The Unreal Boyfriend

by Miranda P. Charles

  “Yes?”

  “That was painted by Richard McCarthy.”

  Bernadette’s mouth formed an O.

  “Did you know he was Derek’s father?”

  “Yes, of course. I just couldn’t tell he’d painted that one, too. I’m afraid I’m not an art connoisseur.”

  “It’s called Man and His Secrets. I thought you’d like to know.”

  “Thank you,” she said sincerely.

  She headed back to the house, excited at learning that Derek’s dad had painted that amazing work hanging in Ross’s office.

  She was also confused and uncertain. Should she take Ross’s advice and talk to Derek? Ross could be one hundred percent wrong in his assumption, but what if he wasn’t?

  Her mind flashed with memories of her and Derek as a couple, and her heart beat faster. Until her mum had asked her to come to this house to witness Derek and Holly being together, she’d believed that Derek did love her. It couldn’t have been merely wishful thinking, because she’d felt his love with every fibre of her being. Derek had been demonstrative in every way, not just in bed.

  Besides, hadn’t she noticed many times in the past that Derek might have been interested in her? She’d kept on finding out she’d been wrong. But what if she’d been right? Was Derek really only using Holly for business and personal gain?

  She shook her head. Even their mutual friends—people who’d known Derek for many more years than she had—thought Derek was a top, honourable, decent guy.

  Apart from when he’d reconciled with Holly before breaking up with her.

  Argh, this was making her head hurt. So what should she do now?

  Well, what would she want to do?

  The answer to that came swiftly. She wanted to find out if there was any possibility at all of Ross being correct in his assumption that it was Bernadette and not Holly that Derek truly loved. When she’d figured that out, then she’d ask the question of why he’d chosen Holly despite his feelings. And there had to be a better answer to that than merely for personal or business gain. Derek had kept everyone—including his best friends in all the world—from knowing that Holly Stirling had been his girlfriend for four years. That didn’t sound like someone trying to use Holly’s fame for a personal agenda.

  She let out a long sigh. How she was going to “test” Derek out, she had no idea.

  Bernadette stood in front of Derek’s office building, her heart pounding like mad. What if Derek wasn’t in? He could easily be out with clients.

  “Don’t be a chicken,” she chided herself.

  She walked in and took the elevator to his floor, taking deep breaths to compose herself. If the answer she got from Derek today wasn’t what she was hoping for, then that would be her complete and utter closure. She wouldn’t have to wonder ever again if there was a grain of truth in Ross Anton’s assumption that Derek was in love with her and not with Holly.

  “Hi, Bernie,” greeted the receptionist, who’d met her a couple of times before.

  “Hi, Amanda. Is Derek in?”

  “Yes, he’s in his office,” Amanda said, waving goodbye as she picked up a ringing phone.

  Bernadette hesitated. Wasn’t Amanda going to announce her presence to Derek?

  Oh, shit. Amanda didn’t appear to know she and Derek had split up. The receptionist was still following Derek’s previous order that Bernadette could waltz into his office anytime she wanted.

  Well, that was a good sign.

  She walked to the door leading to the offices and pushed it open. Most of the agents’ desks were empty, indicating they were out and about with clients. A couple of the admin people were around, and they gave her a cheery wave, which she returned.

  Hope started growing in her chest. Clearly, Holly hadn’t been in here at all since Bernadette and Derek had broken up. Derek’s staff wouldn’t be this friendly otherwise, would they?

  Unless, of course, Derek and Holly were still hiding their relationship. In that case, Bernadette was getting her hopes up for no reason.

  There was no time to keep thinking, because she was now standing at the threshold to Derek’s office.

  “Bern,” he said in surprise.

  “Hi,” she said, breathless from nerves. “Sorry I came unannounced. I’ve taken the day off work and I thought I’d pop by to return your pen that you left at my place.”

  Derek stood up from his seat and closed the door, then ushered her to a visitor’s chair. He took the one next to it so they were face-to-face without his big desk in between. “I’m glad you came. I was meaning to talk to you.”

