“I really don’t care as long as it has nothing to do with us,” Frank responded.
Harold followed her gaze. She was definitely referring to Ryan.
This is getting interesting.
When Frank got up to get her a glass of champagne, Harold asked, “Do you know Ryan Manning?”
She nodded. “Oh, I know him quite well. I was married to him.”
“Really?” Harold found it interesting that she would admit to having been married to a man who was living on the streets up until a few months ago. “You were married to Ryan?”
“Yes,” Sandra responded. “Our marriage didn’t work because he was always on the road chasing one story or another.”
Harold gave her a perplexed look. “I’m sorry, but I’m confused here. The guy over there works at the Alexander-DePaul Hotel in Beverly Hills. He manages the new restaurant.”
Sandra laughed. “Well, I’m not surprised. Ryan has always loved cooking, and he even owns a restaurant in New York, but his passion is his investigative reports. He wants to save the world through his writing.”
“Ryan Manning is a writer?” Harold asked.
“Not only is he a writer but a well-known one,” Frank chimed in as he handed the flute to his wife. “He writes under the pseudonym R. G. McCall.”
“That’s probably how he met the Alexanders,” Sandra stated. “He is probably doing a story on them.”
“Hmm,” Harold murmured. He could not believe his good fortune. Harold was pretty sure that the Alexander family had no idea who was working right under their nose.
“Harold, what are you doing here?” Malcolm demanded, interrupting Harold’s conversation with the Millers.
“Oh, I just assumed my invitation got lost somehow. After all, I am family and a close friend of Natasha. Why wouldn’t I have been invited to the wedding?”
Malcolm glared at him but did not utter a response.
“I’m just sitting here enjoying the festivities and stimulating conversation with your guests.”
“Make sure that’s all you do,” Malcolm stated. “We don’t want any trouble out of you. I don’t want to ruin the evening by kicking you out.”
Harold gave him a smile that did not reach his eyes. “You don’t have to worry about me. I am on my best behavior.” He could feel the heat of his sister’s gaze on him.
Malcolm navigated to the next table and spent a few minutes talking to the guests.
Harold struggled to contain his anger.
How dare Malcolm approach him like this and in front of the other guests? He had no right to humiliate him in this manner. He was going to find a way to bring Malcolm down a peg or two. First, he was going to deal with Sage and Ryan.
Harold rose to his feet and quickly navigated over to where Ryan was standing in line at the bar.
Ryan greeted him and then proceeded to order a glass of wine.
“I have to admit that you had me fooled completely,” Harold stated, a fake smile on his face. “I had no idea that it was you.”
Ryan was instantly on his guard. “I’m afraid I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about. Look, I don’t know you, but I’ve heard a lot about you, Harold. None of it was very nice.”
He grinned. “Oh, I think you know exactly what I’m talking about, Ryan. Your ex-wife had an awful lot to say about you.”
He muttered a curse. That woman had no right to open her mouth.
Harold leaned forward and whispered in his ear. “Tell me something, Ryan…what really brings you to Los Angeles?”
Ryan turned around to face Harold DePaul. “My reasons for being in Los Angeles have nothing to do with you. Now stay away from me.”
“Why so rude? I thought we could become friends.”
“I don’t need friends like you,” Ryan retorted.
“You may one day decide differently.”
Ryan sent him a sharp look. “I doubt it.”
“Harold, I hope that you’re not trying to start anything,” Sage said from behind them.
“My dear sweet cousin, I think there is something you should know.”
Ryan grabbed Harold by the arm. “This is not the time or the place.”
“Let go of me.”
“I don’t want to make a scene or ruin this day for Ari and Natasha,” Ryan stated. “If you want to finish this conversation, we can do it away from here.”
Sage glanced from one man to the other. “What is going on between you two?” she asked in a loud whisper. “Harold, I’m pretty sure you weren’t even invited to the wedding after what you did to Natasha. Why don’t you just leave and stop trying to start drama?”
Harold sent her a hard look. “You’re worried about me? That’s actually funny. The man you should be concerned about is your boyfriend. By the way, has he introduced you to his ex-wife and her new husband?”
Sage gasped in shock. “Ryan, what is he talking about?”
He did not respond. Instead, Ryan glared at Harold, who seemed intent on causing trouble. His hands curled into fists.
“Ryan…” Sage pressed. “You were married before?”
“We can talk about this later tonight,” he told her.
Sage shook her head no. “Why am I just hearing about this now? What other secrets have you been keeping from me?”
Before Ryan could reply, Harold uttered, “It’s funny you should ask that question.”
“Shut up,” Ryan snapped in anger.
He took Sage by the hand and asked, “Is there someplace we can talk?”
Harold was not about to be put off. He stood in their path, blocking their exit. “I have always enjoyed reading your articles, especially the one you did on the plight of military families.”
Confused, Sage glanced up at the man standing beside her—the man she loved and thought she knew. “Ryan…”
He turned to face her. “There’s something I had planned to tell you later, but I think we’re past that now. I would rather not have this discussion out here.”
