He nodded his head, knowingly. Then his brow creased. “Are we at war, then?”
“No. We aren’t.” I had to take a breath after I said it. It was like laying a heavy weapon down, and the effort of carrying it lingered after it was on the ground. “The thing is, she finally got through to me, and when she did, it wasn’t her conviction in your character that made me change my mind. It was just her. It was realizing that she’s everything, and anything that isn’t her isn’t worth my time.”
I’d been wrong. My love for Celia wasn’t a vulnerability. It was my strength. It was my bastion. It was my greatest weapon.
“I don’t care who you are,” I said, emboldened by my epiphany, “or what you’ve done to repay your debts. I only care about her and our child and what she’s done for me. She hasn’t changed me, but she’s accepted me for who I am, and with that acceptance, my focus has shifted. I no longer see you or the battle I meant to wage. All I see is her.”
He let a smile slip, but quickly tucked it away. “So you didn’t meet with me to discuss the shares?”
I shook my head. “I don’t bloody care about the shares. Whoever owns them, I already have what I need. Celia does too.”
He pressed me with a quizzical expression.
“Then why are we here, you’re wondering.” I sighed. “I probably didn’t need to meet with you at all since you weren’t aware of my vendetta. Honestly, I’m here for selfish reasons. Closure, somewhat. Mostly, I’m here for Celia. She doesn’t need me to stick up for her or fight any of her wars, nor would she appreciate it if she knew that’s why I was here. If she knew I was here at all, that is. Regardless, I didn’t think it was right that you didn’t know what she’s done for you, and my place or not, I needed to make it known. If she’s what one of your enemies looks like, I’d advise you to get more of them.”
The man was unreadable, another admirable quality, but I sensed he’d heard me. He gave the impression that he heard everything, including much that wasn’t actually said. Rolling his cigar between his fingers, he stared vaguely into the distance. “It’s funny, after everything that’s occurred between us, I still think of her first as friend rather than foe. And what she did to help find Alayna...I know she was reluctant to help at first, for whatever reason—”
“That was my fault,” I interjected. “She would have been helpful from the beginning if it weren’t for me, guaranteed.”
He took a second to digest that. “I wouldn’t have found my wife without Celia. I know that. I have nightmares every time I sleep about it, thinking what might have happened. Knowing how close I was to losing...everything.” Emotion shuddered through him, but he recovered quickly. “Celia was there when I needed her most, and maybe that doesn’t make up for everything in the past, but as you seemed to suggest, there’s not much value in holding a grudge.”
Reaching into his tuxedo jacket, he pulled out an envelope, bent from being stuffed inside his pocket, and handed it to me. “It’s not what you’re here for, but it’s what I’m here for. Both my lawyer and financial advisor have already approved the language. Take all the time you need looking it over. Whenever, if ever, you’re interested, call my office, and we’ll schedule a time to make it final.”
I tucked it in my own pocket without looking at it. I knew what it was, and though it was a nice gesture, it didn’t matter. It didn’t change anything.
It was, however, a good note to end on.
I set my cigar back in the sand so it would extinguish naturally, then I held my hand out. “I think we’re done here.”
He accepted my hand and gave it a firm shake. “I’d say we are.”
A vivid memory flashed in my mind of that night with Frank, of the way the fire licked against the night sky, the smoke rising above the flames. I’d stood watching as long as I’d dared, hoping for the finality to sink in. It never did.
It was different walking away from Hudson. The world might have been ablaze behind me. I never looked back to see.
Eighteen
Celia
I walked into the Werner Media lobby and checked the time on my phone. Twelve after nine. I was cutting it close.
I hurried past reception, flashing my ID to the security guard who knew me by sight, and down the hall to the press room located at the heart of the first floor. It took twice as long to get there because of the clothes I was wearing. A tight pencil skirt and sky-high heels were not conducive to speed.
But hey, I looked good.
I always looked good when Edward dressed me, which had become routine again. Usually, though, since my days generally consisted of mothering, the outfits he chose were simple summer dresses or rompers with easy access to my breasts for feedings. When I’d seen today’s selection laid out for me when I woke for Cleo’s six o’clock feeding, I’d been surprised he’d chosen something so businesslike. Then I’d seen the note from Edward who’d come in after I was asleep the night before.
Nine-fifteen today. Werner Media press room.
It had struck me as odd right off the bat. I hadn’t been to the building at all since my father retired. Even with the three-point alliance, Edward had little interaction with Werner Media.
Strange as the request was, I’d also been immediately excited. Which might have been unjustified considering how many times Edward had led me into uncomfortable situations without any warning. As distressing as those occasions were, though, they always paid off in the end. If that’s what I was walking into, so be it.
Too bad I was walking into it late.
With the handicap of the outfit plus another check-in point outside the press room, I didn’t walk in until almost nine-twenty. The room was packed, standing room only. Flash bulbs were going off, cameras pointed toward the front of the room. After weaseling my way to a place where I could actually see, I saw it was Nathan Murphy, the Werner Media CEO, behind the podium. And at his side, waiting to be introduced, was my father.
For whatever reason, seeing my father made my stomach knot. I’d heard him speak at hundreds of pressers and events over my lifetime. It was an ordinary part of his job. So mundane, I hadn’t tuned in to one in years.
But he was retired now and had less reason to be representing Werner Media in a conference. His presence suggested an important announcement was to be made. And if Edward had wanted me here for it, I could only guess what it would be in reference to, especially considering what else was going on in the Werner world.
Sure enough, after a short speech from Nate that said pretty much nothing, my father approached the podium with a digital reader in his hand.
A prepared speech. This was real serious coming from a man who liked to wing it.
He had my full attention, along with forty other people crowded around me. We all watched, a strange silence blanketing the press room while he took his reading glasses out of his jacket pocket and adjusted the microphone.
“I appreciate you all coming out today. So many familiar faces.” His eyes roved around the room, greeting old friends with a nod. He paused when he came to me, the jovial expression he’d had a moment before slipping away instantly.