Chapter Forty-Seven
Max
It feels so weird to live without Rhys around. It isn’t the first time I’ve been alone. But with previous breakups I always moved on very quickly, almost like I didn’t even miss the guy that much.
Does it feel different because Rhys and I aren’t actually broken up? Because he’s just…not here?
The bed feels wrong. It’s too big and cold. Every time I turn over, Rhys isn’t there for me to wrap myself around.
It’s the same in the morning. The coffee machine automatically makes a fresh cup, and Frederich brings food periodically and stocks the fridge.
The staff cleans the house as usual. Angelo drives me back and forth from home and the office.
My tasks at work go on, although with more downtime.
But instead of feeling happy that I can work at a slower pace, a gust of chilly wind seems to whip through a gaping hole in my heart.
“Hey, where’s Rhys?” The corners of Sacker’s mouth are downturned. He’s probably depressed he can’t spend hours regaling Rhys with…stuff.
“Out of town. He has some business.”
Sacker’s eyes widen. “And he left you here?”
That’s exactly how I feel! “Apparently.”
“Interesting. Very interesting.”
“Why?”
“Far as I know, there aren’t any deals that require his presence at the moment, right? So what’s he doing out of town?”
Oh my God… Sacker’s right! Beissen is progressing as scheduled, and Ohimesama is clipping along. So where did Rhys go? I recall how evasive he was before leaving. My unease swells like a tsunami, ready to drown me.
Don’t jump to conclusions. There might be something super hush-hush, above Sacker’s pay grade. Except, what could be that secretive? Sacker’s one of the senior analysts and, despite his long-windedness, highly valued.
Stop stewing. Find the answer.
I get up and head to Finn’s office. He’s leaning against June’s desk, dictating instructions for an acquisition he’s working on. His eyes flick in my direction. He immediately straightens. “Hey, Max, what’s up?”
“Hi, Finn. Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Where did Rhys go?”
He glances at the carpet before answering. “I’m not really sure. He didn’t say. Maybe a possible deal?” A shrug.
My stomach sinks, acid pooling in the pit. “I see.” He’s lying. “Thanks.”
I return to the desk, then check my phone. The last message between Rhys and me is mine, responding to his from earlier in the morning.
–Me: Hey, glad you arrived safely. Everything going okay?
I stare at the screen, willing a response, but nothing pops up. I bite my lip.
Just what is he doing that Finn’s lying to cover for him? Finn never struck me as unethical, but if it’s between me and his brother, he’ll choose his brother. Rhys and Finn’s loyalty to each other is legendary.
It isn’t until almost six p.m. that Rhys finally texts me.
–Rhys: Yeah, I’m fine. Everything’s going great. I hope you’re having a wonderful day.
–Me: Are you busy with a deal?
–Rhys: You could say that.
Doubt cuts into my heart like an icy blade. I don’t know what he’s trying to pull, but I know he’s lying through his teeth. Betrayal burns like acid, and I feel like a sliver of my soul is being sliced off. I cover my face with a hand. Terror racks me that he has this much power over me already.
I finally understand why Mom struggled so hard after getting divorced. Despite her bravado and tough talk, she often sighed and wiped tears away when she thought I wasn’t looking. She still had lingering feelings for Trevor. She wouldn’t have moved to L.A. and stayed if she didn’t.
You could be making the same mistake your mother did. The nasty voice runs frigid fingers over my heart. I press a fist to my chest but it does nothing to ease the pain.
Mom would’ve never wanted me to live her life. She’d want me to be happier and live well for myself.
Stop it, I tell myself. I can’t jump to conclusions without all the facts. Rhys deserves a chance to explain, and I should get the full picture before making up my mind.
Still, it isn’t easy to hold on to rational thinking when Rhys continues to be evasive. He won’t reveal anything except that he’s doing fine.
–Rhys: If everything goes well, I’ll be home soon.
–Me: Does this mean your trip could be extended? For how long?
–Rhys: I wish I could tell you.
Why can’t he? Even if it’s some kind of trade secret, I signed an NDA!
But asking won’t get me an answer. Rhys is determined to keep me in the dark. My anxiety and apprehension climb until I almost can’t bear it.
Finally, on Friday on my way home early at three, I tap Angelo’s shoulder. “Do you know where Rhys went?”
“Uh. No,” he says stiffly.
I narrow my eyes. “You’re a terrible liar.”
“It’s just, you know, he…” Angelo heaves a sigh. “I think he has a family problem.”
“His family is in Los Angeles.”
“Um, I think maybe it’s about Sorcha’s brother.”
“She has a brother?” Rhys never mentioned an uncle on that side of the family.
Angelo bites his lower lip. “Doesn’t she?”
“Oh my God. You are the worst liar!”
“Don’t ask me,” he says, eyes flicking between the traffic and the rearview mirror. “I can’t tell you. It’s a secret.”
“A secret?”
“That’s what Rhys said. But it’s a good secret.”
“Are you kidding me?” I shout, feeling like shaking him, except that’d only cause an accident without satisfying my curiosity.
“It isn’t anything that’s going to cause problems. No blood, no crime, nothing against morality.” He thinks for a moment. “Or God.”
