Page 97 of The Last Resort
“Scott Davilla is currently serving a five-year sentence for fraud. He stole over four-million dollars from his clients. And he is my father. I legally changed my name to Rachel Little after the trial.”
It was hard to look at him. She didn’t want to see the anger or the pain on Matthew’s face.
“Go on.”
He’s going to make me tell him every dirty detail.
She loved him, but right now she hated him too. “My father always lived beyond his means. At some point he decided that gambling would help him to get ahead. It didn’t. He stole from his clients to make up for his losses. His lies have cost my mother her home, her friends, everything.”
“What about you? Where do you fit into all of this?” He moved closer, taking her travel bag out of her hand. Rachel didn’t resist. There was no fight left in her.
“After they charged my father with fraud, I discovered he’d made me an officer of some of his companies. The authorities tried to come after me. They didn’t push ahead with the case, because I didn’t have anything to answer for, but you know how these things go, mud sticks.”
Her father’s clients had assumed Rachel had money and come knocking on her door for payment. Despite explaining that none of what Scott Davilla had done was connected to her, she’d had to close her design business. No one believed her. No one wanted to work with her. Even her fiancé had dumped her. It had become unbearable and impossible for her to stay in Atlanta.
“So why is your father calling you now? From what I understand he seems to think you can get money out of my family. Is that why you are with me, to shake me down for cash?”
He was calling her a liar. A scam artist. Someone who had stolen his love.
Rachel slowly shook her head. No matter what she said, he wouldn’t believe her. His anger. His silence. It all spoke to Matthew already having made up his mind. Her bottom lip quivered. Any second now she was going to completely lose it.
“I didn’t know who you were when we met. And after they sent us out here to work on the project, I tried to stayaway from you. I suspected you wouldn’t understand how god awful this past year has been for me. You come from a world where money solves everything. Well I did too, until the money was all gone. My father has cost me everything. My business, my home, my reputation. And a year ago, it also cost me the man I was meant to marry.”
She reached for her travel bag, but he pulled away. “No. Not until you have told me why you didn’t tell me all of this weeks ago. We could have avoided so much pain.”
Mustering the last ounce of her pride, she met his gaze, through a sheen of tears. “My father is a convicted felon. My entire family is guilty by association. Your family is made up of a group of internationally respected billionaires. You can do the math.”
His brother had just married one of the most famous women on the planet. Rachel could just imagine what the press were going to say when they discovered that one of the members of Chloe’s new family was dating the daughter of a con artist.
“But if you succeeded in having me pay you the money, wouldn’t that mean getting your father out of prison? I can see that as a pretty big factor in wanting to share my bed.”
If he’d had his people check up on her, then he should know it all. Surely, he knew she’d stood up in court and testified against her father.
“I didn’t say anything to you about my father’s demands to send him money. Not just because his idea is repulsive and goes against everything I’ve ever stood for. I didn’t mention it until now because I never intended to act on it.”
“Where you ever going to tell me?”
Rachel nodded. “Yes. I was going to tell you everything once we got back here. You were right about it being important for us to have no more secrets between us. I’m tellingyou the truth when I say I never wanted your money, Matthew. I only ever wanted you. I still do.”
She reached for her bag one last time, and he finally let her take it. “Let’s just find a way to get this proposal approved by the Brocks and the planning committee. Once Royal Resorts have secured the purchase of the site, you won’t ever have to see me again. I’m sorry I lied to you. But when I say I love you, that’s the truth.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
Hands stuffed deep into his coat pockets, Matthew trudged through the snow as he took a long walk around the grounds of the old ski lodge. Despite his best efforts, even the cold-night air couldn’t clear his head. Yesterday, he’d been full of hope about this place and its future. Now his grand plans for it—along with the stunning blond he’d thought to include in his own future—were a complete mess.
Her father’s five-year prison sentence for stealing from his clients had been bad enough. Discovering that Scott Davilla not only knew about his and Rachel’s relationship but that he was trying to get leverage out of it, made Matthew sick to his stomach.
Understanding the risk to the family company, he’d spoken to Bryce first thing this morning, and explained what the Royal Security team had uncovered. Bryce had counselled him to take his time and think before he confronted Rachel.
“And when you do, give her a chance to explain things.”
He had taken his time, but all it had done was to let his anger fester. On the flight back to Aspen, his temper had built to a rage, so much so that by the time the jet landed, hewas ready to explode. He hadn’t given her a chance. Little wonder she’d taken his car and driven off.
She lied to me. About everything. Jeez even her ex-fiancé.
How could they come back from this? Was there a way back, and if there was, did he really want to risk his heart over a girl he couldn’t trust? His steps slowed. What would he have done in her place?
He knew the answer. He would have done exactly the same as Rachel had done.
