Alex shook his head. He trailed his fingers down to the necklace she still wore. She’d never really left him. She’d been at Wolfe Manor the entire time. She’d been busy making it a home.
‘Did I ever say congratulations on your achievement, Dr Bardot?’
She smiled. ‘I don’t remember. It’s been kind of a busy day.’
He gave her a fast kiss. ‘Get ready for more, baby. I’m going to throw you the biggest graduation party ever.’
Chapter Seventeen
The night of Elena’s graduation party, Wolfe Manor sparkled like a jewel. The gates had been opened and visitors were welcomed from far and wide. White lights glimmered in the trees that lined the drive all the way from the main road to the house. It was lit up, too, with violet sashes adorning the necks of the wolf statues that guarded the front door.
The press had been allowed inside the gates to film the comings and goings of celebrities and power players. Their positions were strictly monitored and one who had tried to explore further had already been escorted from the premises by security. A chosen few from respected news organisations like Time, Fortune and Entertainment Weekly had been allowed access beyond the doors.
Caroline Woodward, unfortunately, had not been on the guest list.
Unbeknownst to Elena, the fourth floor of the manor housed a ballroom. The festivities were being held in the massive open space with gorgeous hardwood floors and French doors that opened onto the top-floor veranda. Women in gowns looked like princesses as they climbed the never-ending staircase out front. Friends and acquaintances mingled on the landings in between. Security had the rest of the house blocked off, and all doors, for once, were closed.
The sheer size of it all was still rather stunning. Anyone who was anyone had fought for an invitation. Wolfe Manor hadn’t been open to the public in decades, and the party was the event of the season.
Elena stood at the head of the room in a casual receiving position. She’d greeted friends and strangers alike, and she was happy about that. She wanted Alex to get back to his old life.
The one he’d had before everything had come tumbling down around him …
She gave him a soft wave, and he was finally able to escape his discussion with a congressman.
He kissed her temple.
‘Are you having a good time?’
‘The best.’
The event was being catered by Jean-Georges, somewhat to the dismay of Marta. Instead, the cook had been given the honour of making the cake. It was stacked four tiers high and frosted in NYU’s school colours. Matching purple-frosted cupcakes filled the rest of the table. Her mother had provided those.
Music was provided by a DJ, although several stars of the music industry were in attendance. Many of Alex’s colleagues and upper-crust friends were starting to come out of society’s tightly grained woodwork. The two of them had their supporters and their enemies. The press had split two ways. Half thought that the new software Wolfe Pack had in development was genius. The perfect way to salvage their reputations and make the best of a bad situation. As Elena had guessed, though, the other half thought it was a ploy, a way to make money hand over Ponzi fist.
That still irritated them, but she and Alex were finding ways to cope better with the bad attitudes. They could put up with a lot now that they were together.
She smiled when Dr Walters came up to shake her hand.
‘Congratulations again.’
‘Thank you, Professor.’
He shook his head and his wire-rimmed glasses wobbled on his skinny nose. ‘When your young man here called me in to consult at Wolfe Pack, I really didn’t have much to offer him. Little did I know that you had the answer. You’d shared bits and pieces of your work, but I didn’t have the opportunity to see the full picture until your presentation.’
Alex looped an arm around her waist. ‘It was a surprise to both of us, Professor.’
‘A welcome one. This is setting some in the economics field on their ears.’
Elena bit her cheek. She was running into naysayers there, too. One thing was certain. People always had their opinions and they were willing to voice them. Loudly.
‘Well, I’m happy to join the debate.’ She gestured to the table full of cake. ‘Please, enjoy yourself.’
She looked about the room. That was what she was enjoying most about the party. Dignitaries were mixed with Wolfe Pack developers. A group of her classmates was gathered around a Yankee pitcher, and a television actor was getting cosy with Jorge over in a dark corner.
‘I had no idea this was up here,’ she admitted. ‘A ballroom.’
She thought they only existed in old stories.
Alex took a drink of his champagne. ‘It hasn’t been used in years, not since my parents were alive.’
She smoothed his lapel. ‘Thank you for opening it up again for me.’
‘I can’t think of a better reason.’
He looked so sexy and mysterious in the tuxedo, she could hardly keep her hands off him. She’d already failed once in that regard, ripping it off him about an hour before guests were scheduled to arrive. A blush heated her cheeks, and she hooked her hair over her ear.
A big part of her couldn’t wait to get him alone again. As much as she’d encouraged him to rejoin the world, she wasn’t accustomed to having so many people around. She’d never been comfortable with the limelight, but it was a role she was going to have to get used to. If he had to attend society parties again, she was going to be at his side.
‘Ms Bardot, hello.’
