Page 35 of Overnight Inheritance

“She dumped you, didn’t she?” His shoulders bunched up and Mae smiled. “Took her a while, but she ended up seeing through you.”

“She didn’t see anything. I decided to tell her the reality of our situation and she freaked out. She might have been smart but she was naive about the world.”

“Hang on, you had a grand plan to get control of the company by seducing and marrying Sarah, then getting her father to change his will to leave his share to her. And then, what? You ruined it all—why? Did you fall for her and tell her everything? And she realized what a contemptible human being you are and walked out. Is that it?” She could see from the look in his eyes that she’d put it all together.

“Don’t look so self-righteous. Sounds like you and Sebastian are doing the exact same thing toyourbrother.”

“Wait, what? I would never try and cut Heath out of his share.”

“Right. Then it’s just Sebastian working alone. Hopefully he’ll propose soon and all this can be yours.” He swept an arm around the office.

The cold, sinking feeling she’d had through the entire conversation finally became a sharp bar of ice in her gut. She glanced at Rosario and back again.

Christopher guffawed. “Oh, that is rich. He’s already proposed, hasn’t he? Gotta hand it to the kid. I often wondered if he had too much of his mother in him to do anything good with the company, but looks like he’s got it all shored up. Welcome to the family, sweetheart.”

He walked out the door, laughing. Mae didn’t move. She felt like a grenade had just gone off and she wasn’t sure if she’d survived or not.

Rosario rushed around the desk and put an arm around Mae’s shoulders to guide her to a chair. “I’m so sorry. I hate him—we all do. Most of us only stay for Sebastian. Just ignore everything he said. He shoots his mouth off all the time, and I don’t think he knows what he’s saying half the time.”

Mae found a smile to reassure Rosario that she was okay. She needed to talk to Sebastian, but she couldn’t call or text him if he was at some sort of memorial for Ashley.

“I might just leave Sebastian a note on his desk, if that’s okay.”

“Of course it is. And I’ll tell him that you were here if he calls to check in.”

“Thank you.”

But what could she say in a note?

If the proverbial apple had fallen right at the base of the tree, then there was nothing left to say. And if it hadn’t? She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to ignore every instinct she had, because they were all screaming to run.

Don’t look back, don’t falter, just run.

She opened her eyes, picked up a pen, and started writing.

Nine

Sebastian opened his car door, sank into the driver’s seat, and leaned his head back on the headrest with his eyes closed. The lunch with Ashley’s parents, extended family, and assorted friends for her birthday had emotionally wiped him out. Such a senseless waste of life to cancer—their daughter, their cousin or niece, their friend, Alfie’s mother, his wife.

He missed Ashley’s companionship, her sensible advice, and most of all, he missed parenting with her. Every time Alfie hit a milestone, it was bittersweet because Ashley couldn’t see it. They might not have started as a love match, but they’d come to love each other, especially through Alfie.

Alfie had been the center of attention today, and Ashley’s friends and cousins had taken turns holding him, needing that connection to her. They’d prearranged that Amanda and Barry would keep him overnight and bring him back in the morning, since they needed to hold their daughter’s son more than anyone today.

His cell rang and Rosario’s name flashed up. There had been a message from her earlier to call and he’d planned on using the drive back to do it anyway. He started the car and answered the call. “Hey, Rosario. I’m just heading off now.”

“I know this is a terrible time to bother you, but something’s happened you’ll probably want to know about.”

He stifled a groan. “If that’s the architect about the plans I said I’d have back this morning, tell her—”

“It’s Mae.”

He broke off immediately, heart in his mouth. “What about Mae?”

“She came in to surprise you for lunch and ran into your father. He was as unpleasant as you’d expect, but he’s suggested to her that you’re seducing her to get her shares in the company.”

He almost ran off the road. “Youhaveto be kidding me.”

“It was like a slow-motion train wreck. I watched it happening, could see it getting worse, but there was nothing I could do. I’m sorry.”

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