Going Down Hard

by Carly Phillips

  She couldn’t stay with him. She had to confront her sibling, and Derek needed to think. She shuddered at the possibility of him leaving her, but could she really blame him if he did?

  She left his place and took a cab to Penn Station, a train to her parents’ local stop, and an Uber to the street she’d grown up on. The trip gave her time alone to think and stew, for her anger to brew and grow.

  She went immediately to her old home, assuming she’d find her brother there. She banged on the door, hit the doorbell, and banged again, well aware her brother wasn’t a morning person.

  She started the process all over again, knocking hard on the door with her knuckles when Spencer flung the door open wide. He wore jeans and nothing else, his hair stood up on end, and he looked like he’d just rolled out of bed.

  “Jesus, Cass, what the hell?”

  She pushed past him and walked inside, not surprised to see in the short time he’d lived there he’d already put his own masculine touches on her once feminine home. Dark leather replaced her lighter touch, and there were no pretty plants around either. But this wasn’t a call to discuss his choice in décor any more than it was a social call.

  “How dare you. Where did you get the nerve to run a story in my magazine without my approval? And you chose the subject you knew I had plans for!” she said, her voice rising. “You played dirty. You went into the mud and rolled around in it with people I care about, in a magazine that isn’t a gossip rag. How fucking dare you?” she asked, pushing hard at his shoulders to make her point.

  “I need coffee for this,” he muttered. Unfazed by her outburst, he turned his back on her and headed for the kitchen.

  “Want coffee?” he asked, as if this were a normal morning between them.

  “No! I want answers!”

  He popped a K-Cup into his single coffee brewer and turned to face her. “It was a damn good article. Did you read it?”

  “Oh my God.” It was like dealing with her father but on steroids. Christopher heard and did what he wanted, and his son was no different, except Spencer left severe damage in his wake. “Let’s take this one thing at a time. Why did you steal the subject of my article?”

  “You snooze, you lose.” The coffeemaker let out a hiss of steam, and Spencer turned to add milk to his cup. He swung back to her and raised his cup in a mock toast. “To me. Because you wouldn’t have hit on the important points. You’d have extolled the virtues of the gardener’s kid and ignored where he came from and the family scandal. In other words, all the good stuff.”

  It was obvious she wasn’t going to get anywhere with him on the subject of poaching her article, so she turned to truthfulness instead. “Marie didn’t steal from Mom.”

  Spencer took a sip of coffee. “What makes you so sure?”

  “Because my gut tells me so. I trust her. I knew her and so did you! She was there for us growing up.”

  “Sit down, Cassie. I’m going to explain the facts of life to you,” he said in a cool, condescending tone.

  She blinked, taken off guard by his change in tone. She lowered herself into a chair at his table, listening only because she needed the information. Not because he’d told her what to do. “I’m listening.”

  “You’re a Storms. He’s nothing. Your loyalty is to your family, something you seem to have forgotten. I’m going to make sure you don’t.”

  She narrowed her gaze. “Ignoring the elitist crap in what you said, what’s your point?”

  He shook his head. “So what if she didn’t steal? She played an important role in protecting me. I took Mom’s necklace. Dad jumped to the conclusion that it was Marie, and it was easier to let him believe it than to explain I’d pawned it.”

  Her mouth grew dry at his cavalier explanation. “Why? We have trust funds! Why would you need to steal from your mother?”

  Spencer had the grace to look sheepish, his cheeks red. “I burned through it. I knew Dad would have a fit, so I took the necklace. Mom called from her trip and asked him to have it fixed, but it was missing Dad blamed Marie. Mom believed she’d misplaced it.”

  Cassie blinked. And blinked again, certain she was in an alternate universe. “And you let him,” she whispered, horrified.

  But then she remembered Derek’s information on what Spencer had been up to while he was abroad, and his entire ugly existence was confirmed.

