Page 89 of Third Time is the Charm
“Honestly, anything to get you out of the picture,” he said heavily. “I’m not trying to scare you, but you kept a lot from me in the past, too, and she is far more unstable now than she was before.”
“What do you mean?” Beth asked. They’d had a silent pact over the past two days to not mention Caroline; she deserved no part in those tender moments of their relationship. Now – this morning – she was a fact that they had to face.
“After I got the restraining order against her, she went crazy. She tried to see me and contact me several times which obviously didn’t work. Then, she started harassing Charles – demanding to speak to me. She tried to take his cell phone to call me. He said he had to dial 9-1-1 before she finally left.”
“Oh my God…”
“I guess her parents finally stepped in, according to Charles. He’d asked them to because he was afraid she would assault Jane next,” Darcy continued. “They told her that they would consider reinstating her inheritance basically if she could prove to them that she was adult enough to handle it – the deadline was Charles’ wedding.”
Beth picked up their empty cups and began to rinse them in the sink.
“And, as you know, she lost it… with only a few hours to go.” Darcy laughed harshly. “I think seeing you, trying to prove to you that I was hers – even though you had a date – was just more important to her.”
“Yeah, what happened to her after that?” Beth asked as they gathered their things, preparing to leave for the day.
“Honestly, I didn’t know and I didn’t care, until you told me what Anne said. I called Charles as soon as they got back last night after you fell asleep. He said that his parents have basically cut ties with her; they told her she will never get that money with the way that she sees fit to act.”
“No wonder she is pissed.”
“No, Beth. She is crazy, not just angry. She is crazy and I have no doubt that she blames everything on you – you took me from her, you’ve kept me from her, you’ve forced her hand which has caused her to lose the only other thing that she has been after: that money.”
Beth swallowed over the lump in her throat knowing that what he said was the most likely truth. And if Caroline felt like Beth was the root of everything that had happened, that Beth was the only obstacle in her way from getting everything that she wanted, then yes, for the first time, Beth truly felt like her life was in danger.
“Hey,” Darcy said softly, his arms coming around her. “I will never let anything happen to you, understand?” His fingers tipped up her chin so she could look him in the eye.
Beth nodded.
“Alright, let’s go get this done. I’ve already hired more security to be with us today and then stay with you once you get to your office – discreetly, of course.”
She nodded again – this time grateful for what she had previously considered an imposing intrusion.
Beth felt in a fog during the whole process. She answered questions when asked, admitted that she felt like she was in imminent danger. Even though Beth hadn’t been harmed by her yet, Darcy provided the items – the evidence – that they’d collected and saved to show that her life had been threatened. His steely stare might have helped to make sure that they walked out of there with the R.O. in hand.
“You alright?” Darcy asked once they were back in the car on the way to her office.
“Yeah, I’m just glad that is over with – not that I really think a piece of paper is going to stop her,” she murmured.
“It’s going to be ok; I’m having my people try to find her to end this.” He squeezed her hand to try to comfort her as they pulled up to the Dempsey Center.
She moved to open the door, but Darcy caught her first, pulling her close for a long, deep kiss. Beth felt her toes curl as the warmth of his love and her desire for him spread throughout her body. For those brief, blessed seconds, all of her fear and anxiety and stress – all of her thoughts of Caroline vanished. His kiss reminded her of the future –of their future.And when he pulled back, she found herself feeling stronger; she found herself determined to beat Caroline at whatever game she was trying to play.
“I love you. I’ll see you later, gorgeous,” he whispered against her lips.
“Mmm…” she moaned. “I love you, too.”
He took another few seconds to finally release her and she knew that he was struggling to let her out of his sight; he wanted to come in with her, sit in her office all day, and make sure that nothing happened. But, for her, he let her go, trusting that the security that he’d hired would do their job.
Beth stepped out of the car, flanked by John and Arnie – the two burly men in charge of protecting her. Walking into the building, she waited for that feeling to come over her – the one where she felt like she was being watched, but nothing came.
Sighing with relief, they walked through the lobby and her keycard got her access to the office levels of the building.
Safe.
The word crossed her mind as they stepped off the elevator, and just as quickly it fled from her as she walked into her office, the giant vase of black roses sitting on her desk a familiar ominous greeting. She felt no fear or confusion, only anger.
Her mouth thinned as she stalked over to her desk, hearing John on the phone with Darcy telling him what they’d arrive to, meanwhile, Arnie went to find out who had brought them up here.
Beth looked through the deathly blooms to pluck out the card she knew was waiting for her.
