Chapter 18
Tiffany
M y first heartbreak over a boy was in the seventh grade, and it felt like the world was ending. His name was Ethan, and he had this habit of tucking his baseball cap backward and grinning at me during recess. I thought we were destined to be together until he asked my friend Sarah to the school dance instead. I cried for a week, hiding under my covers and listening to Olivia’s attempts to console me with ice cream and sage advice I was too young to fully understand.
She sat on the edge of my bed, her dark hair falling over her shoulders as she handed me a spoon and a pint of mint chocolate chip. “Boys are idiots, Tiff. Especially at this age. Ethan’s clueless. You’re too good for him anyway.”
I sniffled and took a bite of ice cream. “You really think so?”
“I know so,” she replied, ruffling my hair. “One day, you’ll meet someone who deserves you. And when you do, Ethan will be nothing but a stupid childhood memory.”
Somewhere along the way, our relationship changed. Perhaps it was when she secretly got engaged to Alexander or when Adrien. Either way, I stopped confiding in her about what was happening in my life. It was a mixture of fear and shame that kept me from opening up to her.
But now, I need to fix it.
“Wait for me in the car,” I tell Luis after we collect two suitcases worth of belongings from my apartment and arrive at the Millhouse Gallery.
I want some privacy, and Luis’s hulking shadow constantly looming over me is suffocating.
“Dream on,” Luis retorts as the driver parks outside the gallery.
“I liked you better when you didn’t talk.” I step out of the car. “At least then I could pretend that I had control over my actions.”
“It was your decision to get involved with Adrien.” Luis opens the gallery door for me. “That’s the last bit of free will you had.”
“Low blow. I thought you’d enjoy watching me suffer.”
“I’m a gentleman. I’d never like to see a lady in distress.”
The gallery is bustling with activity since the current exhibit is about to end. Everything must be packed up by the end of the day to make room for new pieces.
I immediately spot Olivia in the middle of a heated discussion with Cassandra.
“Can you at least wait for me by the entrance? I promise it won’t take long,” I tell Luis and not waiting for his response, I walk over to my sister.
Olivia turns around. “Tiffany? What are you doing here?”
I greet Olivia and Cassandra with a kiss on each cheek. “I haven’t seen you two in a few days, and I wanted to check in.”
“Where have you been? I stopped by your place yesterday evening, but it was empty,” Olivia says.
I give her a reassuring smile. “Work took over my life for a little while there.”
My sister gives me a knowing look, not buying my excuse. “Work, huh? Is that what you’re calling it these days?”
“Looks like someone had a wild weekend,” Cassandra says, eyeing me up and down. “You owe me a drink or two for dealing with your sister. She wanted to call the police the moment her call went to your voice messages. I had to calm her down and convince her that you were just busy with work.” She lifts her eyebrows, a sly grin on her face. “Or getting busy with Lucas.”
“I said a million times that Lucas and I are just friends.”
Olivia and Cassandra exchange a look.
“Sure, you are friends,” Cassandra says. “That’s why he’s been spending so much time with you lately, right?”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t you have anything to do? You’re both horribly annoying with your constant matchmaking.”
“We’re just concerned about you, Tiff. You’ve been MIA for two days and haven’t even bothered to let me know you’re okay. We thought maybe Lucas had something to do with this.”
I sigh; after all, I wanted to be more truthful.
“Okay, fine. I may have spent the weekend with someone.”
“Details, Tiff. We want details,” Cassandra says with a devilish grin. “We thought you and Lucas were a thing, but apparently not.”
“I like Lucas. But he’s just a friend, nothing more.”
Olivia raises an eyebrow. “And the man you spent the weekend with?”
The heat rises to my cheeks. “His name is Adrien. Adrien Leroy.”
Their eyes widen in recognition. “ The Adrien Leroy? As in the CEO of Leroy Holdings?“ Olivia asks.
“It’s not a big deal. We met a few months ago, and it just sort of happened.”
Cassandra stifles a laugh. “And you didn’t think to mention this to us?”
“Wait, a few months ago?” My sister’s eyes narrow. “When did you meet?”
I shrug, a little defensive. “It was at a restaurant. We talked, and one thing led to another.”
“Well, well, well,” Cassandra says, waggling her eyebrows. “Looks like someone’s living the dream. Is that why you are followed by a bodyguard?”
My sister’s eyes lock above my shoulder, looking at Luis, who’s still hovering nearby. “Cass, do you mind giving us a minute?”
Cassandra gives an exaggerated sigh but complies. “But I want all the gossip,” she says, pointing a finger at me before leaving.
“What’s going on?” Olivia asks.
“I need to tell you something, Liv. Something I should have told you a long time ago.”
Olivia’s expression changes, concern, and confusion evident on her face. “Let’s go to my office.”
I follow her through the gallery, trying to keep my emotions in check. My mind is racing with all the things I want to say to her, but I know I need to start from the beginning.
Once we’re in her office, I take a seat on the couch while Olivia shuts the door behind us. She sits down across from me, waiting for me to speak.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I’m sorry for pushing you away and not telling you what’s been going on with me. I didn’t want to burden you with my problems.”
“Tiffany,” her voice is soft. “You could never burden me with anything. You’re my little sister, and I love you. You’re my little sister and I love you. Tell me what’s going on. Why do you look like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders?”
I take a deep breath before launching into my confession. I tell her everything—about my involvement with Adrien, about Carter Corporation, about the mess I’ve gotten myself into. And to my surprise, Olivia listens to everything without judgment, without anger. Instead, she takes it all in, her expression remaining neutral throughout my entire story.
When I’m finished, she sits there in silence for a few moments, processing everything I’ve just told her. I’m expecting her to tell me how stupid I’ve been, but instead, she just looks at me with sadness in her eyes.
“I know.” Tears start streaming down my face. “I’m so sorry, Liv. I was so angry after your engagement announcement. I felt like you were leaving me behind, moving on without me. I wanted to prove to myself that I could handle things on my own, that I didn’t need you to protect me anymore. But I was wrong. I’ve made so many mistakes, and now… now everything’s a mess.”
“It’s fine, love. I’m not angry at you, Tiff,” Olivia says, getting up from her seat and coming over to hug me. “I just wish you hadn’t felt like you had to carry this alone. And I’m sorry for leaving you out of my life lately. I didn’t mean to make you feel like I was moving on without you. You’re my sister, and nothing—not even Alexander or our family’s mess—will ever change that.”
I cling to her, burying my face in her shoulder as the tears come harder. “I’ve been so scared, Liv. Scared of losing you, scared of failing Carter Corporation. I don’t know what I’m doing half the time.”
Olivia pulls back, cupping my face in her hands. “You’re brilliant. You’re smart. You’ve me by your side. There’s nothing you can’t handle.”
I can’t help but smile through my tears, grateful for my sister’s unwavering support.
Maybe, just maybe, things will turn out okay.