by Dani Wade
“Leave us,” Patricia demanded.
If she hadn’t been so nervous, Trinity would have laughed at the way Jenny held ramrod straight, refusing to leave until she received the nod from Trinity. Some people still understood loyalty, and Trinity was grateful for the few people in her life that hadn’t turned their backs on her since Michael had passed.
“What can we do for you, Patricia?” she asked as the door closed with a quiet snick.
“Rhett, so nice of you to join us,” the other woman said instead of answering.
Rhett stood, bracing himself as he faced the Hyatts. “I didn’t realize I’d been given a choice.” The Hyatts exchanged a glance that he ignored. “As Trinity asked, what can we do for you?”
Richard chimed in this time. “Oh, it isn’t about what you can do for us. We have an offer you won’t want to refuse.”
Patricia glanced Trinity’s way with a smirk. “Especially you, my dear.”
“What?” Trinity did not like where this was going. The very vibe of the room had changed, darkening despite the sunshine streaming through the slats of the blinds.
Add the fact that Patricia and Richard never visited Hyatt House outside of business meetings, and this felt wrong on every level.
An ambush. Trinity’s stomach tightened, bracing herself against the wave of malevolence in Patricia’s look.
“We are here with a very sweet offer for you, my dear,” she said, her smarmy tone contrasting her steely look.
“Then talk to her lawyer,” Rhett broke in.
Richard raised a brow, confusing Trinity as he said, “Careful now.”
Rhett clenched his teeth, his face freezing even as his gaze was shooting daggers into the other man. The level of emotion between the two men seemed out of proportion, though Trinity appreciated Rhett’s defense.
She frowned, further unsettled. “Look, if this is about the court case, Rhett is right. You need to speak to Bill.”
“I don’t think it will go to court. Now.”
“Why?” Trinity braced herself for yet another blow. After all, that’s what the Hyatts were good at, right? But she could hope... “Are you withdrawing your suit?”
“No, but you will withdraw your objections and willingly turn the estate over to us.”
Trinity huffed out her surprise, glancing around at the other people in the room. “Um, no. I won’t.”
Patricia stalked closer. “Of course, you will. Unless you want us to reveal everything we know about you to the court.”
“And what would that be? I have nothing to hide. And someone has already made my past an open book on social media, so—”
“Oh, I’m sure the judge will be very interested to learn that you were a virgin when your husband died. Non-consummation might have some influence over how he decides the case.”
Trinity felt her body go ice-cold down to her fingertips. Even her brain froze, keeping her from uttering a single protest. Then a sickening wave of heat washed over her. She swayed before steadying herself. If there was one thing she would control in this meeting, it was whether or not she would go down.
Rhett stepped into the outer edges of her vision. “Non-consummation does not change whether or not she can receive his inheritance. The judge won’t be influenced by that.”
“But public opinion might,” Richard said. “I’m sure the board would love to be led by a woman accused of enticing a lifelong friend into marrying him, then not even gifting him with her body before stealing his money.”
“Stop it,” Trinity barked, struggling for air but unable to hold the words back. “That has never been true.”
“The public doesn’t care.” Patricia smirked before she went on. “And I’m sure a certain Instagrammer will be happy to spread the news for us...as well as how we found out that juicy little tidbit.”
In that moment, Trinity realized her first mistake was that she hadn’t denied their claim immediately. Second, in her shock, she hadn’t even thought about how they’d found out about it. There were only two people who knew. Her...and...
She turned her gaze to Rhett, who stood still as a statue without a single denial on his lips.
“Please tell me you did not do this,” she pleaded, ashamed that the words had to pass her lips.
“I did not,” he said, not averting his gaze from the snakes in their midst.
“Oh, he pretty much did, though he didn’t include it in his weekly report.”
Trinity blinked. “I don’t understand.”
“Oh, you will,” Patricia said, her tone indicating just how much she relished delivering the blows to her enemy.
Richard jumped to fill in the details. “Your boyfriend here has been working for us the whole time.”
“As a business consultant? Larry brought him in.”
“No.” Patricia’s smile was wide and satisfied. “As a spy.”
Trinity’s throat went dry. She licked her lips, wondering where all the moisture in the room had gone.
“He was brought in to tell us everything we needed to know about you to break your claim on Michael’s estate. And he has.”
Rhett stalked forward. “I don’t know how you got that information, but it was not from me. And I told you just now that is not a legally binding reason for her not to inherit.”
Patricia didn’t seem to care. “You will withdraw your claim and sign everything over to us, free and clear. Otherwise, we will discuss your sexual history, or lack of it, in court, for it to become public record.”
She glanced at Rhett. “If you’re lucky, we will keep silent about your part in this. Not make your little career public news.”
“You signed a nondisclosure agreement,” Rhett said, squashing Trinity’s last bit of hope that this was all a nightmarish mistake.
Patricia turned to leave before throwing her final words over her shoulder. “You have seventy-two hours to comply.”
