Page 113 of A Secret and a Lie
“Why?” Her voice is hardly above a whisper.
“Because I love you.”
She doesn’t reply, but the way her hazel eyes glimmer, I know she loves me, too, even if she isn’t quite ready to repeat that phrase back to me. That’s okay; I’ll wait.
I bring my hand up to rest on the side of her neck, and she leans into my touch. I should’ve told her how I felt fourteen years ago, and maybe I would’ve if she’d shown up that night, but telling her now is more impactful. We’ve lived separate lives, gone on to do different things, but the love that connected us then is still here, linking our souls together. That unseen chain never broke.
Genevieve
Ilove you.
Those three words are all I’ve been able to think about for three days. I almost repeated them back to Ford, but I didn’t. I wish I had. I couldn’t bring myself to admit it yet for some reason that I haven’t had time to analyze.
I have too much work to do to be sidetracked by thoughts of love anyway, or at least that’s how I’m choosing to occupy my mind. Ford’s a distraction, one that I’ve been avoiding so I can focus on rifling through my records, those scars of his still nagging at me. Plus, I have more than enough on my plate as I prepare for the meeting I have at the end of the week.
Then there’s my larger objective of revenge on Percy York taking shape using the information that Henry shared. I’ve lost myself in late nights and early mornings of fact-checking every detail as best as I can, but that can take some time. I’ve been sitting on the financial records Drake secured, waiting to see if York would make a play, but he’s been quiet—too quiet—and I’m done waiting.
“What are you working on?”
I glance up from my computer to find Corinne sinking into the chair across from me, her plaid skirt inching higher around her thighs.
“I’m reviewing the schedule for tonight.” I abandon my screen, though, giving her my attention.
“What are you doing for lunch?”
It’s only then that I note that it’s already half-past noon and shake my head. “I have no idea.”
“I was going to ask if you wanted me to order in.” She leans back in her seat, smirking. “But now that I’m here, I’m wondering when’s the last time you saw yourhusband?”
I roll my eyes. “This morning. We live together.”
She hums, her gaze sparkling. “You should go have lunch with him.”
I tilt my head. “Why?”
With a giggle, she rolls her eyes. “Because youlikehim and want to spend time with him.”
The look she gives me when forming the wordlikemakes it obvious she meanslove.
I’ve been crawling into Ford’s bed every night since he claimed me, his arms banding around my waist as he pulls me close. In the dark, with his scent and warmth surrounding me, I consider uttering those three words, the temptation almost overwhelming.
“Corinne,” I start to push, but she holds up a hand.
“You do know that it’s okay to be in love with him, right? I was there when you fell in love with him all those years ago and I watched it happen all over again over the last several months. The two of you have always belonged together.”
She takes a deep breath and continues, “After you got arrested, it was worse than what we even prepared for. Marcus and I were swamped between fielding calls as we handled things with the other employees and tried to smooth things over with all the clients. Don’t even get me started on dealing with your attorney; she was a headache and a half.”
I huff a laugh, but Corinne plows on. “I wanted to be pissed at Ford’s audacity when he showed up at my place, and Brett almost didn’t let him in, but the second he explained that he was your mystery man, I knew I had it wrong. He was someone thatloved you. Nothing, not time nor horrible events, could stop the two of you from being together. You’re each what the other has been waiting for.”
I didn’t know Ford had gone to see her, but that knowledge only serves to heighten the twisting sensation happening in my chest.
You’re each what the other has been waiting for.My pulse thrums as I process her words. I want to agree with what she’s saying—and in my soul, I know she’s correct—but I can’t seem to overcome my cowardice. Admitting the words written on my heart for fourteen years is harder than it should be.
She’s right about one thing, though, and it’s okay to give myself something I want.
“Hello, Edward,” I chime as soon as I step off the elevator on the fortieth floor, ignoring the presence of the security guard to my right. I haven’t been here since I gave Ford the blowjob that landed me behind bars, and I hadn’t given that much thought until now, standing in the foyer.
This office feels different now, the air less tense, but maybe that’s because I’m not simmering with unbridled rage. More likely, it’s simply because I want to be here, spending time with him, away from the rest of the world and responsibilities resting heavily on my shoulders.
