Page 13 of The Exposed Heiress

Emma stood in the middle of the room and said, “I don’t know how we’re going to get out of this, Leo. I have nothing. I haven’t collected a salary in nearly a year, and I’ve put all of my inheritance back into this place. My mother is barely able to visit my father; I can’t imagine she’ll want to know any of this.”

Leo held back his thoughts. She needed time to grasp all of it.

She bit her lower lip. “I’m going to go for a walk.”

The press would eat her alive. “No.”

* * *

Emma stared at Leo,trying to make sense of his answer. She didn’t need his permission to do anything.

Leo stood up. “Image is everything right now, and your panic is beginning to show.”

She couldn’t lose Francis Bolles. Her father hadn’t recovered yet, and her family had sacrificed for years to rebuild their reputation. “I’m not panicking.” Her voice sounded strange to her. She turned away from him. She was panicking. She could feel it in her increased breathing and heartbeat.

He went to the drinks cabinet and poured a small amount whiskey. “I’ll call down for a car and we will tell the receptionist that we have an early lunch meeting.”

Emma took the glass from him. “I can’t drink whiskey at eleven o’clock in the morning.” She had rules for herself. She wasn’t going to allow herself to use alcohol to numb her emotions.

She could hear Leo speaking to the receptionist, but had trouble figuring out what to do next.

Leo put the phone down and came over to her. He lightly touched her shoulders. “You’re in a mild shock. Take a sip. It’ll help.”

She took in a deep breath and then swallowed the amber liquid in one shot. It burned her throat and she coughed several times.

Leo rubbed his hands down her arms and said, “Keep breathing.”

Emma blinked away tears. “I can’t oversee the dismantling of this place. So many people will be let down. My grandparents’ legacy will be destroyed.”

“Let’s go for a drive.”

She nodded and began gathering her laptop.

“You don’t need that right now.”

A slight chill came over her. She needed routine and to escape into the studio. But she couldn’t face her employees knowing that the business was going to collapse.

She picked up her handbag and followed Leo. She reminded herself not to show any unease. So instead of breaking down or throwing things, she simply walked out of the building and pretended it was a normal day.

Her driver opened the door for them, and Leo waited for her to get in first. She heard Leo speaking with the driver in a hushed tone and watched him hand the man a piece of paper.

The car made its way through heavy traffic and she distracted herself by watching a young mother on the sidewalk trying to cajole her toddler into a stroller. She couldn’t imagine dealing with a small child, but her sister-in-law would have a baby within a few months. Would her father be well enough to hold the baby?

She smoothed down the fabric of her skirt. The financial pressures settled over her and she began to contemplate possible alternatives. She had cousins who might offer advice. Olivia. Grace. They ran their own boutiques and were doing well. Her father held them at a distance and hadn’t wanted any collaboration. Maybe she could ask for their advice.

Leo responded to emails on his phone and she took a moment to study him. He didn’t remind her of Tyler at all. Tyler had been carefree and lived in the moment. Leo focused on work and building his company. He had a strong jawline and classic nose, he was almost too handsome, except for a small white scar that marred his temple.

Emma took in a deep breath. “How are you managing all of this?”

He glanced up briefly and then finished sending a message. “I’ve known for a long time that the situation had become dire.”

She touched her neck. “You’ve known for a long time? My father told you about the financial issues?” Her father had said nothing to her.

He put his phone down. “No. He tried to hide the problems, but if you care to see the signs, they were there.”

She bit her lower lip briefly. “I don’t understand.”

He held her gaze. “Maybe you’ve never been betrayed by a business partner or watched someone lie outright, even when challenged. If you had, you would have been able to see beyond a few false documents and quiet assurances.”

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