“Rose – she’s destroyed by this. She really is. It’s completely out of character, and she truly,trulyunderstands the weight of what it means to lose your trust.”
But not to earn it in the first place, apparently.
This was getting far more uncomfortable than he wanted. “What does it matter?”
“Rose never meant to hurt you.”
“Good for her.” He’d recovered his normal speaking voice. He put his hands on his desk. “Is there anything else? I have a lot of work to do.”
“She’s in love with you, you know.”
Craig laughed. “Sure she is.”
“You don’t believe me?” Lillian leaned forward. “Why do you think she confessed everything to you?”
He put his hands up. “Why does Rose do anything she does? She’s a liar. There’s no use in figuring her out.”
“My sister is not a liar.” Lillian said. “She fell in love with you and she had to tell you the truth. Even if it ruined everything.”
“I hope she feels better, then.” He turned to his computer screen, hoping she’d take the hint.
She did and stood. “I’m sorry.” She got to the door and turned. “Just so you know, Rose is on a date right now.”
His jaw tightened and he had to take a deep breath to release it. “That’s nice.”
“With Brett. She’s throwing herself at his mercy, hoping he’ll buy the company before anyone finds out about her. She’s afraid she’s ruined everything. She’s devastated.”
Craig was quiet for a moment, then looked up at Lillian. “I hope she has a nice night.” He turned back to his computer and pretended to answer an email.
When he looked up again, Lillian was gone. The office was muted, with only the hum of the air through the vents and the sound of traffic outside.
Craig didn’t last long alone with his thoughts. He got up from his seat and returned the book to the shelf, then stood at the window. Then he decided to get online and research a new trashcan for his apartment.
That only worked for about four minutes before his mind wandered back to Lillian, back to Rose.
It was impossible for Rose to be in love with him. It was another one of her manipulations. It had to be.
He almost had himself convinced of it, but the one thing he couldn’t reconcile was her being on a date with Brett.
It made no sense. Why would anyone subject themselves to that man’s presence? Let alone being in a romantic setting with him?
Rose had already run away from Brett once before. She was filled with glee then, giggling and laughing over pizza, mimicking his drawl and his long, sloppy winks.
There was no way she was on a date with him for her own benefit. The only logical explanation was that she was doing it in some misguided sacrifice. A penance.
He shuddered. As angry as he was with her, that was too much.
Craig paced his office and stopped when he spotted something on his desk – a scrap of paper. Lillian had left her phone number.In case you change your mind, she’d written.
He sighed. He wasn’t changing his mind, but now he couldn’t get the image of Rose trapped in Brett’s car out of his mind.
He picked up his phone and sent her a message.
Where is this alleged date?
Lillian answered in minutes.
On his yacht. It’s docked in Seattle. She sent me the location and said to send the Coast Guard if she didn’t return by sunrise.
