Chapter 10
GAGE
When I fixed Tessa’s contact information in my phone and unblocked her number, I didn’t think it would ever make a difference. I couldn’t let Vanessa’s interference stand, but there wasn’t anything else I could fix at the time.
But holy fuck, less than twenty-four hours later, and she sent me a text to thank me for sending her scarf back. It was only seven words, and there wasn’t even the slightest hint of anything beyond basic civility, but a wave of overwhelming relief still hit me.
I’d drafted emails that led to deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars that were less stressful to write than figuring out how to reply.
In the end, I went with what felt like the only acceptable response.
Me
You’re welcome.
Those two words were just enough to let Tessa know I heard her but not so much that I pushed her boundaries.
Then I set my phone face down so I wouldn’t obsess while waiting for a response that wasn’t coming. I’d gotten more from her than I deserved already.
Words weren’t going to fix what had happened three years ago. We’d spent all that time apart with Tessa believing I’d completely erased her from my life. Apologies were important, but action mattered more.
If I wanted even a chance to earn her trust again, I needed to do things that made her life better, not more complicated. Like returning her mother’s scarf.
I just needed to come up with more ideas.
Pulling out a pad of paper, I made a list the same way I would for a business deal.
Only this one was a fuck of a lot more important.
Three years ago, her job would’ve been at the top, but she’d already fixed that issue on her own.
I had no doubt she was more than capable of tackling any problem in her life without any help from me, but I wanted to make shit up to her however I could.
And there were many instances where throwing money at something fixed it faster, which I could easily do.
I raked my fingers through my hair and made another decision before I could second-guess what I was about to do. Opening my contacts, I called Susan.
She picked up, sounding irritated. “It’s Saturday night, boss.”
“I know. Sorry. Can you come in early Monday morning? I need help with some personal matters.”
There was a beat of silence before she asked, “What happened to your rule about not asking me to do stuff like that for you?”
One of the first things I did after stepping into the CEO role was to hire a separate personal assistant to handle my private life.
It felt weird having Susan do those kinds of things for me when I’d known her for so long.
But no way in hell would I trust Jim with helping me get Tessa back.
This shit needed to be kept to my inner circle.
“When I apologized to the girl at the bakery, I talked to Tessa afterward.”
“Something you should’ve done three years ago.”
I wished I’d listened to her advice back then.
“You have no idea how right you are about that. Then Vanessa wouldn’t have gotten away with tricking us into thinking we’d dumped each other, and I never would’ve gone through with the wedding, no matter what me backing out might’ve done to Rupert’s health. ”
There was a moment of stunned silence before she whistled and murmured, “That must’ve been one heck of a conversation you had with Tessa.”
“I’ll tell you about it on Monday.”
“Then count me in. I can be there as early as you need me.”
Thank fuck. I needed all the help I could get, and Susan was one of the most efficient people I knew.
“See you at seven.”
I didn’t catch up on sleep over the rest of the weekend, but the lack of rest was well worth it because I’d gotten enough research done to know where to start on my list. And for once, arriving early at the office had nothing to do with quarterly forecasts or board memos.
Making amends to Tessa for the shit she’d been put through because of my decisions was at the top of my to-do list.
Susan showed up ten minutes early, coffee in hand, and chomping at the bit to be filled in on what happened.
Even though we were the only two people in the office, she shut the door before sitting down across from me. “Okay, I’m here. Start talking.”
She didn’t need the emotional play-by-play, but I explained enough to make her eyes widen.
When I finished, she blinked before letting out a long, low whistle. “I expected it to be bad after the hint you dropped on Saturday night, but that’s even worse than anything I came up with.”
“Imagine how I felt when I found out.” Thinking about the woman who’d been hurt more than me, I winced. “Or Tessa.”
She leaned back in the chair, her brows drawing together. “What Vanessa did wasn’t just some petty jealousy stunt. It was malicious.”
“I know.” My jaw clenched. “As bad as things got between Vanessa and me, I never would’ve thought she’d be so devious.”
Susan shook her head slowly. “I’m trying to process this without resorting to vocabulary that would get me fired.”
“Have at it,” I encouraged. “There’s nobody around to hear you except me, and I’m not going to fire you.”
“Good, because your ex-wife is a damn sociopath,” she snapped.
I scrubbed a hand over my face. “I need solid proof. Rupert co-founded the company. He’s on the board with my father. The Carringtons still hold a minority share. I can’t just walk into a board meeting and accuse her without something airtight.”
“And you want me to help,” she guessed.
“I want you to help me prepare,” I corrected. “And I want you to be looped in because once this moves forward, I’ll need someone I can trust to watch my back.”
Susan’s expression softened. “I’m sorry this happened.”
I nodded, unable to speak past the tightness in my throat.
She straightened. “What’s the first step?”
“I need to call the PI Ethan recommended.”
“Good call.” Susan leaned forward in her seat. “I’ll go through my notes from three years ago to find the name of her assistant. Knowing Vanessa, she’s probably gone through a dozen since then.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
“I doubt she trusted her assistant to help with the sabotage, given how she questions every little thing they do for her.” She crossed her fingers. “But maybe they saw something.”
“I hope so.”
“As much as I want Vanessa to get her comeuppance for the crap she pulled, that’s not going to do much for Tessa. And she was the only truly innocent bystander in this situation,” she pointed out.
I hated that she was right. Vanessa wouldn’t have had the chance to fuck me over if I’d asked for even just one day to consider what her father had suggested. “That’s why I’m building a list of things I can do to make her life easier.”
“Good,” she murmured with a nod. “But don’t do stuff expecting to get credit for your effort. If you want to make amends, this can’t be about personal gain. It has to be about what’s best for Tessa, not what you want.”
I scrubbed a hand down my jaw. “You’re too damn perceptive for my own good.”
“Hold that thought, boss.” Her lips curved into a small smile. “Remember what you said about not firing me?”
“Of course.” I quirked a brow. “That was only five minutes ago.”
“Does that mean I can be brutally honest with you?”
I didn’t think she usually held back much, so I was slightly worried as I agreed, “Yes.”
“You need a therapist.”
“A therapist?” That wasn’t where I’d thought she was going with the lead-up about being honest.
“You’re going to be navigating an almost impossible situation, where you’ll need to maintain healthy boundaries, think clearly in emotional situations, and communicate openly.” She shook her head with a sigh. “You have a lot of great characteristics I admire, but those are not skills you possess.”
It was hard to argue when the traits she listed would’ve saved me from this mess in the first place.
Looking back, I should’ve kept Vanessa out of my personal business, not let my fear about Rupert’s health cloud my judgment, and talked to Tessa before it was three years too late.
“I know personal tasks are technically Jim’s job, but could you help me find a therapist who’ll be a good fit? ”
Susan’s smile turned blinding. “I’ll have an appointment booked for you ASAP.”
“I don’t say this often enough…thank you.”
“You’re welcome, boss.” She reached out to pat my hand. “Don’t worry. Between you, Ethan, me, the therapist I’m going to find, and the PI you’re about to hire, we’ll get this mess figured out soon.”
I had a lot riding on her being right about that, too.