  He was a selfish narcissist who believed he could do no wrong. That was the only explanation for Spencer’s behavior. And as for her father, he hadn’t deliberately framed an innocent woman, he’d believed his own actions to be justified.

  “Why did Dad let me and Mom think they quit?” she asked.

  “Because you and Mom have soft hearts. He said you would be devastated if you knew the truth, so he wove a lie you’d fall for.” Spencer shook his head. “But Dad’s way is not my way. I’m happy to tell you the truth now.”

  She pressed her pounding temples. “So you were against me seeing Derek because—”

  “The same reasons I said. He’s beneath you. You’re a Storms.”

  “And he’s a constant reminder of what you did. You’re also jealous because he’s successful and you’re a sycophant who lives off of others,” she said in disgust.

  Spencer didn’t seem the least fazed by her description. He didn’t care how he succeeded as long as he did.

  She pushed herself to her feet, anger pulsing through her. “I’m through. Dad and Mom need to know the truth.”

  At least her mother did. Cassie wouldn’t let her mom go on believing her husband had deliberately destroyed the lives of the West family. She’d looked broken when Cassie had told her. Defeated. At the very least, Cassie could restore her faith.

  And maybe get Spencer out of his position of authority at Storms Consolidated while she was at it. Christopher had often covered for his son, but this was extreme. And Cassie had to believe he’d throw her brother out on his entitled ass once he knew.

  “Dad won’t care,” Spencer said, full of confidence, contradicting her hopes. “He put me in charge. He wants me to succeed.”

  Yep. Narcissistic and a lot crazy. Cassie ignored him. Even if her father chose to ignore the past, the board would care. Somehow, someway, she’d save her grandfather’s company from Spencer’s destructive hands.

  She had to. Because after today, the company might be all she had left.

  * * *

  From Spencer’s, Cassie headed next door to see her parents. Her father wasn’t home, but her mother was happy to see her. She sat her down and explained the conversation she’d had with her brother. The truth brought her mother to tears. Relieved tears that her husband wasn’t the monster they’d both feared, and angsty pain-filled tears that her son was capable of such callous, destructive behavior. Cassie hugged her mother, feeling all the same conflicting emotions, wishing there was something they could do to change the past. Knowing there wasn’t anything that would undo the hurt Spencer had caused.

  “You can’t take on his behavior as your own,” her mother said, squeezing both Cassie’s hands tightly in her own.

  “But I can make it easier on Derek’s family to keep the past where it belongs. If they don’t have to see me, to deal with our family in any way, they can put it behind them.” Pain ripped through her chest, but they deserved better.

  “Honey, I take it you’re in love with the man or you wouldn’t be so emotional.”

  Cassie blinked back tears and nodded.

  “Would you walk away from him if the situation were reversed? If his sibling had done something to me?” her mother asked.

  “No. I’d fight for him.”

  “So why aren’t you fighting for him now?” her mother asked.

  “I told him to take time, to think. He deserves to make a decision about us with a clear head.”

  Her mother rolled her eyes. “Fine, but if he’s a smart man, he won’t let you go.”

  She laughed. “You’re biased.”

  “Maybe, but I
’m only speaking the truth.

  She hugged her mother before easing back. “You’ll talk to Dad? Tell him everything?”

  Her mother nodded. “Oh, yes. I have every intention of having a long-overdue conversation with him about your brother. Among other things.”

  Cassie was about to stand when another question came to her. “The other day, when we met for lunch, you said you overlooked a lot. Did you mean it?”

  A sigh escaped. “I suppose I meant we accept the person we love for who they are, flaws and all. Your father has many, especially as a parent. But he’s not all bad. And I try to nudge him in the right direction when I can.” She paused. “Does that help explain?”

  Cassie nodded. “It does.” She agreed that you had to accept the other person for who they were. But with her father’s behavior, it still wasn’t what she’d want in a relationship. But Cassie understood her mother better. “I love you,” she said, hugging her mom again.