  “You were?”

  “I wanted to know how you are,” Derek said softly.

  “I’m fine. I wasn’t seven weeks ago, but I’m okay now. And you?”

  Derek smirked self-deprecatingly. “As good as I can be under the circumstances.”

  She frowned. “Everything okay with you and Holly?”

  “Yeah. Sure. Yeah,” Derek said, seeming to force a smile. “I just hate myself for what I put you though.”

  Bernadette looked down at her hands. This was her chance to put her crazy plan into action. She might end up getting embarrassed as hell, but she was willing to suffer the consequences. She simply had to be sure of Derek’s feelings before she decided to turn away and never look back.

  “Can I ask you something?” she asked.

  “Sure.”

  She looked into his eyes. “Were you lying when you said you loved me?”

  Derek’s chest heaved. “No, but… there was Holly and…”

  “And?”

  “Don’t make me say the words, Bern,” Derek pleaded.

  Her heart skipped. “So you weren’t lying when you said you loved me. But since you chose Holly, I suppose that your feelings for her are much stronger than you ever felt for me?”

  Derek exhaled through his mouth, avoiding her eyes. “I’ll always care about you. We were good friends, and I hope we could be that again.”

  “That’s not answering my question, Derek.”

  “Why are you asking this? I don’t want to hurt you any more than I already did.”

  “Thank you, but I still want to hear the answer.”

  Derek rubbed his face. “Yes. That’s the answer.”

  Bernadette’s heart compressed, but something in Derek’s demeanour was kindling her hope. She pushed on with her plan. “Okay. I wanted to make sure that’s really how you feel. I don’t want to regret my decision.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m quitting my job and I’m going to Canada.”

  “What?” Derek asked in shock.

  “Probably only for a year or so. Depends on how Edwin gets on with his job there.”

  “Edwin? Who’s Edwin?”

  “My ex-boyfriend who’s about to be no-longer-ex.”

  Derek stared at her. “You’re going to Canada with your ex-boyfriend?”

  She nodded. “But he won’t be an ex anymore when we get there.”

  Derek’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Why?”

  “Because I’m going to give him and myself a chance at happiness. He’s a really nice guy.”

  “But… why are you going to Canada with him?”

  She lifted her shoulders. “For a new life. A new adventure. And… to forget about you.”

  “Bernie, this is crazy! You can’t just go to Canada to heal a broken heart.”

  “Why not?”

  Derek shook his head. “Because! You can’t just go to another country with a guy you don’t love.”

  “Derek,” she said quietly. “The guy I love doesn’t love me back. He tried it out with me, but then decided I’m not who he wants.”

  Derek propped his elbows on his thighs and covered his face with his hands. “Bern…” he said in strangled voice.

  “Since we’re definitely done,” she continued, “I’ve decided that I’m going to give someone who’s been waiting for me for a long time a chance, and I’ll do my very best
to learn to love him back. It shouldn’t be hard, as long as I commit to it. He’s one of the sweetest guys I know.”

  Derek remained hidden behind his hands, clearly distressed.

  What did that mean? Was he being jealous? Or was he simply feeling guilty? “Derek?”

  Derek straightened in his seat, taking a deep, long breath. But he didn’t speak.

  “Do you have anything else to say?” she asked.

  “Bern, don’t do something rash, please. Don’t go to Canada.”

  “What does it matter?”

  “I care about you! I don’t want you doing something you might regret later.”

  “You don’t have the right to stop me.”

  “Please,” Derek whispered.

  She leaned closer to him. “Why is it so important to you that I stay?”

  “I care about you.”

  She smiled sadly. “And yet you’re with Holly. That’s not good enough for me, Derek.”

  “It would have to be for now!” Derek said, frustrated.

  “What on earth does that mean?”

  Someone knocked on the door.

  Damn it! Don’t interrupt us, please!

  Unfortunately, Derek answered it.

