Page 63 of The Exposed Heiress

Her hands clenched into fists. “It’s over.”

James shifted in his chair. “Ever since you were a little girl, you hid your true feelings. I could tell when you became stiff that something was bothering you. But it wasn’t easy to get you to talk about it. I hope in a relationship, you’re willing to share your feelings freely.”

Emma pushed her hair behind her shoulders. “That’s not really a strength in our family.”

He looked at her. “Be the generation that changes that.”

Emma reached down and kissed her father on the cheek. “Thanks, Dad. I’ll see you at the opening of Fashion Week?”

He nodded and embraced her with one arm.

Leaving the room, she glanced back and watched her father put his glasses back on to read the paper. Against all odds, he had survived and was fully recovering.

Leaving the rehabilitation center, her sadness over losing Leo seeped deep into her core. She wished it could be different. But she had no idea how to change it. He hadn’t returned any of her calls.

She leaned her back against the car and brushed aside a few tears. Tears were not going to help. She had to find a way to prove to Leo that she loved him and she had made a mistake in denying their relationship. But would he be able to forgive her, or would he continue to shut her out?

Climbing back into the car with a renewed purpose, she started the engine and headed back to Rotherhithe.

* * *

Leo glancedat his phone while his real estate agent pointed out all the features of the London flat.

The older man said, “It’s a bit pricy, but this is one of the best locations in London.”

Slipping his phone into his pocket, Leo said, “I’ll take it. I need it fully furnished.”

The real estate agent frowned. “Okay. Do you want to offer five percent under asking price?”

“No. Just make it happen.”

“I’ll have the contracts sent to your office this afternoon.”

Leo opened the door and slipped through. He needed to escape London for a few days. He had promised to make an appearance at Fashion Week, but in truth he wanted to be halfway across the world.

He shouldn’t have gotten involved with Emma. He knew better than to seek out a permanent relationship with someone who valued secrets and half-truths.

He also knew that he wasn’t built for permanency. His father had taught him that, if little else.

He recalled a memory of his father leaving, and then when he shouted for him, his father looked back for a second. It hadn’t worked. His father wasn’t the type of man who would stay. And he was the spitting image of his father. Not Tyler. Tyler was more sensitive, and took after their mother’s family.

Leo stood in the hallway and the sting of being misled pierced his gut. His head lowered and he covered his face with his hands briefly. He needed to move on. He wouldn’t allow himself to get stuck in self-doubt.

His phone buzzed and he straightened his posture without glancing at the screen. Taking the stairs down to the lobby, he resolved to move forward. He would launch a new company or acquire a new deal, far away from the fashion world. Francis Bolles would survive, and James would return at some point.

He wanted to seek Emma out, but he wouldn’t let himself be ruled by his weakness for her. Stepping onto the street, he signaled for a taxi.

A few minutes later, he walked into Bloom Advertising, and his receptionist, Louise, waved him over.

“Leo, you have several messages from Emma Bolles. Do you have your mobile with you?”

Leo tapped lightly on the counter. “Francis Bolles can stand on it’s own at this point, and my focus is on acquiring new clients.”

Louise looked at him and started to say something, but closed her mouth.

Leo flexed his shoulders. “Just delete any messages from Emma Bolles, and don’t put her calls through.” He needed to focus on something beyond his desire for her.

Louise nodded slowly.

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