  “Go live your life,” her mother urged.

  More than anything, Cassie wanted a life with Derek. At the very least, she wanted the chance to see if they could make it work long term. But first she needed to find a way to tell Derek what her brother had done.

  And she needed time before she could decide how to do just that.

  * * *

  Derek stood in his mother’s kitchen, a printed copy of the online Take a Byte article on the table. He paced the floor, unable to sit still, a host of emotions rushing through him. Anger at Spencer, frustration at his inability to do anything about the revelations. Once out there, there was nothing he could do to prevent readers from delving into his and his family’s history.

  And he worried about Cassie, because instead of sticking around, she’d rushed out, telling him to think about what having her in his life meant. As if he didn’t already know. She meant everything to him. Nothing her brother did or said would change that.

  “Sit down,” his mother said, breaking into his thoughts. “You’re nervous and it’s driving me crazy.”

  Leave it to his mom to make him feel like a child again. He lowered himself into his seat. “Are you okay?” he asked her. “Will you have trouble facing your friends, dealing with people?” He worried about her, especially with his father gone.

  “Derek, I hate to break it to you, but my friends don’t read tech magazines, online or otherwise.” She picked up the papers and ripped them in half.

  He sputtered, shocked by her cavalier attitude. “What if the networks or other media outlets pick up on it?” he asked.

  “This is my life. It has been for years. Do you think just because it’s been made public it changes anything? I know I didn’t do this. Anyone who cares about me knows I wouldn’t do something like this. Other people can kiss my ass.” Her eyes twinkled with amusement. “I’m over it. I have been for years.”

  She leaned over and grasped his hand. “I just wish I’d realized sooner that you weren’t.”

  “Since Dad died, well, since Dad got sick, I’ve felt responsible.”

  “You can’t put the world on your shoulders.” She patted his hand. “I’m not your responsibility, though I love you for looking out for me. And I appreciate you showing me this article in case it pops up in other places. I told you to let the past go.”

  He managed to smile. “I have. Honestly.”

  “Has Cassandra? How is she dealing with this?” his mother asked.

  “Not well. For her this was a personal attack too. Her brother knew she was planning to write a series about me. He undermined her intentionally. Not to mention, she feels guilty that the past is being dredged up again. She wants us to take a break so I can think about whether she’s worth the aggravation.” He shook his head, still unable to believe she thought so little of them, of him, that she believed he’d walk away from her so easily.

  His mother’s mouth dropped open. “You aren’t seriously doing that, are you?”

  “Of course not. But I do need to somehow convince her she isn’t responsible for this. That neither you nor I hold it against her.”

  “You young people. You make life so difficult. Overthink everything.” His mother waved a hand through the air. “Go get your girl.”

  Derek smiled. It wasn’t as simple as his mother would like to believe. On the other hand, he didn’t intend to let her break them apart over her brother’s behavior either.

  * * *

  Derek tried to reach Cassie, but she’d turned off her phone. He spent the day hanging with Oscar, meeting his friends for dinner because they were worried and wanted to make sure he and his mother were okay.

  The next day, he showed up at the office and texted her again before diving into work. He couldn’t concentrate, not since he hadn’t heard from Cassie, but he did his best to keep busy.

  But no matter what, he was definitely heading to her place after work. Her time for ignoring him was over. And he damn well didn’t need any thinking time.

  By the time Becky told him he had a visitor who preferred not to give his name, Derek was grateful for the distraction. And curious.

  He glanced up as the door opened, and Christopher Storms walked in. Nothing could have surprised Derek more.

  He rose from his seat. He didn’t know what the other man wanted, but he knew to meet him on equal footing.

  “I see from your expression you recognize me,” Christopher said.

  “I lived on your property for a long time.” And he hadn’t changed much.

  His hair was thinner, his face more lined, and he could now see he and Cassie shared the same coffee-brown eyes.

