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“Who’s Monique?” Anna looked completely confused.

“Sorry. She’s an old girlfriend of Casildo’s who claimed she was carrying his child. She was lying, but they got as far as getting engaged, and he introduced her to the family, explained the situation.”

“I didn’t know. I love Hunter for a lot of reasons, but a biggie is that he never betrays confidences.”

“She’s not really important now”—Bea waved her fork in the air—“except?” She set the utensil down and frowned at the table. “Casildo has wanted to establish this business since he was a kid. It’s a labour of love, but he also wants to make his father proud. He thinks he upset his parents with the Monique disaster. Now, I’ve hurt him. I’m worried he’ll do something he’ll regret later.”

“I don’t know him well enough to answer.”

“Can you ask Hunter to make sure Casildo goes ahead?” Bea sounded pathetic to her own ears, and tears were threatening again. “I couldn’t bear it if he didn’t.”

“A fortnight, Bea. Let me give you a fortnight?” Anna’s concern was evident in her watchful eyes.

“You had a real estate agent lined up before you went away.”

But Bea’s resolve was wavering. Two weeks would give her time to talk to her parents and sisters, then leave them to come to terms with the changed situation before she moved home. Easier for her.Who am I kidding?

“They can wait.”

“I’m not sure Casildo’s talking to me at the moment. I want us to make peace before we go our separate ways.”

I’d walk across broken glass for Casildo to tell me he understands. That he doesn’t hate me.

“Did you go to work today?” Anna studied her closely.

“No.” She pushed her salad around her plate.

“Something else happened. Can you tell me?”

“I told my boss Jackson Smithers stole my ideas. I said my intern Rachel could vouch for the fact he copied my project notes. She was interviewed on Friday. She said I lied because I was jealous of Jackson.”

“Oh, honey.” Anna reached across the table and squeezed her hand.

“Rachel shared this with me at the Faraday Cocktail Party on Friday evening. The idiot arrived with Jackson, spilled her poison with him looking on, then scurried back to him.”

“Was Cas there?”

“That’s what led to our bustup. He saw it, came to help, and I brushed him off, didn’t want Jackson to turn his guns on him.”

“Cas is just as protective of those he loves as you are, Bea.”

“If I keep my job after Rachel says I’ve lied, Jackson will probably get what he wants. He’s decided I’ll be working in a two-person team with him on innovative ideas.” She lifted her head to meet Anna’s gaze. “I am so angry, I could choke. But I need the job, and I need Jackson to stay away from Casildo.” The tears she’d fought to keep at bay fell as fast as she blotted them away.

“We’ll fight.” Anna moved to sit beside her, both facing the back wall.

Bea gave a watery chuckle, leaning her head on Anna’s shoulder. “I feel like I’ve been fighting for years.”