I throw my hands up. “I can’t believe this.”
“Just trust me. You’ll be happy when you find out.”
“Why would I be happy? He left me alone, won’t tell me where he is, and you’re lying to cover for him.”
Angelo cringes. “Don’t make things tough for me. He’s the boss. He pays me, and I need money to eat and buy Mother’s Day and Christmas gifts for Ma. She’ll disown me if I don’t.”
I shake my head. “I hate this.”
I despise secrets. The current situation is so much like history repeating itself, like when Trevor started to cheat on Mom with business trips here, business trips there…
Expelling a frustrated breath, I prop my chin on my hand while thumbing through Rhys’s texts. He checks in with me every morning. Either he isn’t cheating or it’s his way of managing me.
I don’t know what to believe. Not even Saito will tell me where Rhys went. And the pilot has never hidden anything like this from me.
My phone suddenly buzzes with a new text.
–Unknown: Can you come to Sorcha’s house right now?
–Me: Who is this?
–Unknown: Georgia, Sorcha’s assistant. She’d like to see you. Today.
What does she want? She was overtly hostile the last time we met. Normally I avoid people who upset me…but she might be able to shed some light on where Rhys went and what he’s doing.
He’d better not be meeting some fancy aristocrat woman!
–Me: Fine. I’m on my way.
I drop the phone back into my purse. “Change of plans. We’re going to Rhys’s grandmother’s house.”
“What?” Angelo squeaks like I just told him I stomped on a headless roach, so it won’t be living for weeks. “Why?”
“She wants to talk to me.”
His eyebrows flex in consternation. “Uh…That’s really not a good idea—”
“I don’t care. I want to hear what she has to say. And I want to know if she has anything to do with Rhys pulling this out-of-town act on me.”
“It doesn’t have anything to do with her. Please, I can’t protect you from Sorcha. She doesn’t fight with fists.”
“Either you tell me what Rhys is up to or you take me to Sorcha.”
Angelo stares at me like I just told him he’s going to get permanent erectile dysfunction in the next two weeks.
In the end, he takes me to the house, although he obeys every traffic sign, every speed limit, and doesn’t run a single yellow light.
Loyal to the bitter end, I think, torn between admiration and resentment.
Frederich comes to open the door. “Welcome, Max.”
“Hello. Sorcha asked to see me.”
He nods placidly. “Yes. Please, this way.”
He leads me to a path that curves around the house and ends at the garden. It’s all lush flowers, many of them too exotic for me to identify.
But instead of Sorcha, Rhys’s ex steps out of the shade created by the rose-covered arches.
“Selena?” I look at Frederich. “I’m here to speak with Sorcha.”
“I am quite aware,” Selena answers. “I asked her to bring you here.” The smile on her face is entirely too smug.
Her eyes take in my simple office outfit—a jade-green dress and nude pumps—and contempt slowly fills them.
Guess she’s proud of herself, in a formfitting dress with an impractically short skirt that’d never fly in a professional setting.
Oh, look at me, I’m so rich I don’t have to work!
“What do you want?” I say coolly. “Losing to me at the auction wasn’t enough?”
Fury wipes the superior smirk on her face. “That meant nothing. Do you honestly believe that throwing money around can erase the history between me and Rhys? Wake up. You’ll never beat our shared past.”
I sigh. Doesn’t she get tired of clinging to something that happened so long ago? “But I already have. You’re in the rearview mirror while I’m in the front seat with Rhys.”
“Confident, aren’t you?”
“Very.” I give her a thin smile.
“Let’s see if you can remain that arrogant,” she sneers.
She pulls a stack of printed photos from her purse and shoves it in my face. I take it, then freeze at the photo on top.
It shows Rhys, topless and hugging Selena.
From the angle it’s impossible to tell if she’s clothed.
Acidic bitterness floods my mouth. My hands shake; my heart thunders.
The next photo shows Rhys kissing her. It’s a vacation shot on some beach.
The tip of my left eyebrow starts pulsing.
The next one is of the two of them together in bed.
My hands tighten, creasing the photos as I struggle to drag in air into my tight chest.
Betrayal, betrayal, betrayal.
The furious voice booms in my throbbing head, each beat a knife plunging into my heart. Does this have anything to do with Rhys not being here?
Fury surges at the injustice of being confronted by Selena—and the fact that Rhys has sown doubts in my heart, whether he meant to or not.
A self-congratulatory satisfaction radiates from Selena as she stands there, smirking with her arms crossed. She cocks an eyebrow in a taunt: See? I won.
“That’s me and Rhys, and there’s more. You’re just a temporary distraction. He still has me in his heart. I was his first, truest love. The one he wanted to marry. If his parents hadn’t scandalized me, we would’ve tied the knot a long time ago and had a pair of adorable children by now.”
Nausea roils in my belly as I think of the life growing in my womb. I stare at the photos again. The kiss. His mouth on her. I try to look for any traces of these being AI-generated, but find nothing. They seem genuine. Agony burns in my chest.
I begin: “Is this—”
“No! Wait!” comes Rhys’s desperate shout. “Freckles, just give me a minute to explain.”