  “True.” Christopher inclined his head. “Can we sit?”

  Derek nodded and lowered himself back into his chair. The back of his neck prickled uncomfortably. “What can I do for you?” he asked stiffly.

  “When was the last time you spoke to my daughter?” Christopher asked.

  Derek gripped his chair arms tightly. “Why is that your business?”

  “Hang on.” Christopher held up his hands in a sign of entreaty. “Believe it or not, I’m on your side.”

  “Explain.”

  He ran a hand over his beginning-to-bald head. “Cassie came to see her mother. She was beside herself because her brother wrote an article about you. One that went after your mother, revealing our whole sordid past.”

  Derek swallowed hard. And waited.

  “She also told her something Spencer revealed. That he was the one who stole the necklace I accused your mother of taking.”

  Derek reared back in his seat. “Excuse me?”

  “My son stole the necklace I accused your mother of taking.”

  “Stealing,” Derek spat.

  Christopher’s face turned ruddy. “In my defense, I really believed she’d stolen it.”

  “Guess you’re a poor judge of character,” Derek muttered, leaning forward on his desk. So far the information was interesting but didn’t warrant this visit. “So why are you here?”

  “I can’t make it up to you, what I did to your mother. And the fact is, as my wife reminded me, I haven’t been a particularly good father to Cassie.” He shook his head, lowering it in shame. “I didn’t know what to do with a girl.” Yet another lame explanation. “Consider this as my way of making up for it. For a lot of things.”

  “What is?”

  He shifted in his seat. “A couple of months ago, we received an offer on Storms Consolidated. From a company I’d never heard of.”

  Derek narrowed his gaze. “And?”

  “I hired people to dig deeper. And I discovered that you made the offer. And I’m here to accept.”

  Derek’s head spun. He braced his hands on his desk and leaned in. “Why?” He didn’t trust any offer this man made.

  Christopher leaned forward in his seat. “Because my wife tells me my daughter loves you. And I’ve screwed up enough for one lifetime. It’s time to make things right.”

  Derek swallowed hard. He had no pity for Cassie’s father,
but he was her parent. And Derek would do anything for another day with his own father.

  So he looked the other man in the eye and said the only thing he could to his offer. “I accept.”

  * * *

  Cassie spent the entire day in her bed, working on her laptop. If anything good was going to come of her brother’s confession, Derek’s mother would be exonerated, and to Cassie, that meant everything. Only after she’d finished the words could she go to Derek. She didn’t know if they had a future, but without the words, she couldn’t bring herself to try.

  The phone rang in her apartment and she answered. “Hello?”

  “Ms. Storms, this is Curt, the doorman at the front desk. There’s a limo driver here for you.”

  “I’m sorry, what?”

  “I’m going to put the man on the phone if that’s okay with you.”

  Curious, she agreed. “Go ahead. Thank you.”

  “Ms. Storms, Mr. West sent me. My instructions are to wait for you to change into something nice and take you to meet him for dinner.”

  Shock and pleasure rippled through her in equal measure. He’d beat her to reaching out. Well, she could live with that. She had a lot to tell him, and she hoped he’d both understand and forgive. It had taken her awhile to hear what her mother had said and, more importantly, to accept it.

  If the situation were reversed, if his family had hurt hers, she wouldn’t hold it against him. Hopefully this overture meant he felt the same way.

  She hit save on her document, shut her laptop, and headed for the shower. The driver was waiting, and she had to freshen up quickly.

  She chose the same white cashmere dress she’d worn the night of their first date, left her hair down the same way, and clasped the same gold chain around her neck. She hoped her choices would evoke good memories for him.

  They did for her.

  After applying her makeup and a spritz of perfume, she headed downstairs. Her stomach flipped with nerves, similar to the way they’d done that first night.

  She wasn’t surprised when the limo pulled up to the restaurant of their first date. They were on identical wavelengths.