So she kept the sculpture, watching moonbeams shift across the surface during the long painful nights she spent sobbing into her pillows. She brought home the photo from the gallery and placed it next to her bed. And she continued to wear the bracelet.
Even though Dibs no longer loved her the way he once did, she’d promised to never remove it from her wrist. And in that, at least, she wanted to remain true.
She left the window for her desk, shut down her computer, and gathered her belongings from the back of her office door. The last of her time with the Brenners was almost upon her. She would return to her condo and try to rally her courage. She would lie awake, searching for the strength to face Dibs.
As she entered reception, Celeste swiveled away from her computer. “Are you taking off?”
Tessa nodded and dropped a sealed envelope on her desk. “This is for you. To celebrate a job well done.”
A glossy shine flooded her assistant’s gaze when she read the amount on the check. “You really…don’t need to do this.”
“Yes, I do. Consider it a bonus for all our late nights…and for, well, staying with me, I guess.”
Celeste cleared her throat. “I know this may be none of my business, but if you need anything this weekend, and I mean
anything
, you only have to ask. You know that, right?”
Tessa smiled weakly. “Thanks, kiddo. But I got myself into this mess. If anyone should pay for their mistakes, it’s me.”
“And let me miss out on all the fun?” A calculating smirk in place, Celeste flicked an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t dream of it, boss.”
****
Alone in her home office, a hand resting on the mouse, Tessa stared unfocused at the computer screen. Memories were foremost in her mind—her time with Dibs in Vail, before his family intervened and everything in their lives had tragically changed.
She snapped out of her trance when the doorbell rang. Who could possibly be stopping by this late on a Thursday?
She padded down the hall to the front door, rose on tiptoe, and peered through the peek hole. She dropped to her heels and swung the door wide.
Caroline stood in the threshold, a pile of plastic grocery bags at her feet. “Dibs didn’t send me,” she blurted, then shrugged. “I’m here because I miss you.”
Tessa clamped a hand over her mouth. Her knees buckled and tears rushed in, tumbling like rain down her cheeks.
Caroline gathered her in a tight hug. “I know, Rex…I know.”
A few hearty sobs later and Caroline finally patted her back. “Come on. Let’s get inside.” She walked the grocery bags into the kitchen and emptied cookies, chips, doughnuts, and assorted snack items onto the counter. “I brought the requisite junk food.”
Tessa snuffled a laugh, plucking a tissue from the box on the counter, and slid onto a high-backed stool. “Thank you.”
“No offense, but you look like shit.”
She nodded, her small hiccoughs changing over to blubbering snivels.
“I see you’re also a mess.” Caroline sighed and swung open the refrigerator door. She froze. “These shelves are barren.”
Tessa’s shoulders shook as another torrential rainfall commenced. “I know,” she squeaked.
Caroline rounded the counter and offered a consoling shoulder through the next jag of brutal tears.
“Oh, my God.” Tessa finally sat back, a hand on her chest. “I’m so sorry. Just seeing you so soon before the event…I don’t know, I guess I’m sorta shocked you’re here.”
“Why?”
“Well, for God’s sake, Caroline.” She whisked a handful of tissues from the box. “I didn’t think I’d see you anymore. I thought our friendship was over.” She honked loudly into the wadded tissues.
“Why in the world would you think that?”
“You’re kidding, right? You’re consorting with the enemy.”
“Says who? My parents? Dibs? Who gives a crap what they say.” Dismissing the lot of them with a wave, Caroline returned to the kitchen and tugged a bottle of wine from a bag.
Tessa’s spine hit the back of the chair, her jaw unhinged. All the crying must have affected her ears. No way had Caroline just blown off the Brenner empire as if they were no more than an insignificant nuisance.
She locked onto Tessa from across the counter, and her shoulders sagged. “Okay, I know you’re upset, but you gotta keep up, Rex.” She repeatedly snapped her fingers near her head. “Get those synapses firing on all cylinders.”
Working through the kitchen, she opened the drawers one at a time until she located a corkscrew. “It’s like this. When my mother told me what happened, I simply didn’t believe it. I mean, let’s get real. No way would you cheat on Dibs. After all, no one gives up Christmas morning every day. I don’t care who they are.”
