Rupert shook his head. “I’m not finished.”
Vanessa fell silent, her lips pressed into a thin line.
“You’re disinherited. No access to my accounts or the family properties.” Rupert took a steadying breath. “Your mother’s trust is irrevocable, so you won’t be left with nothing. But if you ever want hope of reconciliation with me, you will make this right. For Tessa. And for Gage.”
Her mouth opened and closed again, but nothing came out. It was the first time I’d ever seen Vanessa truly speechless.
My father added, “A private apology won’t cut it. The damage was public. The correction needs to be as well.”
I leaned forward, meeting Vanessa’s eyes for the first time since this began. “A retraction from the influencer isn’t enough. You’ll make your own statement, too. Tell the world the rumor was false. Our marriage ended because of your decisions, not anything Tessa did. And that I didn’t see Tessa again until after our divorce was finalized. They got it all wrong. She had nothing to do with any of it.”
Her lower lip trembled. “But?—”
“You heard the man, Vanessa,” Rupert growled. “Doing as he asked is the first step in proving to me that you want to make this right.”
“Fine,” she whispered, her shoulders slumping.
“Now,” he added, pointing toward the door. “Before security escorts you out of the building.”
Vanessa left, and Rupert was still staring at the closed conference room door when he finally exhaled, his shoulders slumping with exhaustion I’d never seen in him before. Not even when he was ill.
My father let out a similar sigh, then shifted his attention to me. “I know you were manipulated. You were hurting, and Vanessa preyed on that. But the fact remains that your judgment was compromised.”
He wasn’t wrong, so I didn’t bother arguing.
“You let a personal crisis bleed into your professional responsibilities,” he continued. “And today’s fallout proved how unstable that foundation was.”
I nodded. “I know.”
Rupert placed his glasses on the table, folding them with deliberate care. “I’m stepping back in as CEO for now.”
I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment to absorb the blow. Then I forced them open again when my father’s hand settled over mine. “The company needs steady leadership while you get your feet under you again. And your heart.”
I scrubbed a hand over my beard, feeling the weight of everything I’d failed at. Trust didn’t rebuild overnight, not even in myself. “I understand.”
Dad’s expression eased, just slightly. “When Rupert and I started this company, we hoped it would be a legacy we could leave behind for our children. But not like this.”
Rupert nodded. “Langford Tech will still be here when you’re ready. Go build a life worth returning to.”
I wasn’t sure what kind of future I could build out of the rubble, but the price I paid today was worth protecting Tessa.
15
TESSA
I’d spent the past few hours elbow-deep in flour, trying to force my brain to focus on something other than the wreckage that was my social media. Three new recipes I’d been meaning to test for weeks sat cooling on the counter.
I was creaming butter for another batch of frosting when there was a knock on my door. My finger trembled as I turned off the mixer.
After wiping my hands, I crossed through the living room, my stomach in knots.
Gage stood there looking wrecked, and the sight hit me harder than I wanted to admit. His shoulders were rigid, his jacket and tie were gone, his sleeves were pushed up, and his dark hair was mussed. As though he’d been repeatedly dragging his hands through it since he’d left the restaurant several hours ago.
And there was a flash of vulnerability in his eyes that was at odds with his firm tone. “It’s been handled.”
I stepped back and opened the door wider. “Come in.”
Gage stepped inside but didn’t come any farther into my apartment. I appreciated that he wasn’t using the situation to press his advantage.