Seventeen
For the first time in a long time, Rhett had no words. Maybe for the first time in his lifetime.
As he watched Trinity stare into her room from the hallway later that day, he knew they had to talk this out. But she looked so forlorn as she watched an army of staff pack her belongings, he knew he couldn’t put it off for long.
He still didn’t understand why she wanted to move out. The first thing she had done upon leaving the office downstairs—without a word—had been to instruct Jenny to have her stuff packed and a moving van called.
With an excess of caution, he stepped up beside her and asked, “Why are you doing this? It’s crazy.”
Trinity was silent for so long that he wondered if she would answer at all. Finally she said, “You know, I’ve long known that there were advantages to having money. But when you have none, it’s hard to imagine them in detail. The possibilities don’t occur to you, because they would never be an option under normal circumstances. That’s why people consider the behavior of celebrities eccentric. Only now I realize, if I want to move in a matter of hours, as opposed to days or weeks, I can.”
She tilted her head just enough for him to get a glimpse of her profile. Of her strained smile.
“And no one can stop me,” she said.
“You don’t have to do this. Don’t give in to them, Trinity.” Of all the things happening right now, he did not want Trinity to lose this incredible space Michael had created for her.
For a moment, her tone went from flat to hard. “Do you really think I’d ever want to sleep in that bed again? Ever?”
And that was all on him.
He didn’t know who had overheard him talking, but someone had to have passed that information along to the Hyatts. Now that he thought about it, maybe getting her out of this house was for the best. The last thing she needed was someone spying on her...someone else spying on her.
Damn.
“I promise you I did not tell them—”
She cut him off. “I do not care to speak about that.”
Should he honor her wishes? Should he push this?
“Will you go to Maison de Jardin?” He wasn’t even sure why he asked. After all, it wasn’t like she had another family home to return to.
“Yes. For now.”
A safe house. Exactly what she needed right now. He wished he could be with her, but he would need time to figure all of this out.
“You’re welcome to stay here as long as your contract with the Hyatts permits,” she said. “But I’m not paying a dime past yesterday for your consulting services to Hyatt Heights.”
“I understand—”
“I doubt you do. But I’m being more than generous. My only stipulation is that you stay the hell away from me.”
Rhett searched hard for something to say, feeling her slip away with every word. “Trinity, I didn’t know you when I took this job.”
“Is that really your job?” She cocked her head but still refused to look him in the eye. The sphinxlike profile that had intrigued him from the beginning was set off nicely by the warm wood doorframe behind her. He took in the high cheekbones. Thick eyelashes. Delicate nose. Her fragile beauty made his shame even worse.
“You’ve made a career out of discrediting people?”
He wasn’t surprised by the sheer disbelief in her tone. She’d thought she’d known him. Now she faced the reality of his lies. He’d never worried about the people he left behind before this. Of course, many of them didn’t know he’d exposed their dishonesty. He didn’t stick around for that part.
The reality of his chosen career wasn’t pleasant or comfortable. Watching Trinity have to suffer for it made it feel like someone was tearing tiny little wounds into his heart every few minutes.
“I simply gather information about people and pass it along to the clients who need to know it.” Even he could tell he was grasping for an explanation. He’d never been ashamed of what he’d done until this morning. But looking at it through her eyes...
“You spy on people,” she clarified for him. “I thought you were helping me, teaching me.” The words choked off for a moment.
Loving me. He’d refused to acknowledge it, but now he could see what had been happening all along. Rhett had risked his heart—something he’d vowed not to do for the last ten years. Now here he was, trying to figure out a way to fix the situation that he’d complicated with his own lies.
Still, he was grateful to see at least a glimpse of emotion. The last thing he wanted for Trinity was for her to be permanently locked behind the blank mask caused by her wounds. She should not have to live like that.
“I’m sorry,” he said, then had to clear his throat as the emotions constricted it. “I’ve been trying to find a way to get you out of this for a while.” And he still would, somehow.
“Why bother?”
Reaching out, he used his knuckle to guide her chin in his direction. He waited until her brown eyes met his before he said, “I expose people who deserve it. People who are trying to steal from others. It didn’t take me long to realize that you weren’t one of those people.”
Her eyes widened slightly, exposing the whites, before she turned away once again. His fingers went cold immediately. Her voice was once again distant as she said, “It doesn’t matter now. Once they realize I’m not giving in, the Hyatts will make sure no one believes anything I say anyway.”
No. No. No. “It doesn’t have to be that way. We can ask Bill to make it inadmissible in court.” Anything to keep her from being further exposed to the judgment and condemnation she’d already experienced.
“In court or on the internet...what difference does it make?”
The hopelessness in her tone seeped under his skin. “Then don’t do it. Walk away.”
“Why? So y’all can win?”
“No.” He dragged one of his hands through his hair, wishing he could pull it out by the roots. “Because fighting for this in court is not worth your reputation, your sanity, Trinity.”
