Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
MABLE
“You sneaky little brat.” I reach down and grab one of the two boxes I’d somehow missed, pull it out, and then grab another.
I’d already done this corner of the room, but when I walked by it today, I had this sense to recheck. Sure enough, there were two boxes that had been shoved behind a cabinet, covered in dust.
I flip open the lid to one of them and pull out a stack of papers. I shuffle through, and then everything freezes. I blink to make sure it wasn’t a mirage. That my brain isn’t tricking me into seeing what I want because I’ve been at this for so long.
“It’s not,” I breathe out, my eyes roaming over everything, reading and rereading to double, triple, and quadruple check.
There’s no denying what it is: the original deed from 1843, signed in ink that has faded to brown, with a survey attached.
The eastern boundary was drawn clear as day, exactly where the treaty said it should be.
The proof Caldwell needs. The proof Solaria needs in order to maintain its rights to the land!
I reach down and pinch myself for good measure to make sure I’m not dreaming. Ouch. The instant pain tells me I’m not. Holy crap! I’ve really found it.
I scramble up too fast, my foot catches on a lower box, and down I go. My knee slams into the floor, the deed flying from my hands.
“Don’t mind me,” I mutter to the empty room, already laughing at myself and ignoring the burning sensation. “Just talking to myself. Totally normal behavior.”
I gather the papers, this feeling so unreal. I want to stand up and jump around and scream, “I found the gold ticket!” but I need to see Wells. That means I need to move my booty.
I’ve done it. I’ve actually done it.
Truly can come now. I feel a part of Solaria.
The thought blooms through my body. Too excited to contain myself, I scramble to my feet, not bothering to dust myself off. I begin to run, not caring that I just took a tumble, adrenaline coursing through me.
Jenson is waiting by the car when I come flying out of the building. He jumps out, rushing towards me, worry etched in his face.
“Ma’am, what’s happening?”
I stop short, seeing his hand go to his waist, likely where he keeps a gun.
“It’s good news. No one is chasing me!” I tell him. “And I thought we talked about the ma’am thing.”
“Mable.” He shakes his head. “You scared the hell out of me.”
“Keeping you on your toes,” I tease. “But look!” I wave the deed around and then think better of it. It’s old, and I need to be careful. Jenson actually smiles, the kind that crinkles the corners of his eyes.
“You did it.” He holds out his hand, and we high-five like dorks, but I’m so excited it’s like I’m pumped up on Red Bull.
“Can you take me to his office? Now?”
“Of course.”
The drive seems as though it goes on forever despite us maybe speeding. I’ll never admit that.
The only good thing is it gives me a chance to look at the deed, tracing the lines of the survey with my fingertip, rehearsing what I’ll say. No way I can play it cool. I can’t wait to see Wells’ handsome face. I know I don’t need him to be proud of me, but I still want him to be.
I’ve been to Wells’ office a few times before to bring him lunch. The last time I was here, he’d bent me over his desk. The security guard nods as I head inside and right to the elevator. It opens, and I hop on and push the button a million times, like that will make it go faster.
When I get to his floor, I hurry out and toward his office, passing by Tomas’ desk, but he’s not here. He’s often off out running errands and such.
The door is cracked open, and I hear two voices. One of them says my name, making me pause. It’s Wells and Cordelia.
I shouldn’t listen, but I don’t move. I barely breathe.
“—You were right. Things aren’t working with Mable and me.”
I tighten my hold on the deed, which suddenly feels heavy.
“It’s, fuck, I don’t know what I’m going to do,” he continues, his voice carrying that particular tone I’ve learned to read—patient, considering, the way he sounded when he was negotiating. “I should have listened to you.”
“I can fix it.” Cordelia’s voice is filled with utter satisfaction. “I have things to ruin her reputation, and it will give you no choice but to call things off with her. Play the broken-hearted prince.”
“The media would eat that up.”
“Yeah,” she agrees. “Then after some time, you find a new partner, a wife who understands this world. Someone who’s been at your side all along, and now you’re finally seeing clearly.”
I can’t fathom what I’m hearing. Wells would rip me apart so that it doesn’t look so bad when he dumps me?!
“Someone like you?”
A pause. Then her laugh, low and pleased. “I would never presume. But I’ve always believed we understood each other. That we wanted the same things.”
I’ve been right about Cordelia from the start. My gut instinct told me who she really was, but I ignored it. I didn’t want to be that catty girl, so I let her in as a friend, and she’s ready to frame me for some weird tabloid drama and steal my man. Not my man, I mentally correct.
The deed slips from my fingers. I don’t hear it hit the carpet.
My body reacts on its own, going into protective mode.
Before I realize it, I’m already running.
Down the hallway, past the elevator, taking the stairs because I can’t wait.
My lungs burn, and my eyes sting. All I can picture is Wells from this morning, making love to me…
But does he love you? He’s never said so.
How long has he felt this way about us? How long has he wanted out, but he couldn’t man up and do it himself? All of these thoughts run through my mind. To top it all off, to make it the ultimate betrayal, he brought it to Cordelia.
The lobby is a blur as I push through the doors into afternoon light, momentarily blinding myself.
Jenson is there, like always. He must see it written all over my face. I can feel the tears that I’ve been holding back begin to stream down my face.
“Mable?”
“I need to leave.” My voice crackles. “Please. Just... I have to get out of here.” He nods, telling me he’ll take me. “You won’t tell him?”
“No.”
“I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
“I make my own decisions,” he says as we slip into the car. “If he made you cry, then he deserves to have to chase.”
“He’s not going to chase; he’ll be relieved.”
“Right,” Jenson agrees, but it doesn’t actually sound like it. “Where to?” he asks, pulling away. “Are you trying to get out of the country?”
“Yeah, I—” I stop myself as the reality of that settles in. “I’m not leaving.” The words burst from me. “I love it here. The people are wonderful. I can stay and Caldwell can kiss my ass.”
I don’t have to go anywhere. Wait, could he kick me out? My hand goes to my stomach. I wasn’t going to bring that up until after the land issue was handled. I’m pretty sure at this point even without a test I’m pregnant.
“I’ll let him know you said that,” he chuckles, “after I drop you off somewhere. You got a place?”
Tears are still spilling from me, but I smile. Yeah, I know just the place.