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“I was there that day Scarlett. I was at the funeral. I saw you, Piers, Teddy...the lot of you. I heard what was said. It made me question everything my mum told me. But I still needed to find out for myself. And I saw him. I saw my father, James Black.” He drops his gaze, and squeezes his eyes tightly shut.

“I saw him, and he saw me. I think maybe he recognized me, right before he collapsed.” I hear the pain in his voice.

“It’s not your fault.” The word tumble from my lips, even though I don’t know if it’s true. But I do know he doesn’t need to be consumed with guilt over something he may or may not have caused.

“But I was there for revenge. To get back at him for what he did to my mom. She hates him, and Wendy...and Peter Nichols.”

“Peter? Piers’ father? Why would you’re mum hate him so much? He’s been dead for years?” More confused than ever, I question as he carries on.

“I’m really not sure. She always hated all of them, blamed them for how her life turned out. Said we lived like paupers and he lived like a king. And told me he got new children, a houseful and they got all his love and attention. But what she meant was money.” He takes another sip of tea, clearing his throat to continue. “So when I heard about Wendy’s death, she sent me here. My mum. She thought maybe it would be a good time to step forward as his heir, to make my presence known after all this time. I had been waiting for years for my chance to come to him, ruin him. To eventually—”

“Black Water. Drew being named heir. BlackHouse...the merger. You knew about all of it.” I interrupt, sitting my tea cup back on the trey as I stand to pace. “You knew about all of it. The Anderson retreat, the will, the mergers...all of it. You knew?” My heart sinks.

“Yes.” He lets out a painful sigh. “Scarlett she sent me to find out everything I could and to use whoever it took, to get close. To gain information. Piers seemed to be the key to it all.” He jumps to his feet, paces before he stares out the window.

“So you figure use me to get to him? He was right!” My voice raises an octave. “Jokes on you because I wasn’t the one! It’s Willow. It always has been.” It’s like he’s ripped a band-aid off an old wound. “And did you pursue her, the way you did me?” I yell.

“I didn’t really, I didn’t mean. No! I never felt about her that way. With you from that first day. Your long legs and sad eyes, you captivated me.”

I’m so angry and sad...confused.

“I began watching you.” He confesses.

“You what?” I should be frightened, especially after what happened with Alan. But I wasn’t. Some messed up part of me is flattered and turned on even.

He remains silent as I rant.

“So you were following me?”

He nods.

“The retreat? Running? Saving me? The pub? All just you trying to get information?”

“Yes. No. It’s not like that. Yes I ran into you, some of those wrote planned. I couldn’t know what Alan would do. I felt something for my even that night, at the retreat. I know you felt it to. But I swear after that day you bumped into me in the pub, that was coincidence. Things had already behind changing for me. And after that night of the gala. I knew I had to walk away. I had a job to do and I wouldn’t let you get caught in the middle.”

I knew this would be hard to take, but my breathing remains quick as I struggle to remain calm. I think if he had been watching me since the funeral, then- “it was you!”

“What?” He eyes me warily.

“That night I thought Teddy took me home. That was you?” I ask him a he looks me right isn’t the eye.

“Yes, it was me. I had followed you because it was clear you were upset. Some men were being a bit forward with you and I stepped in. You were legless, I wasn’t about to let you drive.”

“So you drove me home?”

“Yes.”

“You came in my home?”

“Yes.”

“Didn’t anything happen?”

“No. Uh—” his eyes dodge around the room.

“What are you not telling me?”

“Nothing happened, I swear to you. It was just...You had puked on my boots, so I only came in to put you down and clean my shoes. And when I came out of the bathroom you had stripped and propositioned me.” He rushes the rest of the embarrassing truth out and my cheeks flame.