by Sandi Lynn
I ran my hands through my hair as I paced around my office.
“Of course not!” I shouted. “FUCK! Get everyone in my office now!”
I took off my suitcoat, threw it on the chair, and continued to pace around the office in disbelief. Thaddeus walked back in with my team and we took a seat at the table. I grilled them, one by one. I yelled, screamed, and showed them a side of me they’d never seen before. I trusted them and their answers. Then, something hit me. It had to be her. My staff would never betray me, but I wouldn’t put it past someone else. I didn’t want to believe it. I couldn’t believe it. But it had started to make sense. I grabbed my suitcoat and flew out of the office.
“Lu, I’m going home. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I spoke as I rushed past her.
Before walking through the front door, I took in three deep breaths to calm down. As I stepped inside, I called her name.
“What are you doing home?” Kate asked as she walked down the stairs.
“I have a question for you and I want an honest answer,” I spoke in a harsh tone.
“Gabriel, what’s wrong?” she asked as she approached me.
“Did you tell Marcel about my plans for the digital hotel?”
In an instant, her face fell and a look of fear swept over her.
“Of course not. Why would you—”
I reached into my suitcoat pocket and pulled out the article.
“Because of this!”
She took it from me and began to read it.
“And you think I was the one who told him?”
“I certainly know my team would never do it.” I placed my hands in my pocket. “You talked to him, Kate. Don’t you find it odd that I would receive this article a week after we returned from Hawaii? After you talked to him!” I pointed at her.
“Gabriel,” she spoke in a panicked voice as she walked towards me.
I backed away and put my hands up. “Don’t, Kate. Just admit you told him.”
“I didn’t tell him anything. I promised you I wouldn’t say a word to anyone.”
“Then how the fuck did he find out?!” I shouted.
“Stop yelling at me!” she shouted back. “I don’t know. But it wasn’t from me!”
“Did he make you some sweet offer you couldn’t refuse? What a fucking fool I was for trusting someone like you!”
Tears streamed down her face.
“That was my father’s dream! We were all set to announce it in a couple of months, and now, Marcel’s company got to it first. And what a coincidence, theirs happens to be in Las Vegas.”
“Gabriel, please. I didn’t tell him,” she begged.
A part of me wanted to believe her but because of her past, I quickly shut that down. I turned my back, for I couldn’t face her anymore.
“Get out,” I firmly spoke.
“What?”
“Pack your stuff and get out of my house. I’m done with you.”
“Gabriel, no,” she cried as she grabbed my arm.
I jerked away so hard she fell to the ground.
“Don’t come near me. You played me for a fool for the last time. I’m going out, and when I get back, you better be gone. Go back to your apartment and back to your con artist life. I better never see you again.”
Chapter 31
Kate
He walked out and it felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. The air I tried to breathe was so constricted, I felt like I was suffocating. I sat on the floor, my arms around my legs, rocking back and forth while the tears fell from my eyes. This wasn’t happening. The pain I felt inside was unbearable and I began to hyperventilate. I didn’t know what to do. It felt like my heart had been torn in half. After a while, as I tried to calm down, I picked myself up from the floor and stumbled up the stairs, one by one, in a daze, until I reached the bedroom and packed all my things. Once I was finished, I took the phone he gave me out of my purse and set it down on his bed. I had thought about writing him a letter of some sort, telling him once again that I didn’t say a word to Marcel or anyone about his plans. But then I thought it wouldn’t have mattered anyway. He never trusted me like he said he did. Way back in the dark corners of his mind was always doubt. Taking the elevator down to the foyer, I dragged my suitcase behind me in one hand, my guitar in the other, and out the front door.
When I reached my apartment, I unlocked the door and stepped inside. Turning on the lights, I stood in the small foyer and looked around the place I didn’t want to be in. I wanted to be back at Gabriel’s townhouse, sitting on the couch, by the fire, snuggled up against him while we watched TV. This sadness that overwhelmed me was too much and I didn’t know how to make it stop, so I drowned my sorrows with a bottle of wine.
Gabriel
I had Carl park the limo around the corner, but just far enough away so I could watch her as she left. The feeling of betrayal I felt killed me inside. She said she didn’t do it, and as much as I wanted to believe her, I couldn’t. Once she left, I walked up the steps and through the front door. I went up to my bedroom and found her phone lying on the bed. I picked it up, and in a rage, I threw it against the wall. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I called my brother Caleb, who was in California recording his album.
“Hey, bro. Can I call you back in a few? We’re just wrapping up.”
“Sure. Do me a favor and facetime me. I need to talk to you.”
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“No, I’m not.” I ran my hand down my face.
“Did something happen? Is Mom okay?”
“She’s fine. It’s about Kate.”
“Shit. Okay. Give me about ten minutes.”
I headed downstairs, poured myself a bourbon, downed it, and took the bottle with me to my office. Opening my laptop, I waited for Caleb’s call. A few moments later, my phone rang and I explained what happened.
“Gabriel, are you one hundred percent sure Kate was the one who leaked it?”
