“My family is fine,” she snips. “My father doted on me.”
“Your father doted on his business. He threw money at you. There’s a difference.” I cross my arms over my chest and lean back. “I’ve always thought you grew up without siblings, but your father’s career was your sibling, and it was the golden child.”
Anger flushes her cheeks at the truth of that, and I continue.
“Have you been treated for your raging narcissism, Bea? Or are you just letting it ride?”
From the sound of it, I’m surprised she hasn’t ground her molars into little nubs. “Please spare me the amateur psychobabble.”
“I just want to know why you stole from my family.”
“To hurt you,” she explodes. “Because you chose that little brat over me.”
I launch myself across the table. Beatrice is so surprised she almost topples over backward in her chair, but I grip her by the throat and hold her in place.
“You keep any mention ofmydaughter out of your fucking mouth. Do you understand me?”
Her eyes are wide with fear, and she nods. Slowly I release my grasp and stand, straightening my jacket.
“People can love more than one person, Beatrice. I have a big heart, and I could have loved you and Reece. I was willing to move away from my twin and the rest of my family to be with you. I was going to give up my job so you could succeed in your career. That’s love, not whatever you have with your father.”
She stares at the floor, her chest heaving.
“My family welcomed you, treated you like one of us.” Her head drops lower because she knows I’m right. “You could have had everything, but you chose your father instead. And then what happened?”
When she doesn’t answer, I place my hands on the table and lean toward her. Her eyes slowly rise to meet mine, and I say, “He stabbed you in the fucking back. Went back on his promise to you after you’d given up everything for him.”
I can see the hurt in her eyes at the stark reality. “Do you want to know the irony of it?” she asks, and I wait for her answer. “Father said he gave the CEO position to Justin because he’s more stable. Because he has a wife and kids.”
I almost laugh in her face, but I don’t. “At any point you could have contacted me to talk about your feelings, and yet you chose to let youranger simmer for years. And then you snapped and decided to go after me and my family when your father screwed you over. Maybe you should have stolen from old Barty instead. That probably would have made you feel better.”
Taking one last look at the woman I had planned to marry, I turn on my heel, calling over my shoulder. “Later, Bea. I’ve got a family to get back to. Have fun in jail.”
And I walk out the door feeling about a hundred pounds lighter.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
This is what it’s all about
Jordie
I peek around the red curtain and into the audience. It’s May and today marks the one-year anniversary of meeting the love of my life. He probably doesn’t even realize it, but the date is engraved in my mind.
“Between both our families, they’re taking up the entire first two rows,” I report in a whisper. Phoenix presses his cheek against mine to get a peek.
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into telling my family I’ve been taking dance lessons.”
Turning, I look at his handsome face, clean-shaven today. His hair is slicked back into a neat style thanks to some gel he let me put in. “I thought it went really well.”
He offers me a flat stare. “Remi called me Dancy Pants.”
I snicker because that was some funny shit. “Yes, but he showed up to support you today.” I gesture toward the packed auditorium. “Both our families did.”
Over Phoenix’s shoulder, I see Esperanza give me a signal. Taking his hand, I say, “It’s time.”
“Shit, I’m gonna puke,” my man mutters.
“Maybe you’re pregnant,” I retort, pulling him onto the stage. The dangling beads on my short blue outfit click as we take our position.
