42. Roman
The entire time rushing to the north wing, I tried to imagine the relief on Isabel’s face when I explained to her it was all a horrible misunderstanding. Something that should never have happened.
I could see it now, all that misery and grief slipping away. Her mouth transforming into that gorgeous smile of hers, the one that had a way of crawling into the smallest crevices inside me, filling them with an incredible warmth.
When Nelson presented me with the picture Mrs. Sheldon had shown Isabel, all I wanted to do was grab something and crush it to pieces. Byron sleazing all over Celeste Van Buren at one of her parties when Porter was out of town.
So, inadvertently Byron did have everything to do with causing Isabel pain. It was all so goddamn unnecessary. But I told myself it was over now. The confusion, the anger, and that look of bitterness I never wanted to see from Isabel again.
The only consolation was that in a few minutes we’d be laughing about how stupid it all was. I’d apologize for how rough I was with her in the library earlier, and she’d curl herself into me and tell me in that husky voice of hers that she’d wanted it as much as I had.
I never realized until this very moment just how far the north wing was from my office. But every step I took brought me one step closer to her, and to getting all this bullshit out of the way. We had an evening to plan, one where I had to pull out all the stops and treat her to an unforgettable night. We needed to wipe the last twenty-four hours from existence, and go on as if they’d never happened.
As I neared my father’s room, my nerves finally started to settle down. It was all going to be sorted out and everything was going to be fine. My only thought now was how quickly I’d get to take Isabel in my arms and kiss that mouth of hers until we were back in the place where the only thing that mattered was the two of us.
A few steps short of entering the room, I heard Emily’s voice. It was difficult to make out what she was saying, but it was intense and not a tone I was accustomed to hearing from her. And one thing was clear as day: something terrible had happened.
My first thought was my father. As realistic as I had been about the situation, I dreaded the day he’d finally succumb. To me he was a giant, this robust, strong man who taught me everything there was to know about the business. He was a man who would never bow to Death.
And now that I’d seen the difference between life and mere existence, there were so many things I wanted to say to him. Surely now that he’d experienced how fragile life could be, he’d realize that little else mattered, aside from being a family.
But if he died, those possibilities would be lost to both of us.
I stopped at the door to gather myself. That’s when I heard another voice, and it was the last voice I ever wanted to hear coming from my father’s room. If Steven was inside that room, where was Isabel?
Every muscle inside me that had started to ease up was bunching up into new knots. Somehow I knew what the terrible thing was that had happened, and all I saw was crimson blurring my vision. All my rage and exasperation over the last two days pooled into my chest, making it difficult to breathe.
I was barely inside the door when I hounded Steven. “What did you do? What the fuck did you do?”
Steven looked from Emily to me, with an expression haunted by the fact that he was losing his footing in the room and needed to get back in charge.
“You knew she was here?” he hissed at me through gritted teeth. “And you didn’t say anything?”
Desperation clawed through me. “Where is she?”
I’d seen Steven enraged before, but nothing compared to this. “She was escorted off Belmont Manor, Roman. And she will not be coming back to this house again. What the fuck were you thinking? It took a driver to tell me he was taking an Isabel Le Roche back and forth from this estate. And not once did you bother telling me there was someone currently with your sick father who not only hasn’t been vetted, but someone you have an unfortunate history with.”
Unfortunate history.
The effort to keep it together waned with my will to be civil. “Fuck you, Steven.”
Emily drew a sharp breath and directed a scathing look at Steven. “I was the one who employed her. Roman had nothing to do with it. However, let me remind you, this is my house. Your responsibility is restricted to security outside of this house. You don’t come in here and tell me who I can and who I cannot employ.”
Steven’s tone softened with Emily and if I wasn’t so fucking pissed off I would have marveled at the change in him, and the gentle tenor he adopted with her. “Emily,” he said. “I’m sorry to tell you, but it is my business when security is breached, inside or outside of this house. I’m not here to stand on the sidelines and wonder if everything is fine. It’s my duty to make sure it’s fine.”
I realized that by default, I was once again to blame for this happening to Isabel. I should have told Steven that she was here, and made it clear that not a hair on her head was to be touched. And much as I hated Steven for being the overbearing asshole he was, this was his job. To keep my father safe, and to keep me on the straight-and-narrow until I ascended to the seat of power.
I’d never questioned the way Steven operated, because I’d never had a personal stake in how thoroughly he did his job. It was always done with little fanfare, behind the scenes and requiring no direction or input from me.
That was until Isabel entered our world. Singlehandedly posing the biggest threat to the Belmont empire by upending the life of its heir—and changing everything.
Emily closed her eyes momentarily, undoubtedly summoning a pinch of patience. And when she opened them again, the look she aimed at Steven could cut diamonds, and her tone was lethal. “Since she has blocked everyone at Belmont Manor from contacting her, you will personally find her and bring her back here. I don’t care what it takes.”
A smirk creased the corners of Steven’s mouth. “Surely you must be joking.”
Emily was not to be underestimated. Gone was the gentlewoman with her motherly concern always at the ready. This was a woman who could lead a board of directors without batting an eye.
More so than ever, I understood my father’s undying devotion to her. She was a protector, loyal to what mattered. No wonder Steven was still as smitten as he had been for God only knew how many years now.
When she spoke again, Emily looked at my father as if to make sure he wasn’t disturbed by any of this. “If she’s not here by tomorrow morning, consider yourself terminated.”
Steven let out an incredulous laugh. “You can’t do that.”
“I have a power-of-attorney that says otherwise.” And without hesitation, Emily handed him her phone to prove the point.
Steven went pale. “Jesus Christ.”
Even I was surprised. My father must have given Emily the power-of-attorney long before his stroke. He didn’t trust anyone else to take care of him if anything should happen. I was beginning to realize there was so much more to their relationship than I could ever have guessed.
My anger had subsided slightly. It was important to find Isabel and beg her forgiveness. She didn’t deserve any of this. “I’ll go to her.” I offered. “I’ll bring her back.”
Steven faced me, his jaw clenched. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“Why don’t you try to stop me, Steven,” I said. “Why don’t you give that a go and see how it works out for you.”
“Yes Roman,” Emily said. “Please bring her back.”
For a moment Steven seemed to be facing a firing squad, but just as quickly his steely gaze was restored. “You are both out of your fucking minds. And Roman, you will not leave this estate without your security detail, even if that’s the last thing I take care of.”
“I leave in five minutes,” I said, barely able to look at him. “That’s how long you have.”
As I walked from the room, Steven turned back to Emily and quietly hissed. “You know what, my only mistake was falling in love with you all those years ago. And it’s been my burden to bear. We don’t all need to conquer the ones we love. But fuck if I let you stand in the way of me doing my goddamn job.”
I was frozen outside the door, having heard every word.
Emily’s gentle voice cut through the air. “I’m not standing in your way, Steven. You’re overstepping beyond the scope of your duties. Your problem is that you underestimate my loyalty to Henry. You always have. What makes you think I would ever bring someone into this house who posed a threat to the most important people in my life?”
He valiantly fought back. “You do understand that bringing her back here has disaster written all over it.”
“Something can only be a disaster if one allows it to be,” Emily said. “Now, if I’m not mistaken Roman is leaving to get Isabel, and your actual job is to ensure he stays safe.”
I rushed back to my office before Steven figured out I’d overheard. My phone pinged with a text.
STEVEN: Ready in 5.
The Range Rover would be waiting downstairs from my office. The security detail would follow, as if I gave a fuck at this point. My only goal was to get to Isabel.