He believed with vehement conviction that I shouldn’t inform my mother that I knew, nor did he believe her behavior warranted an opportunity at heroism. But I couldn’t admit the truth—I was a coward for not readily condemning my mother. Beyond all choice or judgment, in the deepest and most instinctive way, I loved and wanted approval from her, a compulsion programmed into me from birth. The thought of being the instrument of her downfall felt wrong on all levels.
I would do it, if I had to. But I’d lay out my proof and let her make a choice in the hopes that if she had no other affection for me, she would at least do this to absolve me. It was a foolish and innocent hope. But it was the only way I could live with myself, my final extension of respect and care for my mother.
“Do you think there’s any way to be ready for a thing like this?” I asked, memorizing the sight of my hand resting on the swell of his chest.
“No, I don’t. There are too many variables, too many outcomes, especially when dealing with your mother. I can honestly say I have no idea what she’ll do.”
“Neither do I. I know she won’t be happy, particularly with my giving her an ultimatum.”
My hand rose and fell with his sigh.
“Maisie, I swear, if this somehow comes back on you, I’ll never forgive myself.”
“For what? Marcus, I love you, but this is not your decision to make.”
“Where your happiness and safety are concerned, in many ways it is. There’s more I could do to stop you, but I won’t. I only hope I don’t regret it.”
“I’ve been controlled enough in my life,” I said darkly. “Please, don’t you start too.”
Another sigh, the stroke of his hand on my bare arm. “I’d take a bullet for you. And right now, your mother feels like a round of twenty-twos.”
“My mother says she wants to protect me too.”
He shifted, leaning so he could look at me, disturbing my resting place so I had to meet his eyes. “I’d like to think this is a little different.”
“It is,” I conceded. “But every once in a while, it doesn’t feel like it.”
Marcus didn’t get angry, only sad. “I hope you know that’s the last thing I want, for you to feel that way.”
“I know.” I stretched to give him a kiss. “Now, let’s get out of bed so I can get this over with.”
“I was thinking tonight we should stay in. Order Chinese. Watch movies, read—whatever you want.”
“Bubble bath too?”
“Text me when you’re on your way, and I’ll draw one up for you.”
“For us, if you please,” I added with a smile.
He mirrored it. “Something we can both look forward to.”
With a chuckle and another kiss, we peeled ourselves apart and rolled out of bed.
My happiness faded with every step that brought me closer to facing my mother. By the time I was brushing my teeth, I was unable to smile. By the time I stood in the entry with Marcus to say goodbye, I was pulled tight as a bowstring. But I drew myself up to do what needed to be done and walked out that door, hoping it would be over soon.
It was one of the longer half hours of my life. Traffic was a mess, the cab crawling toward Midtown at a speed that ratcheted my anxiety to unbearable heights. I should have taken the subway, given my brain and body something to do. Instead, I sat in that taxi and obsessed over what I was about to walk into.
The day was cheerful by appearance, the sun out and clouds absent. And when I finally made it to the building and stepped out of the cab, warmth greeted me, the promise of summer on its wings.
But all I could do was sweat.
In I went, past the front desk, ignoring the eyes tracking me. She’d know I was here—honestly, I was half surprised not to have been greeted by security to escort me right back out. But she let me pass, let me get onto the elevator. She allowed me to enter her space, a silent, sanctioned invitation to bring it on.
That challenge lit a fire in me. Because for once, I held the cards. And my guilt faded, replaced by sheer determination to force her hand.
Shelby was pallid behind her desk but unsurprised to see me. She rose, saying nothing as she opened my mother’s office doors.
And there was the queen herself.
Mother sat behind her desk, the very picture of power and control. She wasn’t tense, though she wasn’t relaxed, only a shrewd and stately statue, somehow looking down at me even though she was seated.
Her eyes flicked to the door, and she nodded. The click as the doors closed was the only sound in the room.
“I believe I told you not to come back here, Margaret.”
“And yet you so graciously granted me entrance.”
“Only because I assume you’re here to denounce them or beg. Both, if I’m fortunate.”
“I hate to disappoint—”
“Do you?” The words were a lance.
I approached her desk but didn’t sit. I didn’t know why. Perhaps some instinct to prepare to escape should she put me in danger.
“Why are you here?” she asked.
“I wanted to give you a chance to do the right thing.”
A merciless laugh burst out of her. “And what, accept your disloyalty?”
“No. To admit yours.”
Her savage smile faded. “Regarding the Bennets? You must be joking.”
“I know that you’ve been stealing.”
I realized I’d never truly shocked her, not until that moment. “What?” The word was barely a whisper.
“You’ve been stealing from Bower. Through my charity.”
Her mask slammed back in place. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Is this some sort of grab to try to reclaim your place?”
“I don’t want my place, not if it’s under your command. And I think you know exactly what I’m talking about. Now that I know, I’m obligated to act. But before I go to the authorities, I wanted to give you a chance to turn yourself in.”
The color drained from her face, her eyes so cool, they were nearly colorless. “Whatever you think you know—”
“Will you really deny it?” I shot. “Even now, even with me standing here with the truth, you would still lie?” I shook my head, pulling the financial papers out of my bag. “Maybe I should have listened to Marcus after all.” I dropped the folder on her desk with a snick.
But she didn’t see it for the blood red that overcame her.
A long, hot breath, and she detonated like a warhead. “You told him? You told a Bennet—Marcus Bennet—that I was an embezzler? You foolish child. If you think he hasn’t already exposed us, you’re an imbecile. Have you any idea what you’ve done?” She rose, trembling with fury and fear. “You are so sanctimonious, so quick to trust them. But they’re liars and deceivers, and they will abandon you the moment they find a way to save their own necks. And you, my stupid, foolish child, have handed them the means to destroy us all.”
A furious rush of denial ripped me open, tore me apart. “You’d villainize the Bennets, and for what? To make yourself the hero in your story? It’s you who have stolen. It’s you who have lied. And now it’s you who will come clean, or I’ll do it for you. I have no choice, Mother. You’ve taken enough from me. I won’t go to jail for you too.”