significant for me, because it would have made me look like a fraud had I taken it to the police.
She was happy to throw me under the bus and let me die there for all she cared, as long as it got her the outcome she wanted—to destroy the Hart family.
I’m glad I am here at the fundraiser day to help distract me.
It’s been a long and busy day. Not only did people turn out in their droves to support the foster charity I volunteer for, but they also dug deep into their pockets to help us support foster kids who need it the most, meaning we can now hire two full-time trauma therapists and child psychologists, who are much needed and long overdue.
I take a seat on the bench at the far end of the garden within the grounds of the group home overlooking the city, remove my sandals, and give my toes a wiggle. Having been on my feet all day looking after the stand selling lemonade, which the kids made themselves, my feet are throbbing.
Feeling more like myself than I have in weeks, I let the sun kiss my skin and consider my next move.
This coming week I need to get myself a job.
I can’t live on my savings for much longer because I need the money for a deposit on a new house I still plan on buying in the future. The prospect makes my heart feel heavy.
I was naive to believe I’d end up living in a luxury penthouse with the man of my dreams—the kind of life anyone would trade a kidney for.
“It’s a beautiful view.”
My heart cartwheels in my chest as the sound of Nathan’s voice cuts through the air.
I snap my head around to discover he’s behind me and I about melt into a puddle, like butter in a hot pan. He looks delicious in a dazzling white Henley and black jeans that more than likely cost more than my monthly rent.
What the hell is he doing here?
I stay glued to the seat, while he walks toward the bench, and I follow his every move as he sits next to me.
“San Francisco at dusk is always beautiful,” I say, keeping our conversation neutral.
“I wasn’t talking about the landscape, Arianna.” Our eyes lock and I realize he was talking about me.
He still thinks I’m beautiful.
When all I have felt is ugly inside since he fired me.
I’ve never been fired from a job before.
Never loved anyone the way I love him.
“How are you?” he asks, his brow creasing, giving me a once over, but he doesn’t let me answer. “You’ve lost weight.” He tuts, his voice deep and low.
“I don’t have an appetite.” Heartbreak does strange things to your mind. I keep forgetting to eat. When I do, everything tastes bland and flavorless.
“Me neither,” he admits.
I can tell he’s not sleeping well either. The shadows beneath his eyes speak of sleepless nights and heavy burdens.
Fumbling with something inside the pocket of his jeans, he finally pulls out his phone, then holds it in front of my face. “My brothers told me you helped them with this.”
I nod, unable to speak as he scrolls down pages and pages of headlines about Julie and The Golden Telegraph scandal.
“I wanted to ask you myself and personally thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me. Julie hung herself.”
I hope she loses everything the same way I have.
I pick at the skin around my nails. “What are you doing here, Nathan?”
“I was invited.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m setting up a college and career prep center with the charity.”
“That’s you?” I overheard Martha and a few other trustees discussing it earlier.
He nods. “I’m donating laptops, implementing job interview workshops, and setting up a fund to help buy work clothes. I’m also starting a mentorship program for older foster youths aging out of the system. They’ll come work at the firm.”
“Nathan.” My sight blurs with tears, clouding my vision. “That’s so kind.”
“I don’t think I was very kind to you. I’m sorry I didn’t give you an opportunity to explain yourself, Arianna.”
“And I’m sorry I doubted your family.” The lump in my throat the size of a football swells until it spills over, hot tears tracing paths down my face.
“I knew who you were that night at the bar, Nathan.” My voice trembles, thick with regret.
“And I swear to you, it was never my intention to seduce ‘the boss’ just to get close to you. You have to believe that.”
I might have told myself that’s what I was doing at the time, but I was lying to myself. I liked him the minute I laid eyes on him.
I take a shaky breath, wrapping my arms around myself as if that could keep me from unraveling completely.
“I liked you. God, I really liked you. And I hated myself for it. Because you were funny, handsome, and so damn smart. You weren’t the man I thought you were—you were better.
And it terrified me because it wasn’t supposed to happen like this. ”
I glance up at him, searching his face for anything—understanding, forgiveness, anything at all—but he’s unreadable. My chest tightens, but I push forward.
“When I started at Hart Law, I had the wrong intentions. And I owe you an apology for that. I am so sorry, Nathan. I never believed Julie. I knew her crash report was fabricated but you never gave me a chance to explain that day in the boardroom.” My voice cracks, and I swallow hard, trying to keep myself together.
“For as long as I can remember, I was so sure Kevin Taylor being acquitted was wrong. I was so sure of it. Because how could life be so cruel? How could it take away everyone I ever loved away from me and leave me completely alone in the world? I was fifteen, lost, and scared. My parents didn’t have much, but they made sure Riley and I had gymnastics.
We had dreams, Nathan. We wanted to win competitions, compete in the Olympics, do it for them, to make them proud, because they were.
That night… that night we were celebrating because we made the State Championships.
And if we hadn’t, we wouldn’t have been out so late.
I felt responsible. Like it was all my fault, and I was looking for answers, anything to shift the blame, I guess. ”
A breath shudders out of me, and I tighten my arms that are wrapped around me as if desperately trying to contain the pain from spreading.