“It’s a gut feeling, Caleb. No one on my design team would betray me like that. There’s too much at stake for them.”
“Then what would Kate’s reasoning be?”
“All I know is they talked quite a bit in Hawaii and it was after I told her about my plans.”
“So what if they talked? Marcel will talk to anything with long legs just to get a good fuck out of them. It doesn’t mean she told him anything.”
“And it doesn’t mean she didn’t.”
“I thought you were over your trust issues with her,” he spoke.
“I guess not. She played me. She gained my trust, only to stab me in the back.”
“Bro, be careful with your words. You don’t know that and you don’t have proof.”
“Her past is all the proof I need. I’m sorry I ever got involved with her. God, I’m so fucking stupid.”
“Calm the fuck down, Gabriel. You’re not stupid. You just told me the other day how in love with her you were and how she makes your life so much better. Now the second something goes wrong, you automatically jump to the conclusion she did it. Unless you have proof, it’s not valid.”
“Then I’ll get proof.” I pointed at the computer screen.
“How?”
“I don’t know yet, but I will. Maybe she didn’t do it on purpose or maybe it was just a mention, but I specifically told her not to say a word to anyone.”
He let out a long sigh.
“I’m sorry this happened. I really am. But I can’t side with you on this unless you know for sure. And also, why are you letting Dad’s dream destroy your life?”
“I’m not.” I leaned back in my chair.
“You are. You’re still catering to him, even after he’s dead. The man was an emotional abuser and you know it. And even though he’s buried deep in the ground, he’s still controlling you.”
“You’re being ridiculous, Caleb.”
“No, Gabriel.” He pointed at me. “You are. As if there aren’t enough billion-dollar Quinn Hotels and Resorts i
n the world already. Why is this one so fucking important to you? I’ll tell you why. Because you’re still trying to make him proud. Just like you’ve done your entire life. Following him around like a lost puppy. I was the only one in the family who had enough guts to stand up to him and tell him exactly how I felt. Look at me, Gabriel. I’m happy and you’re miserable.”
“Now you’re just being a dick.”
“Listen, bro, I’m sorry that you’re going through this. You know I always have your back, but in this case, I’m not so sure. I have to go. Tomorrow is our last day of recording and then we’re heading back to New York. I’ll call you when I get in.”
“Have a safe flight,” I spoke as I hit the end button.
Chapter 32
Kate
As hard as I tried to open my swollen eyes, I couldn’t. They were sealed shut from all the crying I did last night plus the pounding of my head from the bottle of wine I drank. I lay there, still distraught and in disbelief that in a split second, my entire world crumbled before me. Tears started to creep out from the corner of my closed eyes. I didn’t think I had any tears left, but every time I thought about him, they started back up again. I felt paralyzed and I couldn’t bring myself to get out of bed.
Three days later, after hibernating in my bed, only getting up to use the bathroom and get something to drink, I finally managed to take a bath. As I sunk down into the rose-scented bubbles, I recalled my last visit with my father.
“Daddy, there’s something I need to tell you,” I spoke as I looked down from the embarrassment of lying to him the past few years.
“What is it, baby girl?” he asked with concern.
I told him everything, and his eyes filled with tears.
“My god, Kate. I have no words for what you just told me. I’m so sorry.” He slowly shook his head as the tears steadily ran down his face.
We talked for as long as we could until our time was up. Before I left, he hugged me tight.
“Go live a normal life, baby. That’s all I want for you. I’m fine in here,” he whispered in my ear.
I told him all about Gabriel and how happy I was. Now I’d have to go and tell my father what happened. I should have expected it. Life was too good and after everything I had done, I didn’t deserve to be happy. This was karma paying me back for all those men I conned. I climbed out of the bathtub and slipped into my robe. I wasn’t hungry, but I knew I had to eat something since I hadn’t eaten in three days. I opened my freezer, since it was about the only thing that had some type of food in it and pulled out a frozen pizza. As I preheated the oven, the buzzer to my apartment rang. Who the hell would be visiting me? The thought that it was Gabriel made me panic.
“Can I help you?” I asked over the intercom.
“Kate, it’s me, Caleb. Can I come up?”
“Caleb? Sure. I’ll buzz you in.”
I opened the door in confusion and watched for him to get off the elevator.
“Hey.” He gave me a sympathetic smile. “How are you?”
“Not good. Come on in. I’m making a frozen pizza. Would you care to join me?”
“Umm. No thanks. When was the last time you ate?”
“I don’t know. Three days ago,” I replied.
He pulled his phone from his pocket.
“Put that away. I’m going to order us a real pizza.” He smiled.
“Caleb, I—”
“No arguments. I’m ordering it and you’re going to eat it.”
He placed the pizza order and then followed me to the couch.
“How did you know where I live?” I asked.
“I had Carl drive me over.”
“And Gabriel was okay with that?”
“My brother doesn’t know, and he doesn’t need to.”
“He wouldn’t be very happy knowing you’re here.”
“I don’t care. It’s none of his business whom I choose to visit.”
I gave him a small smile as I played with the tie to my robe.