  “Your meeting’s here,” one of the admin girls said.

  “Okay. I’ll be there shortly.” Derek shut the door again and faced her. “I have to go. Please just think about your decision.”

  “Do you want me to stay for you?” she asked softly.

  Derek shook his head. “I can’t answer that.”

  “Okay.” She stood up and walked to the door. “Bye.”

  “I’ll talk to you later.”

  She sighed. She was more confused now that she had been before. Derek was hiding something. That much was obvious. But what?

  Perhaps Ross might have more information he could share with her? He seemed to know a lot about Derek’s relationship with Holly. Maybe she could glean more answers out of him? Ross had been really nice to her the last time, even if he didn’t get along with Derek.

  She called her mother once she was out of the building.

  “Hello, Bernadette.”

  “Hi, Mum. Is Mr. Anton at Dural right now?”

  “As a matter of fact, yes. Why?”

  “He wants me to update him if I decide to talk to Derek about what he told me last week. I thought I might drop by to let him know, if he doesn’t mind. Could you ask him for me?”

  “So did you talk to Derek? What did he say?”

  “I’ll tell you all about it later. Can you just ask Mr. Anton if I can go there today?”

  “Okay, I’ll call you back with an answer. I’m loading the washing machine.”

  “Thanks, Mum.”

  Fifteen minutes later, June was calling.

  “Mr. Anton said he’d love for you to drop by immediately. I might be out when you get here, though. He wants me to urgently go to his house at Palm Beach to clean it up for Airbnb renters. I didn’t even know he has a property at Palm Beach.”

  “How are you getting there?”

  “Taxi. He’s giving me money for a taxi.”

  “Okay. I’ll see you at home tonight, then.”

  “Yes. There’s apple pie in the fridge that you can heat up when you get here. Mr. Anton said to mention that to you.”

  “Great. Thanks, Mum.”

  Bernadette hurried to her car. What would Derek think if he learnt that she’d be having afternoon tea with an uncle he disliked? She wasn’t feeling guilty about it, though. Derek’s behaviour was worrying her. He seemed to be having some kind of problem or trouble.

  She simply had to know more from whatever source was available to her—and it happened to be Ross Anton.

  Chapter 17

  Derek cut his meeting short and locked himself in his office, the same argument going round and round his head.

  He couldn’t let Bernadette go through with her crazy idea. But what the hell could he do to stop her?

  He paced his floor, raking his hair for the umpteenth time.

  One thing for sure, there was no fucking way he’d let her go to Canada with an ex-boyfriend that she might fall in love with completely. There’d be no hope for him, then. Ever. So he’d better come up with something that would keep her here yet not compromise her safety or anyone else’s.

  He grabbed his phone and rang Paige.

  “Hi, Derek,” Paige said.

  “Paige, do you know about your best friend’s harebrained idea?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Bernie said she’s quitting her job to live in Canada for a year with some guy named Edwin.”

  “What? And who’s Edwin?”

  He stopped pacing. “She said he’s an ex-boyfriend.”

  “That Edwin? Are you kidding me?” Paige said.

  Derek narrowed his eyes at Paige’s tone. “What’s this Edwin guy like?”

  “Oh, he’s all right. Nice, friendly and respectful. But he’s been after Bernie for years and she just wasn’t interested. Bernie did eventually agree to go out with him because he was impressively persistent, but they didn’t last long. Bernie… well… it wasn’t Edwin she wanted to be with. So why the hell is she going to Canada with him?”

  Derek squeezed his eyes shut. “She said she wants a totally new adventure so she could forget about me.”

  “But why the hell go to freaking Canada with Edwin?” Paige said, suddenly angry. “I’m sure she couldn’t have suddenly developed strong feelings for him that would warrant her following him to Canada. I didn’t even know they were back in contact.”

  “Paige, you’ve got to stop her,” he said pleadingly.

  “You bet your ass I will.”

  “Can you keep me posted, please?”

  “Sure,” Paige said before hanging up.