Elena spotted a familiar face. ‘Dr Hoff, I’m so glad you made it.’
It was the veterinarian from the zoo. She looked fantastic all dressed up, with her hair in an up-do. The woman held out a present. ‘I know these are supposed to go in the gift room, but I wanted to give it to you myself. It’s from everyone at the Grey Wolf exhibit.’
‘Oh, that’s sweet.’ Elena set her empty champagne glass on a passing waiter’s tray. A few people near her turned at the sound of ripping paper. The gift was flat and rectangular. Elena could tell it was a picture, and she hoped it was of Siren. When she opened the box, tears dampened in her eyes. ‘I love it.’
The veterinarian helped gather the torn pieces of paper so she could get a better look. The photograph was of more than just the wolf pup. It was a picture taken on the day the wolf exhibit had been dedicated – before things had gone so dreadfully wrong. There she was with Alex and the little black wolf pup. The shy little thing was snuggled up tight in her arms, but its head was tilted back to enjoy the scratching Alex was giving its ears. The photo was simple and sweet, and Elena cherished it.
‘Thank you,’ she said, giving the woman an impulsive hug.
‘Thank you for inviting me.’ The pretty blonde’s face was animated as she looked around the room. ‘I’ve never been to a fancy shindig like this.’
Elena laughed. ‘Hockey players are on your left. Movie stars are to your right.’
The woman wiggled her eyebrows. ‘Decisions, decisions.’
Like a phantom, Leonard appeared to take the framed photograph. ‘How wonderful. Where would you like me to put it?’
The butler was attending as a guest, but he couldn’t seem to help pitching in where he saw a need.
‘Above the fireplace,’ Alex decided.
‘Excellent choice, sir. I’ll make sure it’s hung tonight.’
The partying and dancing continued late into the wee hours. Elena spent time with her mother, who was leaving in the morning. She danced with Alex and opened gifts. Most of all, she just celebrated the big turning points in her life.
There were so many of them.
Finally, she had to catch her breath. Alex found her some time later alone on the balcony.
‘What am I going to do about you?’ The nip in the air was biting, but the night was crystal clear. He took off his tuxedo and wrapped it around her shoulders. ‘What does it take for you to put on a wrap?’
&nb
sp; She tugged the jacket closer. It was still warm from his body heat. ‘I could go find the hoodie.’
He chuckled and stood behind her. He settled his chin on her shoulder and braced his hands against the balcony railing. ‘Don’t give me ideas.’
She was wearing the daring little black dress he’d bought for her. It was a bold choice, but she knew she looked good in it. With the secret black lace lingerie she wore underneath, she felt good, too.
‘What are you looking at?’ he asked.
The view from up on high was spectacular. The fourth-floor balcony looked right down into the lake. With no wind, the water was like glass, reflecting the stars overhead. They were shining like a million bright pinpoints of light.
‘It reminds me of the evening you came home, only then it was the sun reflecting off the water.’
He rubbed his chin against her shoulder. ‘I remember, but I was too busy checking out the sexy little brunette gyrating on my dock.’
She smiled. She’d taken to doing her yoga in the gym. It was too cold to do it outside any more.
‘What else is going on inside that head of yours?’ he asked.
She shook her head. She didn’t want to spoil the night. It had been close to perfect. ‘Nothing.’
He pressed his face into her hair. ‘I know you better than that, Siren.’
She sighed. ‘Seeing all these wealthy people partying and enjoying themselves … It makes me wonder …’
‘Wonder what?’
‘Don’t be angry.’
He leaned over further to look into her face. ‘What’s bothering you, Elena?’
She tilted her head back against his shoulder and looked at the sky. ‘Is your grandfather out there somewhere, going to parties and throwing money around? Is he in a chalet on a mountaintop with a sherry in his hand?’
Alex blew out a long breath. ‘Don’t get yourself worked up over what-ifs.’
‘I can’t help it. After all you went through, after all we went through, it’s just not fair.’
‘Life’s not fair, baby.’
‘I just want to see justice served.’ For the Ponzi scheme … but maybe more for what Alex had gone through as a child …
‘It has been.’
Three words. Soft and clear.
Her heart dipped right into her stomach, and she went very still. ‘Alex?’
He tensed. ‘Damn it.’
He hadn’t meant to let that slip.
Questions started flying through Elena’s head at dizzying speed. There’d been so many harsh rumours. So many suppositions and lies. Most of them had been refuted.
Most …
Except for the one Caroline Woodward had thrown at her that had hurt the most.
Her arms tightened around her waist. ‘What are you saying?’ she whispered.
A rough sound left his throat. Time passed, stretching out until the chill went through the jacket all the way to her bones. When he pressed his mouth against her ear, she felt like she was about to shatter.
