Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
L ast day of work. She owed three hours to Stewart. He was a good guy. Compared to her stepfather, anyone would look good, but there was no comparison. Despite not wanting to go, leaving town was unavoidable.
The feeling of being her authentic self was incredible, a long-awaited freedom. No one to tell her to stand straighter, to smile, to be ladylike. Or to put on an air of being superior to others. All that stress had been replaced with hiding her identity, however.
Her stepfather had swindled so many people, his name would be remembered for a good long time. They didn’t have the same last name, but the public had painted her with the same shame-filled brush.
Too many people were digging into her background. They considered it scandalous that she had attended the best schools and owned an expensive car and wore designer clothes. She would have traded it all for one holiday not spent with servants. They had families of their own, and as soon as she reached an age of understanding, she made sure all festivities were over by noon.
Her mother would have been furious if she had known. Her daughter’s happiness was never a concern, but if something wasn’t done properly, the entire house would hear her loud, shrill voice.
Pretending not to know any of the staff was easier. The few she had been somewhat close to, she ignored when others were around. It wouldn’t do to become familiar with servants. She’d heard that phrase over and over.
The drive was easy. She parked her car and got out. It was refreshing to take a moment to breathe and relax. She was leaving but they were bound to figure out her identity. Would Stewart hate her?
Almost as though she had been waiting for Aurora to arrive, Flora opened the door and handed her a cup of coffee. “This is your last day,” she announced, returning to the kitchen.
Flora’s simple gesture filled Aurora’s heart with warmth, and she smiled as she lifted the mug to her lips.
“Flora gave you that coffee, didn’t she?” Stewart asked, coming out of his office.
“I think she just likes me better,” she teased.
“You’re not hard to like. After you get settled, bring your coffee into my office. I want to talk to you.”
With a nod, she offered him a forced smile. She couldn’t stay. She just couldn’t. Mustering her courage, she entered his office and sat down.
“You’ve really impressed me, and I hope you’ll think about remaining here,” he said. The moment their eyes connected, an undeniable spark flew between them.
This was going to be so hard.
“It’s best I leave,” she said so softly she almost didn’t hear the words herself. “You all have been so nice to me. You’ve gone out of your way for me, and I appreciate everything more than I can express.” She glanced away as her heart pounded.
“You’ll be safe here. I’ll find a way.” There was a great deal of concern in his voice.
“You wouldn’t invite me if you knew who I was. You’d make me leave the town. I’ll tell you, but I need you to promise not to scream at me.”
“No screaming, I promise.” Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on the desk.
She cleared her throat and then began to speak. “My last name is O’Halloran, but my stepfather’s name is Stingster.”
The silence was too much, prompting her to look up at him. A scream would have been a preferable reaction than the look of pure hatred on his face.
“Knowing your stepfather’s deeds, you still had the audacity to come here?” he asked, his anger barely contained.
“I’m sorry?—”
“You’ve made a fool of me. Was it fun for you? Was it fun pretending to be the poor little rich girl?”
“I deserve your anger,” she said, fighting back tears. “I should have told you.”
“You think?”
“I’m truly sorry. I have to go.” She stood.
“Sit back down. You owe me two and a half hours. In fact, you owe me millions. I’m not convinced that you weren’t aware of what your father was up to.”
“Stepfather.”
“I don’t care. I’m guessing you were involved. Was your purpose to make his victims more susceptible to him?” His tone turned sarcastic.
She wasn’t about to answer his accusations. Shaking, she stood and stormed out of his office. She placed the cup down, retrieved her purse, and sprinted out the front door. Running in heels with tears streaming down her face wasn’t a good combination. She almost fell a few times.
Why had she locked her car? Digging for her keys in her bag, she found them and was about to unlock the car when Stewart appeared behind her.
He caged her against the car with his arms. With a twist, she faced him directly.
“Please let me leave.” She sounded pathetic. Maybe if she pushed him?
“You have a debt of two and a half hours to me,” he hissed. “I expect you to honor your word. It seems like I shouldn’t hold my breath since I know who you are.” He pushed off the car and strode across the drive, then disappeared into the house, slamming the door behind him.
Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a tissue and dried her tears. She probably looked a sight. Stewart was promised those few hours, though. She’d honor their deal. After that, she’d pack and leave. Everything she’d been told by her parents had been a lie. A normal life would never happen for her.
“Flora, not now,” he said as he went to his office. He left the door open. Would she dare to return? She was a grown woman. How could she not have known? He brushed his fingers through his hair. McKenna would be thrilled when he found out about this.
Once again, he was a sucker. He’d reached his limit with liars, cheaters, and conmen. How did the world come to this? Were God’s words not honored by these people?
The tap-tap of her heels echoed as she walked to her office. So…she’d returned. He heard a few sniffles, then nothing.
What in the world had possessed her to walk into the lion’s den? What had truly motivated her to select him? Was the word “fool” tattooed on his forehead? The way her stepfather had conned him hurt. The whole situation stripped him of the confidence needed to make good decisions. And the guilt. He was consumed by immense guilt after losing all that money.
It was ironic that the person who’d stolen from him was the one who had made him feel better about himself. Aurora lifted him more than any other person ever had.
“Aurora, come in here.”
She entered his office and sat down. Makeup streaked her face. Why didn’t women wear waterproof stuff?
How could he have been so wrong?
“I believe you have a responsibility to rectify the harm caused by your family.”
She drew in a sharp breath.
“You will pack your things and stay in one of the guest rooms. You’re still employed by me, but you need to get jeans and work boots. You need to understand the immense effort required to earn even a small amount here on the ranch.”
“You’re out of line.”
“Stewart, I need you in the front room,” Flora called out.
“Give it some careful thought. I’ll be right back.”
What a day. He entered the front room, rubbing his stiff neck.
“Look.”
“Who are they?”
Confused, he started to open the door.
“Don’t open it. I already did that. News trucks are parked all along the driveway. They want Aurora. I have no idea what she did, but these people are angry. It’s too dangerous for her to go out there.”
“Of course,” he muttered, then called, “Aurora, could you come here, please?”
Entering the room, she stopped beside him. She collapsed to the floor after a single, fleeting look.
Leaning down, he scooped her up. “Flora, which room?”
“The one across from yours would be best. The windows face the back.” Flora led the way, opened the door, and turned down the bed so he could set Aurora down. “I’m going to grab a box of tissues.”
“Once it gets dark, I will be gone. You can smuggle me out somehow,” she said miserably.
“What about your car?” he asked.
“I’ll sign it over to you. I can take a bus somewhere. Please forgive me for dumping my troubles on you. I’m truly sorry for so many things. How did they find me?” Her voice trembled with real fear.