Page 26 of Secret Admirer
Right. Her heart hammered but she held up a finger to get her birth certificate and the bag he’d mentioned. “Okay. Give me two minutes.”
Bart checked his smartwatch and waited in Rebecca’s living room. Her brown couch was stiff fabric and uncomfortable, as if made for women.
Most of her decorations were floral which was good to know. If he ever messed up, she must like flowers.
Bart checked his calendar on his phone and saw the full day of inventor meetings scheduled for tomorrow. His secretary had cleared his schedule for today. Today he might find his missing sister.
And now he had a girlfriend. The word was strange to even think, but Rebecca made him want to stay, not run.
He jumped to his feet when he heard the bedroom door click open. Rebecca’s hair was now in a ponytail, but her clothes fit her nicely. He reached for her backpack and she handed it to him without argument. He said, “Part of me hopes Melissa is my sister. Part of me is terrified and hopes she’s not.”
“Why not?”
“Because my mother died without ever finding her daughter, and I already hate my dead father.”
“Your mother will lie in peace if you’re happy.” Rebecca cupped his face. “And if Melissa says she is your sister?”
This could all be an elaborate set-up to gain access to billions of dollars. This wouldn’t be the first attempted fraud, though it would be the first he'd fallen for. Rebecca seemed too real to be part of such a dirty trick. He put her backpack over his shoulder. “Then I want a blood test to prove it --she'd need that anyway to gain her inheritance.”
“Melissa’s complaints about being kicked out of her parent’s life clearly grated on her nerves for years so I can’t predict her reaction.” Rebecca picked up her keys to the house and tossed them in the air, catching them a second later as she said, “But I hope for both of you… that you can all heal.”
“You’re a good one, Rebecca.” He studied her small house that somehow made a knot in his spine grow. If anyone knew she was his and she returned here, she could be in serious danger. She probably thought he sounded like a snob, but in his world, bad things happened if you weren't careful.
This house could never be secured with the neighboring homes so close. He placed his hand on her back to lead her out as he said, “I hope so, Rebecca. You have everything?”
She pointed toward the bedroom. “Almost. I didn’t unpack most of the bags from last night.”
Easy. Rebecca clearly valued her independence and how she paid for her house herself, but she'd agreed to come with him anyhow. He led her toward the door and opened it for her as he said, “Hand the keys to my driver, and my staff will ensure everything will be in our hotel room tonight.”
She sucked in her breath and her face was red, but then she nodded and said, “Okay. I’m ready.”
The limo was outside. She handed the house keys to the driver as he'd requested and hopped in the backseat. Rebecca moved with confidence and she'd chosen him.
No one else had ever displayed such faith in him--wanting to be with just him. He’d have to make her proud. She smiled the second he joined her in the backseat.
Neither one of them said anything. He used his phone to make sure that a few contracts had been signed and filed in his office.
They stopped at a coffee shop with green awnings. People drank in paper cups as they left.
In Rome, people sat at cafes with real cups, but he’d deal with it. Rebecca exited first and then held out her hand for him.
It was time to discover what happened next. Part of him hoped everything about Melissa was true. Part of him couldn’t imagine what his sister might be like.
If she was alive.
How would he tell his family? He clasped Rebecca's hand and they entered the shop. She led him toward a woman that could be a younger version of his mother.
She was in a white business pantsuit when his mother had worn floral dresses until the day she'd died. She stood but glared at him like she faced down an enemy. Rebecca held his hand firm and then motioned toward him as she said, “Melissa, this is-”
“Bart.” The young woman nodded at him like this was a business meeting she didn't want to be at, refusing to shake his hand. He and Rebecca took the chairs on the opposite side of the table. He covertly studied Rebecca’s friend and remembered running through country vineyards, chasing after Aurelia and Anthony. She sipped her paper cup of coffee and tossed her chestnut hair. “Did Mama toss you out for being bad too?”
Rebecca paled but then got up, motioning that she would get them coffee and give him a moment alone. He nodded, took a breath to calm down, and met his sister’s gaze. “Aurelia, that’s not true.”
She folded her hands on the table, but her brown eyes smoked with fury. “Am I supposed to believe that? Dad had his people hand me off until I started my new life, here.”
His half-brothers might have been right. His entire body was tight, and he wanted to dig up the grave of his father and punch him a few times. For now, he’d settle with kicking the dirt on that man’s grave. This was too much.
His heart wrenched when he looked at Aurelia--she was dressed well but not to the level she should be. She shouldn’t have so little that she was comfortable with less. He took her hand, his voice breaking as he said, “Dad told Mama you died. He told us all that you were dead. We mourned for you.”