‘He’s not enjoying any riches. He’s dead.’
Her mind just stopped. ‘You?’
‘No. Not me.’
Her blood started moving again. The weight lifted off her chest, but her legs felt even more wobbly. She leaned back against him. Secure once again, her brain began clicking.
‘Suicide?’
‘No.’
‘Then who?’
His hand left the marble railing and his arm wrapped around her waist.
It was then that she knew. There had been three people purportedly involved in the Ponzi scheme: Bartholomew Wolfe, Alex and … her father.
The truth was like a punch in the gut, and she folded in half. Alex kept her on her feet, his body warm around hers and his face pressed into her hair.
‘It wasn’t intentional,’ he said, loud enough for her ears only. ‘It was an accident. My grandfather and your dad argued. It was when their scheme was starting to fall apart. You have to understand. My grandfather was an odious man. Rotten to his core. He’d already begun covering his trail so all evidence pointed at your father. Randolph felt trapped.’
‘What did he do?’ She could barely get the question out, but she had to know. ‘Where did this happen?’
‘Here, out front of the house. They fought and Randolph pushed the old man. My grandfather fell and hit his head on a rock. He didn’t get back up.’
Off in the distance, a howl cut through the air. The sound was eerie and prophetic.
Alex held her tighter. ‘It’s a coyote.’
Others joined in, and the calls were long and mournful.
Elena couldn’t bear to hear them. ‘You were there? You saw it happen?’
‘No.’
‘Then how do you know? Who told you this?’
‘Leonard.’
Her air choked off in her throat. She remembered her tense discussion with the butler in Bartholomew’s room.
‘He was there. He saw the whole thing.’
‘But why didn’t they call an ambulance or the authorities?’
‘I wish they had,’ Alex sighed. ‘But apparently Leonard’s loyalty to your father outweighed that to my grandfather. Randolph convinced him he couldn’t stand up to murder charges, that my grandfather had already framed him.’
Elena rubbed her hand over her face. It was all so terrible. ‘Where’s the body?’ she whispered.
He nodded off in the distance. ‘The family plot is at the northern end of the property. They buried him there.’
She shook her head, aghast. She’d known her father was selfish, but she hadn’t known how deep it went. ‘And my father just walked away?’
‘No, baby.’
Again, it took a moment for it all to sink in.
‘He went home and hanged himself,’ she breathed.
Alex wrapped himself around her. ‘In one day, everything turned sideways and the only person who was left to tell the story was Leonard. I couldn’t say anything. That sweet old man is the reason I’m here. He’s always protected me.’
Elena swallowed hard and a tear fell from her eyes. ‘I know what your grandfather did to you,’ she choked out. ‘I … I saw the closet doors.’
Alex went stiff behind her.
‘You had to protect Leonard,’ she whispered.
‘Technically, it made me complicit,’ Alex admitted. ‘That’s why I didn’t put up a bigger fight against the insider-trading charges. But I’ve done my time.’
Off in the distance, the coyote howled again, making her tremble.
She folded her hand on top of his on her stomach. ‘But the cost?’
‘I prefer to look at the reward.’
She turned around and buried her face against his chest.
He wrapped his arms around her and rubbed his cheek against her hair. ‘You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Elena. We might have started out in disgrace, but we’re going to make this Bardot–Wolfe partnership work.’
‘It makes me hurt to think of what you went through.’
‘With the way it all turned out, I wouldn’t change a thing.’ He took a shuddering breath, and his voice went rough. ‘I didn’t want you to know. I tried to spare you this.’
Her hands bit into his back. ‘Nobody can ever find out. We mustn’t tell a soul, but the questions are going to continue.’
‘I figure, in time, I’ll have Bartholomew declared legally dead. The courts will have to sort it all out.’
She brushed the tears from her cheeks. ‘How many skeletons can two families have?’
‘Shhh, that’s a question better left unasked.’
Another lonely howl cut through the night air. The sound made a shiver go down Elena’s spine. It wasn’t a wolf – she knew this wasn’t their territory – but the timing was sinister.
‘What if it’s in our genes?’ she whispered. ‘What if it’s just the way things are?’
‘Then we’ll have to start scandals of a different kind.’
<
br /> She was shocked when he pressed a hard erection against her belly, and she looked quickly towards the ballroom.
He took the opportunity to nuzzle against her neck. ‘In fact, with you in that dress, I’ve got ideas already.’
‘Alex!’
His lips covered hers in a hot kiss. ‘Forget the rest. Just remember I love you.’
She gave in and kissed him back. ‘I love you, too.’
That was all that mattered, scandalous or not.
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Copyright
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
Mischief
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Copyright © Kimberly Dean 2013
Kim Dean asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
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