Another errant tear spilled onto Tessa’s cheek.
“So I spent some time mulling over what I’d heard.” The cork popped a cheery hello, and Caroline began a steady search of the cabinets. “And I kept thinking, what would make her do it? Why would Tessa purposely trick Dibs into believing she didn’t love him? What could have possibly been going through her mind?”
She plucked two wineglasses off the shelf and walked them to the breakfast counter. “And then I heard about that argument in the hallway.” Derision ruffled her lips. “My father…he can be a real hot windbag.” Glasses filled, she selected the first and stared pensively at the far wall. “I think he really enjoys testing boundaries.” She shrugged. “Or maybe he does so Mother will get off his back.” She slid her eyes to Tessa. “She’s the one who insisted they hire Michael for the event. You knew that, right?”
Tessa sharply inhaled, her eyes slamming shut against a blinding jolt of hatred. Of course. How could she have not seen that coming?
Caroline shook her head. “Poor Rex. Did you really think you could tangle with Vanessa Brenner and not get chewed up and spit onto the curb?” She
tsked
three times, lifted the other glass, and offered it across the counter.
“The answer came to me one night in bed.” She braced her forearm on the counter, voice lowered to a conspiratorial whisper. “Do you remember that afternoon in Vail, when you told me about Dibs’s proposal?”
Tessa’s heart flipped. She nodded.
“
That
was the answer”—Caroline aimed a manicured nail at her—“the icing on the cake, so to speak. Once I remembered that, everything else fell neatly into place. You did it so Dibs could keep the Foundation. You removed the one bargaining chip my parents had so he wouldn’t have to make a choice. Unfortunately, the only way your plan would work was to convince him you never loved him in the first place, even though you really do. So much, in fact, you were willing to sacrifice your happiness for his.” She toasted her glass in the air before bringing the rim to her lips.
Tessa blinked. “You have the mind of an evil genius.”
Caroline tittered with satisfaction. “It wasn’t so hard. Mother has trained me well.”
A small chuckle shoved Tessa’s sorrow aside for a moment. She suddenly gasped and slapped a hand to her chest.
“I haven’t told Dibs.” The air whooshed from her lungs.
“The thing I don’t understand is why you don’t tell him, Rex. You should tell Dibs the truth.”
She dropped her gaze to her glass. “He’d never believe me. He accused me of having an affair once before and now that he thinks I lied all along…” She shook her head.
“I’m sure you’ve heard about the upcoming merger masked in the guise of reconciliation,” Caroline muttered. “Margaret’s lover is terribly upset.”
Tessa huffed and rose wearily to her feet. She dropped onto the couch, rubbing her aching eyes.
“Dibs is closing the Foundation.”
She snapped her head up. “No!”
“He’s given up, Tessa.” Caroline left the kitchen for the couch. “My father retains fifty-one percent ownership, and after you left Dibs said he didn’t see the point in fighting for something that could so easily be taken away. My brother is living contrary to everything he’s ever believed in, and I can literally feel the pressure building. I’m afraid one day soon he’s going to pop his cork.”
Tessa dropped her face into her hands. “I’ve killed him, haven’t I? When all I ever wanted was to save him.”
“You didn’t do it, Tessa. It wasn’t your fault.” Caroline’s arm pulled her shoulders in for a squeeze. “Which is why Marcus and I have decided to help you.”
She raised her head. A visual of Dibs, standing on the balcony, accusing her of playing games with his life converged in her brain. She shoved up from the couch. “No more schemes, Caroline. That’s what got Dibs and I into this mess in the first place.”
“You realize this weekend may be your last chance?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Slashing a hand through the air, Tessa paced the length of the breakfast counter. “I refuse to be involved in any activity that may be even
remotely
construed as toying with someone’s life.”
“And me? What happens when Mother decides I’m next? Selfish reasons aside, is it so hard to believe I might actually want to love the person I marry?”
She grimaced, wagging a finger “Don’t fall in love, Caroline. That road only leads to heartache. You know, your mother is…she’s…she’s right about…”
Tessa’s feet stumbled to a stop. In one blinding flash, Vanessa Brenner’s entire existence screamed into focus. She was Tessa…before meeting Dibs. She was that cold hard woman who believed true love was a farce.