“I will never forgive myself for doubting the verdict. For doubting Kevin. He saved me, and now I will never get the chance to thank him or your father for what they did to put Jean in place to take care of me.” My voice barely rises above a whisper. “And for that, I am so truly sorry.”
Tears sting my eyes like sharp needles piercing them as my throat burns, my words coming out forced and fast. “I’m sorry for breaking policy and stealing and photographing files from the archives.
But most of all, I’m sorry for falling in love with you.
Because I know I hurt you in ways I will never be able to make up for.
” I wipe at my face, but the tears keep coming and I stand up, shove my feet into my sandals and get ready to leave.
“In the beginning, I wanted justice for my family. That was all that mattered. I thought the verdict on the lawsuit was wrong. But I was wrong. In the end, I fell in love with you. With your family. Because you’re good people doing incredible things for others. ”
I take a step back, because I need to get out of here from fear I’ll shatter completely if I reach for him and he pulls away. “I just hope that what I did to help you bring Julie down was enough for you to see how truly sorry I am. But if you can never forgive me, I’ll understand.”
Willing him to believe me, willing him to see my heart laid bare before him, I apologize. “I’m sorry, Nathan,” I whisper. “I don’t know how many times I’ve said it, but even a million times wouldn’t be enough.” I turn away from him, breaking my heart all over again and walk out of his life.
“Come back here, Arianna,” he orders with quiet authority as I take another few steps.
That’s not what I was expecting him to say and whip back around to face him.
He stands to his full height and walks to me confidently and firmly says, “No more apologizing.”
“Okay.” I nod, agreeing to his request, but I’m not sure if I can stop myself.
“You helped bring down an entire publication today, an organization that has been led by ego for far too long. You played a part in shaking things up and for that I am so proud of you.” Another step closer to me until we’re standing toe to toe. “You were brave.”
I didn’t feel brave when I was doing it.
He cups my face with his hand, and I lean into his touch, loving the warmth of his hand on my skin again. “Arianna, I want you to know that if I was in your shoes, and if there was any doubt in my mind about the circumstance in which my family died, I would have done the same as you.”
“Do you think so?” I don’t think that’s true.
“I know so. You and I are similar in a lot of ways. We both fight for the people we love.”
“I never wanted to come between you and your brothers.” I feel terrible about that.
“What you did for us, and so many others set off a chain of events that will bring that tabloid to a close before the day is over. The police have already begun making arrests. Phone-hacking is a serious crime, Arianna, and it’s because of you that it’s finally ending.
People’s privacy is safe now—all thanks to you. ”
I still can’t believe I thought Julie was good in the beginning. My desperation clouded my judgment.
My heart beats faster when he brushes his thumb over the skin of my cheeks.
Unwavering, like he’s memorizing every detail of my face, he says, “I forgive you, Arianna. I know your actions were motivated by the love for your family. There is no doubt in my mind that I would have done the same.” He places a knuckle under my chin, lifting my face gently to meet his gaze. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too,” I whisper.
He clenches his jaw in the same way he always does when he’s fighting his emotions. “Come home.”
Is he serious?
He finally makes his throat work. “I love you. I won’t pretend I don’t.” His hands find my waist and he pulls me closer. “You’re coming home—where you belong. I can’t live without you, I won’t.”
“I can’t either. I love you, Nathan, I have from the start.” I’ve been his from the first night we met.
“No more secrets, Arianna.”
“I’ve told you everything.” I’ve nothing left to hide. “This is me.”
With strong athletic arms, he presses me firmly against him and then he’s covering his mouth with mine and we lose ourselves in each other. His kiss scorches my skin as our tongues collide, greeting each other like long-lost lovers and finding their way back to one another.
Threading my hands into his hair at the back of his neck, I close my eyes and immerse myself in everything him, from his scent to his touch and warmth, as I melt into him.
Nathan skims his hands down the curve of my back, making us hum into each other’s mouths in appreciation, our connection much needed.
Throbbing between my thighs drowns out everything around us as he fucks my mouth with his tongue. Thrilling sparks of energy dash between us and I can’t believe this is actually happening.
“We should stop,” I pant heavily, hearing the faint laughter of people in the distance.
“I don’t want to,” he mumbles against my lips, and covers his mouth with mine in what feels like the ultimate kiss of all kisses.
This kiss is different. It feels full of hope, love, and a future together, dissolving all the pain we’ve felt for the last few weeks as if mending our hearts. Our tongues dance together in perfect rhythm, licking and tasting each other.
For the first time in weeks I feel happy as joy flows into my heart like a warm river melting away the cold weight of loneliness, filling me with light and hope once more.
When I open my eyes, I find him looking right at me, pinning me with his powerful gaze. He threads his fingers into the hair on the back of my neck, gluing our lips firmly together, and we get lost in our forever kiss again.
He bites my bottom lip, sucking it into his mouth, becoming rougher, as if it’s a promise of what’s to come.
Unhurried, we finally come apart and he trails soft kisses down my neck before he nuzzles into me. It takes my breath away.
“I love you, Arianna.” His hot breath dusts my skin.
“I love you so much.” Tears flow down my cheeks, a mix of happiness and relief.
“I’ve missed you so much. I need you naked, baby,” he mumbles between kisses.
“Then take me home.”
“I like the sound of that.”