Gone Too Far (30 page)

Part two was much more complicated. Carter had to create a situation in which Avery would be willing to leave Anthony and not hate herself for cheating on him. This had begun by completely emasculating Anthony at every opportunity possible without it seeming obvious to anyone but Anthony. When placed against Carter, very few men could measure up.

Steven smirked. “You remember, kid, it was my idea for you to crowd her husband out slowly, before I knew she lied to you about Connor not being yours. I'd prefer you be done with her. Julia is more suited to our circles anyway.”

“You're starting to sound like Mom,” Carter said. He placed Connor in the other arm. She was getting heavy.

Twenty-six-year-old Julia Hall came from a prominent Dallas family of doctors. She had made a departure and had gone into corporate finance, but this positioned her perfectly for a financial analyst position at Chase Beauty. Janet had intended for her to distract Michael from his wife, Kimberly, but Julia had wanted Carter from the start. She was a bona fide, black blue blood like his mother: those who had money, power and social standing dating back to the 1800s.

No one else belonged in these circles. New money, acquired in only a generation, didn't count. What was worse was money from entertainment or sports. They always wanted in, and people like his mother and Julia always wanted to keep them out.

“That wasn't your background,” Carter reminded his father.

“This isn't about me.” Steven was well aware that his middleclass background would never have gotten him where he was now if he hadn't married a woman like Janet. “This is about you wanting a woman that has rejected you countless times and…”

“You're exaggerating,” Carter said. “Avery admitted that she wants me, but all that Bible blah, blah and…”

“Marital fidelity isn't Bible blah, blah, Carter. It means something to a lot of people.”

“Well, nothing means anything to me except Avery and Connor. So, fuck her marriage and that teacher.”

“You better watch it,” Steven warned him. “If your animosity shows, it will force Avery to side with her husband.”

“Don't worry about me.” Supporting Connor had been the perfect excuse to make Anthony look inadequate. “I've taken every opportunity, and his growing frustration has only worked in my favor. I've undermined him without Avery catching on. She seems more and more annoyed with him every day. I've got her keeping secrets from him, thinking she's doing what's best for his pride. But it's only making him more jealous and possessive and when those secrets come out, he'll explode.”