  Derek stood by the window and stared outside. Things had gotten so complicated that he had no idea what to do. The problem was, if he were to tell Bernadette about Ross, she’d surely tell her mother. Knowing what June was like, he couldn’t trust that June could act in a way that wouldn’t raise undue suspicion. He couldn’t let Ross get away or, worse, harm another person.

  His phone rang. “Hey, Paige, that was quick.”

  “Yeah, Bernie’s refusing to talk right now. She said she’ll tell me all about it later.”

  “Where is she?”

  “On her way to where her mother works at Dural.”

  Derek stilled. “Why?”

  “I don’t know. She said she’s having afternoon tea with her mother’s boss.”

  “Really? Why?”

  “I didn’t ask. I’m assuming it’s too smooth relationships with her mother’s boss after your little drama at his place the last time. I’ll know about it tonight.”

  “So just her, her mother and her mother’s boss?”

  “No. Apparently, June is going to Palm Beach to clean a rental place. Seems like it’s just Bernadette and June’s boss.”

  Fear wrapped around Derek’s heart. Bernadette was going to be alone with Ross Anton. “I have to go, Paige,” he said hurriedly.

  Derek sped towards his uncle’s house, calling Xavier on his phone.

  “Hey, bro,” Xavier said.

  “I’m on my way to Ross’s,” Derek said without preamble. “He’s invited Bernie for afternoon tea and sent June away to Palm Beach.”

  “What? Why?”

  “I have no idea. That’s why I’m going there now.”

  “I’ll call our police contact and get them there ASAP.”

  “Okay, but don’t get them to barge in. I’ll call you when I get there, and I’ll leave the line open so you can hear what’s going on. As long as Bernadette’s safe, we don’t want to prematurely act. I don’t want Ross getting tipped off when he doesn’t have to be.”

  “Gotcha,” Xavier said. “Be careful, Derek.”

  “Yup.”

  He hung up, wishing he could put more pressure on the car’s gas peda
l. But the last thing he wanted was to be pulled over for speeding. Time was of the essence.

  Finally, he arrived at Ross’s house. He parked behind Bernadette’s car and called Xavier, putting the phone on speaker before sliding it in the internal pocket of his suit jacket. Hopefully, Xavier would be able to pick up the sounds.

  He jogged casually to the door and pressed the bell, hoping that he’d be let in. Boyd answered it.

  “Boyd!” he said in surprise.

  “Derek. What brings you here?”

  “There’s something I need to talk to my uncle about urgently. Glad to see you’re here, because that means he must be home.”

  Boyd stared at him. “Why didn’t you call him first to see if he wants to meet with you?”

  “Because I don’t want him to make up excuses. You know him. He hates seeing my face. But it’s important, so please just let him know I’m here.”

  “Okay, wait here.”

  Derek kept his cool even though every cell of his body wanted to break in and yell out Bernadette’s name. “Hurry up,” he murmured under his breath.

  He was just about to run out of patience when Boyd returned.

  “Come on in. He’s in the garden, having a chat with your ex-girlfriend.”

  “Who? Bernadette?” he asked innocently.

  “Yes,” Boyd said with a smirk.

  Derek prevented himself from running. But he took long steps to the back of the house and breathed a huge sigh of relief at seeing Bernadette sitting casually opposite Ross at the outdoor setting near the lake. She appeared unharmed.

  “Derek!” Ross said. “What a surprise. To what do I owe this unexpected visit?”

  Derek curved his lips to one side. “Hello.” Then he turned to Bernadette, holding himself back from pulling her to him and holding her tight. “Bern. What are you doing here?”

  Bernadette shrugged. “Having some apple pie with your uncle.”

  His brow rose. He hadn’t told her Ross was his uncle.

  “She now knows we’re related,” Ross said, waving for him to take a seat. “What a coincidence you’re here, hey? After Bernadette had just seen you in your office?”

  Derek frowned, looking at Bernadette. Why the hell had she told Ross that?