That was it!
Somewhere in the past, Mrs. Brenner had suffered a broken heart, and instead of risking love again she chose the safe road. She married for money instead of love, and now insisted on that same choice for each of her children. So their hearts would be protected. So they would never get hurt. So they would never experience the pain she had endured, no matter what the cost.
That
was the missing piece! She and Vanessa had traveled the same road. But whereas Vanessa succeeded in closing off her heart, Tessa had failed. She had failed because of Dibs.
So where did this leave her? She tapped her thumbnail against the front of her teeth. If she played Vanessa’s game she would surely lose, only to end right back where she started. And the cost was simply too high. Tricking Dibs into loving her was a hollow victory. She’d be just like his family, manipulating him, coercing him for no better reason than to fulfill her own needs. He deserved better than that. Caroline was right. Out of everyone involved, he deserved the truth…and he deserved it from her.
If he would speak to her. If she could get him alone.
She would need ten, maybe fifteen minutes. Then he could decide for himself what came next, exactly like he always wanted.
She faced Caroline. “Do you know what room Dibs is staying in?”
She sized up Tessa from the corner of her eye. “I can find out, why? What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking…” She squinted. “I’m thinking it’s time I opened my Christmas gifts.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Eyes closed, pulse set on hyperdrive, Tessa reached deep inside for a calming breath. Her eyes fluttered open to the Park’s luxuriously appointed apartment lobby, hotel-styled front desk, and continental breakfast area. Tiffany stood facing her, one eyebrow lifted.
“What?” Tessa asked.
“You all right?”
She dropped her head to the side.
“Okay, dumb question.” Tiffany shoved the welcome basket into her arms. “Just remember, if he slams the door in your face, macadamia nuts make a good doorstop.”
Tessa smiled, but her lips stretched taut, exactly like her nerves. The previous night’s tussle with her blankets, the anxiety over facing Dibs had kept her awake into the wee hours of the morning. She had tried to relax, told herself she was doing the right thing. As long as she kept her wits about her, she could get through this.
It hadn’t worked.
At least Caroline had followed through on her end. Dibs was staying in room 512, and now that all Tessa’s other duties were handled, the welcome baskets delivered, the accommodations checked, and her clothes changed, nothing was left but to head to his room.
“Everything’s going to be fine.” Tiffany grasped her shoulders and spun her to the elevator. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
“Vanessa Brenner could answer the door.”
“Not possible.” She jabbed the call button. “Celeste already befriended the concierge. Dibs arrived an hour ago and the Brenners aren’t due until four thirty. We got lucky with this window of opportunity. Let’s use it to your full advantage.”
The elevator bell rang and the doors slid open. Tessa stared into the empty car.
Tiffany palmed her back and shoved her inside. She hit the fifth floor button. “Now, what’s the best that could happen?”
“Dibs could sweep me into his arms and confess his undying love.”
A bright smile lit her face. “Doesn’t that make this worth a shot?”
Tessa blew a breath from her pursed lips. “Yes.”
“Yes.” Tiffany spoke around the closing doors. “I’ll be in my room in five if you need me.”
The elevator ascended. A fine film of sweat blanketed the nape of Tessa’s neck. Her heart flipped erratically in her chest. She expelled another deep breath, and it wavered with the tempo of her quivering knees.
The car stopped and the doors slid open. She studied the gold plaque on the opposite wall, and exited toward his room.
Standing before his door, she paused a moment to gather her courage.
What’s the worst that could happen? It’ll be fine…
She hitched the welcome basket higher onto her hip and pressed a trembling finger to the doorbell.
The suffocating silence of the hall smothered her in its oppressive weight. A droning buzz filled her ears. Sweat beaded and trickled between her breasts. She shifted and shook her hand at her side.
The bolt slid back and the door opened. Margaret stood on the threshold, scantily clad in a black, low-cut negligee, fishnet stockings, and stiletto pumps. She flipped a sleek skein of auburn hair over her shoulder, the dark purple love bite on her throat a brash, blunt stain, and ran her eyes the length of Tessa’s ivory silk suit. “Guest services, I presume?”