“I never said that.”
“You just did.”
“I . . . stop putting words in my mouth! Whether he keeps it or doesn’t makes no difference to me.” I’m irate and in a rage.
Malory on the other hand is satisfyingly cool. “Oh, Emma. Don’t you see? It could never work between the two of you. If he gives up the empire, he’ll resent you. If he keeps it, he’ll always wonder if you are with him for the right reasons.”
“Why do you care what he chooses? It’s not your money?”
“Before you came along he was going to share it with me! I am the only one who understands him. There is no such thing as love in this world. All we have is respect. Alexander Asher is going to rule the world, and I will be the one by his side.
“Now he’s thinking about giving it all up. And for what? To prove to himself you really love him for who he is and not what he has? It won’t work. You will leave him or he will leave you. When your relationship falls apart, and it will, I will be the one to pick up the pieces. I am always the one to pick up the pieces. But if you leave him, and he has nothing, well, then I’ll have no reason to help him back up will I?”
Taking one panther-like step toward me, Malory’s words are harsh. “I am giving you one chance to walk out that door right now or I will make your life a living hell.”
I am just about to tell Malory off when a loud bang echoes through the room. Alexander walks in and stops when he sees me standing in the living room with Malory.
“What the fuck is going on here?”
His eyes meet mine, and he realizes Malory told me about the terrible decision he has to make.
I swallow back and turn to Malory, letting her know she should leave. Malory sees the angered look in my eyes but doesn’t move. It turns out she’s just getting started.
Malory lifts the black file folder and hands it to Alexander. “I wasn’t planning on doing this in front of the little harlot, but I suppose it serves her right to watch as you find out who she really is.”
My head swivels over to Alexander and watches as he opens the folder and looks through its contents. The hard, masculine structure of his face morphs from anger and determination to hurt and betrayal.
“Emma, tell me this isn’t true,” he says, his voice begging but his eyes frightened of the answer I may give.
I stare back at him, dumfounded at what could possibly be inside the folder. What could he possibly think I’ve done for him to look at me the way he is right now?
Malory saunters over to Alexander’s side and explains. “I did my own investigation in Italy. Turns out Emma, here, hired a boat captain by the name of Raphael and paid him to stage the boat escapade. She fell in front of Devon on purpose, knowing he’d rescue her. It was all an opportunity to get to you and it worked.”
My mouth falls open at the ludicrous fabrication.
“You tricked me?” Alexander asks me. I am shocked he would even believe this nonsense.
“No!” I shout. How in the world could he possible think I was capable of this? I want to run to his side and beg him to believe me but this is Alexander. My Alexander. The man who closed his heart off for fear of being used. His worst nightmare is coming true. It all feels like a bad dream “You can’t believe this—”
“Believe it,” Malory says. “Don’t you think it was all too convenient? The sister gets sick, not once but twice? I bet Emma’s hand isn’t really injured. Probably just a ploy to get to yourwounded soul.”
I turn to Malory. She is stunning in her vindictiveness. What Alexander has is worth far more to her than I ever imagined. She went through a lot of trouble putting this affidavit together. “How do you even know how we met?” I ask in any attempt to find an explanation for what is happening. Realization suddenly strikes. A memory of a woman in fancy shoes, dark sunglasses and wide brimmed hat. “I saw you. At the hotel, I saw you.”
My mind is reeling, placing intricate pieces of the puzzle together. Malory left the magazine under the doorway.
“You were going to frame me back then. You wanted Asher to catch me with the magazine as if I knew who he was the entire time. You were going to fake this affidavit back then, but you didn’t have to. Adam pinged the boat and sent Alexander into his own frenzy. You thought I was gone forever.”
She was so concerned about her investment and supposed future with Alexander Asher, she wanted to keep us apart before we even started.
And she succeeded.
“Who hurt you so badly you want to destroy other people’s lives?”
Her mouth clenches tight and her nostrils flare as she breathes in hard. “You know nothing about me! Asher, you cannot let her fool you any longer. You have to see—”
“Get out!” Alex shouts. To whom I’m nervous to find out. “Malory. Get out!”
Malory cowers a little and I almost feel sorry for her. “Asher, no. She is using you! She’s like the rest of them. She faked that drowning scene. Why do you think she’s here? This has all been a ploy to get to you!”