“Kate, I want you to look me straight in the eye and tell me the truth,” he spoke with seriousness.
“I swear to you that I didn’t tell Marcel or anyone about Gabriel’s plans.”
He reached over and placed his hand on mine.
“I believe you.”
“Why? Why would you?”
“Because I know you wouldn’t do anything to hurt Gabriel. You love him and that right there says enough.”
The buzzer rang and interrupted our conversation.
“That must be the pizza guy. I’ll be right back,” Caleb spoke as he got up from the couch and left the apartment.
I took a couple of plates out of the cabinet and set them on the table. Caleb saying he believed me meant a lot. I’d just wished Gabriel would’ve. After a few moments, Caleb walked back into my apartment with the pizza. Taking it over to the table, he set it down and opened the lid.
“Smells delicious,” I spoke.
“It sure does. I’m starving.” He smiled.
“Can I ask you something?” I spoke as I grabbed a slice of pizza and put it on my plate.
“You can ask me anything,” he replied.
I asked the question I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answer to.
“How is Gabriel?”
“Upset. A mess. Pissed off at the world.”
“I’m sorry.” I looked down.
“Don’t be, Kate. It’s not your fault. Even though my brother thinks it is, it’s not. He had no right to accuse you without proof. If you say you didn’t do it, that should have been good enough for him.”
“He never has and never will trust me.”
“Then that’s his problem, isn’t it? He always followed what our father said and did. If he told Gabriel to jump off a building, he probably would have. He was always so worried about disappointing him. Me, on the other hand,” he smiled, “I didn’t care. This is my life and I was going to do what made me the happiest.”
“You don’t think Gabriel’s happy running the company?” I asked as I took a bite of my pizza.
“He is in his own way. He was born to run a business. He’s extremely smart and very skillful. The digital hotel isn’t that big of a deal. He only wants to do it to please our father, even though he’s buried six feet into the ground. You want to know what I think?”
“What?”
“I think it was someone in his company who spilled the beans to Marcel.”
“But why would anyone do that?” I asked.
“I don’t know. Gabriel has known those people for years and he trusts them. The thought that anyone would betray him is ludicrous to him. Unfortunately, you got caught in the crossfire. Have you ever met Thaddeus?”
“Not formally. He said hello to me once at Gabriel’s office. But I’ve heard him mention his name a few times.”
“I never trusted that guy. Something was always off about him. But Gabriel considers him a friend and a valuable asset to the company. He’s his right hand man even though I know if the opportunity arose, he’d stab my brother in the back.”
Thoughts were flying through my head like a swarm of birds flying south for the winter.
“Tell me more about Thaddeus.”
“Why?” he asked with a narrowed eye.
A moment of silence filled the air.
“Kate, no.”
“What?” I took another slice of pizza from the box.
“I know what you’re thinking and it won’t work.”
“It will. Maybe he was the one who told Marcel.”
“Just leave it alone. Gabriel fucked up with you in a big way. He made his bed, now let him lie in it.”
“The only thing that’s important to me is proving that I didn’t do anything.”
“And how are you going to do that?”
“I don’t know yet. But the one thing I do know is that someone in that office betrayed Gabriel and if they did it once, they’ll do it again.”
“Why do you care so much?�
� Caleb asked.
“Because I’m not being blamed for something I didn’t do. I’ve done a lot of shit in my life and I’m the first one to admit it. But this. Having my whole life ripped apart for something I didn’t do is unacceptable.”
“Okay. So let’s say you prove it was someone Gabriel works with? Then what? Are you hoping to get him back?”
“No. What Gabriel and I had is over with for good. He’s proven that he could never trust me. The things he said were horrible and I don’t think I could ever forgive him for that. I need a fresh start. A place where nobody knows Kate Harper. A place where I can start a new life.”
“As a con?” His brow arched.
A small smile crossed my lips.
“No. Those days are over.”
“Any idea what you want to do with your life?” he asked.
“Not really. But I do know that I need to get a job wherever it is I’m moving to.”
“Kate, don’t leave New York because of Gabriel. There are so many opportunities here for you.”
“Like what?”
“Since you like to paint, get a job at an art gallery.”
“I can paint, but I don’t know that much about art.” I smiled. “Plus, it’ll be too hard to be in the same city as him. It’s just best that I move somewhere else and make a fresh start for myself.”
“What about your dad?”
“He’ll want me to do what’s best for me, and I’ll still visit him.”
Caleb reached over and took hold of my hand.
“Do what makes you happy, but don’t be a stranger to me. Okay?”
“Okay.” I smiled.
“I better get going.” He got up from his seat.
“Thank you for the pizza, Caleb, and thanks for checking on me.”
“No problem, Kate. You have a lot of talents. Choose one and follow your heart.” He kissed my cheek as I walked him to the door.
As soon as he left, I put my plan into motion. Grabbing my laptop, I did some googling and found out who Thaddeus Wilson was. If he wasn’t the one who told Marcel about the hotel, then I would have to go after Marcel myself.
Chapter 33