Page 10 of The Exposed Heiress

His chest tightened. “It’s odd not to feel remorse unless you intend to re-write the history between our families.”

She shrugged. “My relationship with Tyler became stressed by many things, but if we’re going to work together, it’s probably best to let it go.”

He resisted loosening his collar. “My brother doesn’t feel the need to suppress the truth. Unfortunately, I’ve listened to every intriguing detail of your relationship with him.”

She wavered slightly on her four-inch heels. “I’d be careful about believing everything that’s told to you.”

He planted his legs wide and held her stare. “You raised the subject. I doubt we’ll ever agree on what happened. What were you hoping to accomplish?”

She met his gaze. “There are two sides to every story, Leo. I seriously doubt that Tyler shared mine. But we should endeavor to move past it. I didn’t intend to hurt him and I wish him a happy future.”

Leo unclenched his hands. “You may have not set out to hurt him, but in fact, you destroyed him. His reputation, self-worth. Everything.”

Her eyes glistened with tears and he couldn’t be sure if they were for her or his brother.

Leo looked away from her. He had revealed too much. “We should go before the studio fills with employees.”

* * *

Emma tooka deep breath in to mitigate some of the stress coursing through her body. Leo had no idea what his brother did or was capable of doing. As the older brother, Leo protected him and insisted the world see him in the same glowing terms that he did.

Following Leo down the long hallway, she questioned why she had even brought up the subject.

The unkind words she had had with Leo months ago were enough to know that he’d never see the truth about his brother. He had made her feel uneasy that night, but she resisted telling him the truth. Instead, she avoided Leo at all costs. If only that was still possible.

He held the elevator door for her. Stepping inside, she avoided looking at him. He wasn’t quite as tall as his brother but easily rivaled his looks. Leo could have modeled if he had chosen that path. Instead, he preferred to run an advertising agency and surrounded himself with glamour and posh clients. She remembered seeing an enlarged photograph of him hung in Tyler’s flat. The two of them were at the beach. Her eyes had been drawn to Leo and his perfectly sculpted chest. Shaking her head, she attempted to put aside the memory.

His low voice filled the space. “I shouldn’t have cut you off before. I wouldn’t have thought my reactions were so close to the surface.”

She glanced at him without smiling. “It’s fine. Family is complicated.”

He nodded, but didn’t offer anything further.

Emma stepped off the elevator first and glanced around the studio. Everything seemed to be in order. The lights were on and a few employees were unpacking a shipment.

One of her assistants, Claire, asked, “Would you like coffee? I just made a pot.”

Emma smiled. “I’m going to wait a few minutes. I want to show Leo a few items from the new collection.”

Claire asked, “Should I begin taking out the finished pieces?”

Emma shook her head. “I’ll pull a few pieces. Leo, have you met Claire yet?”

Leo held out his hand. “Yes, on my first day. Nice to see you again.”

Claire smiled widely. “Yes, everyone enjoyed your visit. If you don’t need me, then I’ll take a few things up to the shop.”

Emma called over her shoulder, “We’ll only be a few minutes.”

She went into the storage area and put several garments on a clothes rack and wheeled it out to the show room.

Positioning the rack near the large windows, Emma took off an evening gown in a sheer pink silk. She held the gown out for him to inspect.

Emma watched the fabric move. “We’re launching our Spring Collection and this gown has both our trademark look of glamour and a hint of glitz with simple lines.”

He shrugged. “I can’t see how it’s different from other gowns you’ve created.”

She breathed through her irritation. “It’s hard to see on the hanger, but it’s early. We won’t have any models in until this afternoon.”

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