“We can go inside the house and talk,” Sage stated.
They made their way across the manicured grounds and into the house.
As soon as they were in the family room, Sage turned to Ryan and demanded, “Okay, so what is it that you have to tell me? Let’s start with your ex-wife and the fact that you were married before.”
Ryan could see the look of hurt on her face, and it bothered him. He loved Sage, and he hoped that they would be able to get past all he was about to confess.
“I should have told you about Sandra, but honestly, I had buried her and that marriage in my past and just didn’t think about it anymore—especially after meeting you.”
Sage sat down on the sofa. “I suppose I should have asked you if you were ever married.”
“None of this is on you,” Ryan said. “I take ownership in this situation. I was not completely honest with you about my life.”
“Do you have children?” she queried.
“No,” Ryan stated. “No children.”
“Then what have you lied about?”
“I was never homeless,” Ryan said, his eyes never leaving her face. She looked so hurt that it was unbearable. He was almost relieved when Sage finally looked away from him.
“I only pretended to be homeless for a project. I’m an investigative reporter.”
She met his gaze. “So you were never a chef or had a restaurant. That was all a lie, as well.”
Ryan shook his head. “That part is true. I have a very successful eatery in New York, and it’s managed by my brother.”
“You have a brother,” she repeated.
“Sweetheart, I’m so sorry for hurting you.”
“Really? You’re really sorry for pretendin
g to be someone you’re not. You’re sorry for playing me for a fool.”
“It was never my intent to play you, Sage,” he responded. “I hope that you know enough about me to recognize my true intentions.”
“I don’t think that I know you at all.”
“Sweetheart, I love you.”
“I feel that there is more to this story, so you might as well tell me everything, because if you don’t I’m sure Harold will have no hesitation.”
“Yes, please tell her,” Harold urged with a grin as he entered the family room.
“What do you want?” Sage demanded.
“I came in to make sure that you’re okay,” he told her.
“My sister doesn’t need you to check on her,” Blaze said from behind them. “What’s going on in here?” he asked.
“Ryan and I are having a private discussion,” Sage stated. “Can you both just leave us alone to finish our conversation?”
Both Blaze and Harold remained rooted in the spots they were standing in. It was obvious they were not going to leave him and Sage alone.
“Sage, I am sorry to see you so upset, but I felt you needed to know the truth about this man,” Harold told her before adding, “R.G….sorry about that. You’re going by Ryan Manning these days.”
Sage glared at Ryan. “What is your real name?”
“I am Ryan Manning. I never lied about that.”
“Then why did Harold just call you R.G.?” She paused a moment as recognition set in. “You’re R. G. McCall.” Sage shook her head in despair. “Ryan, please tell me that I’m wrong,” she whispered.
“Sweetheart, I’m sorry.”
Blaze grabbed Harold, edging him toward the front door. “It’s time for you to leave.”
“Hey, don’t hate the messenger.”
Sage rose to her feet and walked over to Harold. She slapped him and then said, “That’s my way of showing gratitude for what you did today. You are such a miserable man that you’d do anything to make sure everyone around you feels the same. If you thought you’d get to see me cry, then you are sadly mistaken.”
“Leave? Why should I leave?” Harold asked in mock dismay. “It looks like the party is just getting started.”
“You did what you set out to do, so get out of here,” Ryan stated in a tone that brooked no argument. “Leave now before you get hurt!”
Blaze agreed.
After Harold left the house, Sage met Ryan’s gaze with eyes that were bright with unshed tears. She shook her head sadly before walking out of the room.
He was about to go after her but was stopped by Blaze.
“Leave her alone, Ryan,” he stated. “You’ve caused her enough pain for now. This is my brother’s wedding day, and I don’t intend to ruin it for the rest of the family. However, you and I will have a conversation very soon.”
“I’m fine with that,” Ryan responded. “I love Sage, and I’m not going to give up on what we have.”
* * *
Sage sat on the edge of her bed and wiped away her tears.
She felt like such a fool for ever believing in Ryan. He was a complete fraud, and she had fallen for his deceit hook, line and sinker.
“I used to be a pretty good judge of character,” she whispered. Maybe he was right about some women being desperate. If I hadn’t wanted to find a husband so badly, I would’ve realized sooner that he was lying to me.
“Hey, are you okay?” Zaire asked from the doorway of the guest bedroom. “I saw you and Ryan come into the house. You two looked like you were about to have an intense conversation.”
“Did he leave?” Sage asked.
“I think so,” Zaire answered. “What was Harold doing here? I’m pretty sure he wasn’t on the guest list.”
“He wanted to make sure that I knew Ryan was making a fool out of me. I found out that he was just using me to get a story.”
“I don’t believe that for a second about Ryan,” her sister responded quickly. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you, Sage. That man has real feelings for you. I’m kind of surprised at you. You are always so forgiving.”