She shook her head slowly, sadly. “Have you ever owed someone your life, Rhett?”
He swallowed hard. “No.”
“Then you wouldn’t know if it’s worth it or not.” She started to walk away from him down the hall. “Right now, I simply want to be back in the only home I’ve ever really known. For as long as I’m allowed to be there.”
Rhett returned to his own room, unable to handle the sight of her walking away from him. He deserved it. He knew that. But he wasn’t ready to give up yet. Pulling out his cell phone, he dialed Larry’s number.
“Tell me you have something for me. Now.”
* * *
“I can’t believe I’m one of those women who is fussing over what to wear,” Madison said, then let out an exasperated sigh. “Living in a sickroom means dressing for comfort and flexibility. Not in frills and ruffles.”
Trinity gave her a half-hearted smile. “I don’t really think you’re the ruffles type.”
“Definitely not.” Madison shuddered. After accepting a date with the man she’d met at the fund-raiser, her nervous preparations had begun. “But I figure a man like him will be expecting more than jeans and a T-shirt.”
“You never know. Everyone has their own preferences.”
And their own secrets. That had never hit home for Trinity more than it had over the last three days. With her deadline for the Hyatts fast approaching, her thoughts were consumed with worry and need.
Any minute now, her secrets would be spilled to the world. She just wasn’t sure which direction they would come from. When she wasn’t talking herself out of a panic attack over it, she was wondering what had happened to Rhett. She shouldn’t care, shouldn’t want to know. Yet she found herself obsessing over whether he’d gone back home—wherever that was. And whether he’d given the Hyatts more details about their encounter. Whether he cared about the humiliation she was about to face.
She shouldn’t spare him a single thought. So why was he all she could think about?
Madison got up as the kettle on the stove started to sing. The house was relatively quiet at this time of the day, with the children in school or day care, and most of the women at work or in classes. Madison had come by to check on Trinity and immediately set about making tea when she saw how listless she was. Trinity wasn’t used to having so little to do. Her days had always been full to the brim with charity stuff, then after Michael’s death, it had been the business. Being at loose ends was not boding well for her sanity.
Madison’s chatter about her upcoming date was a welcome distraction.
“I don’t even know what we’re doing. It’s a surprise,” Madison said as she set up the tea and poured. “Do you think we’ll have anything in common?” She cupped her hands around her teacup as if to warm them. “I’m used to spending time alone, a lot. I hope he doesn’t find that weird.”
“You’ll be fine,” Trinity assured her. Her brain raced with warnings she wanted to pass on to the younger woman, but she kept her mouth shut because she knew they were a product of her current situation.
“I’m sorry,” Madison said.
Trinity looked up from stirring her tea. “Why?”
“I’m prattling on about some guy. That’s probably the last thing you’re interested in right now.” She offered a small smile. “I just don’t really know what to say to make any of the things you’ve experienced better.”
“Don’t be sorry. It actually helps take my mind off things.”
Any minute, the other shoe would drop. She’d instructed Bill that she would continue to deny the Hyatts’ control of Michael’s estate. She had no doubt now that they would drive it into the ground, starting with Maison de Jardin. Regardless of whatever paperwork had been signed between the other p
arties, Trinity was not bound by any nondisclosure agreements. She would do whatever she had to in order to defend the estate from Michael’s greedy relatives.
After all, people’s livelihoods and protection were more important than a little humiliation on her part. But so far, news had been quiet.
Too quiet.
“I just can’t believe Rhett was working with those people.” Madison shook her head. Trinity had shared some of the bare bones of the situation once she’d moved back to Maison de Jardin. “He seemed genuinely interested in the charity while he was here. Surprised by everything we did to help these women get back on their feet. I thought he was a good guy.”
“Me, too,” Trinity said softly. “Guess we can be taken in by just about anyone, huh?”
“Scary.”
“I see women come through here all the time. Their husbands or boyfriends are charmers at the start. Until they become controlling, petty, angry. Then they change.” Because it was all about them, never about the women they loved.
“Did Rhett change?”
“Yes, but I thought it was for the better. Now I know it was just another lie.”
Madison squirmed in her chair, reminding Trinity that she was speaking to someone on the verge of a new relationship. She shouldn’t be ruining it for her. Despite everything, Trinity wanted to believe love was possible...just for other people. Not for her.
She’d never risk her heart...or her body...again.
“It will be okay, Madison.”
The younger woman smiled, but Trinity couldn’t miss the knowledge in her eyes. Madison might not have been abused, like many of the women in this house, but her life had never been an easy one. That was for sure. She deserved some hope.
“You go and have a good time, Madison. Everything here will work itself out. I promise.”
As if to challenge her words, her cell phone started to ring. Trinity hesitated when she saw Bill’s name. It took a moment of gathering what tatters of grace she had left before she could answer.
“Yes?”
“Have you seen the new blog post?”