She didn’t want to hear it. “Ryan would’ve told me the truth if he cared anything about me. He would have come clean about his identity. Oh, he’s the mysterious R. G. McCall, and his ex-wife is here. She’s here with her new husband. I never even knew that he was married before.”
“I can’t stand Harold DePaul,” Zaire uttered. “He hates to see us with any amount of happiness.”
“I can’t blame Harold for this situation, Zaire. This is all Ryan’s fault.” Sage met her sister’s concerned gaze. “I’ll never forgive him for this.”
* * *
Sage decided to spend the night with her parents.
Ryan had already called twice and announced that he would drop by her penthouse when he thought she would be home, but she wasn’t ready to see or talk to him. Sage needed some time to process all that had happened.
She was hurt, confused and angry.
How could she be so foolish? Sage knew that something had been off with Ryan, but she had believed in him and his lies. She had actually believed that he had not been on the streets long, which explained why he was missing that forlorn look that so many of the homeless wore. Then there was the fact of his strong muscle-toned body…
Sage tried to close her mind from thoughts of Ryan. The betrayal stung, the venom of anger spreading through her body like a wildfire.
There was a soft knock on the bedroom door.
Barbara peeked inside. “I just came up to check on you,” she said.
“I’ll be okay, Mama.”
She smiled. “I know that, dear. But right now, you’re experiencing a lot of emotions that you need to sort out.”
Sage knew her mother was right. “I’m more hurt than angry. But the betrayal hurts worst of all.”
“Have you given Ryan a chance to explain?”
“He’s had one from the first moment I gave him a room to shower, clothing, food and a job. Ryan has had several opportunities to be honest with me. Mama, I don’t think I can ever trust him again.”
“I’m so sorry, dear,” Barbara murmured. “I know how much you love this young man.”
“I really wish I didn’t,”
“But you do,” her mother responded. “Because of that love, you have to talk to Ryan. Give him a chance to really explain his side of things. You need to do this for yourself. Trust me.”
Sage’s eyes filled with tears. “You don’t intentionally deceive someone you love.”
“No, you don’t,” her mother agreed. “But love can conquer a multitude of sins, sweetie. We are all human and imperfect.”
“It doesn’t bother you that Ryan used me to get to our family? He’s writing a story about us.”
“We have nothing to hide.”
“Mama, that’s not the point.”
Barbara sat down on the edge of the bed. “Honey, Ryan was wrong in the way he handled this situation, but I do believe with my entire heart that this man loves you dearly.”
“I don’t agree. If Ryan truly loved me, then he would’ve told the truth.”
“Talk to Ryan,” Barbara insisted. “You don’t have to do it tonight, tomorrow or the day after that. Wait until you’re ready.”
“That day may never come,” Sage commented. “Honesty and loyalty are very important to me. It’s pretty obvious that Ryan failed in both areas.”
* * *
Ryan was waiting in the hotel lobby when Sage arrived the next day.
“Sage, we need to talk,” he said. “I want to get everything out in the open so that we can get past this.”
She met his gaze and responded, “Ryan, there’s really nothing to discuss. You lied to me. I cann
ot just brush it off and keep moving. I’m not wired that way.”
He followed her to the elevator and up to her office.
“It wasn’t like that, Sage,” Ryan stated. “I just didn’t tell you that I was a reporter for good reason. I always keep my identity a secret, but because of the way I feel about you, I had planned to tell you everything last night—only Harold DePaul beat me to it. You know his character, so you know why he did this.”
“Ryan, you led me to believe that you were homeless. That was a lie. What does this say about your character?”
“I was on assignment,” Ryan stated after a moment. “But, Sage, you’ve got to believe me. I never wanted to hurt you. When I began this ruse, I definitely didn’t count on falling in love with you. Everything changed when my heart got involved.”
“I feel like I can never trust you, Ryan.”
He reached for her, but Sage stepped away from him. “Sweetheart, I want you to know that you can trust me.”
“Please leave, Ryan,” she whispered in a pained voice. “I just can’t do this right now.”
“I’m so sorry for hurting you, sweetheart. It was never my intent.”
Sage didn’t respond; she just kept her back turned to him. His betrayal still stung as much as the day before. Sage refused to let him see just how much his actions had wounded her. “Please, I want you to go.”
“I’d like to stay on at the restaurant until you find another manager.”
She wanted to refuse him, but the truth was that Ryan had been a great manager and they needed a strong presence in this new venture. “That’s fine. I’ll alert Personnel that we’ll need to find your replacement immediately.”
Ryan didn’t seem to want to let the subject drop. “I never wanted you to find out this way.”
“I’m not sure I would feel any differently regardless of when you told me,” Sage admitted.
“I love you, Sage. I’ve never loved anyone as much as I love you. Please tell me that we can get through this with our relationship intact. I know that you need some space to deal with all this, but I don’t want to lose you.”
“Ryan, I can’t talk about this right now. I’m not ready.”
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