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“Please, let me explain.”
“You’re sick,” she spit out. “All of you.”
His hand grabbed her arm as he caught up to her. “He was going to tell you.”
“When? He’s had plenty of opportunities.” She was trembling now.
“I don’t know, but his plan was always to tell you.”
“Well, isn’t that big of him?”
“He cares so much about you, Genevieve.”
She didn’t know what to say to that. The tears burned in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She yanked her arm out of his grasp and ran to her car. He caught up to her just as she drove out of the parking spot, squealing her tires as she left the place and the people she never wanted to see again.
Genevieve lay crying on her bed, face buried in her pillow, as Rhonda’s fingers softly combed through her hair and gently caressed her back, calming and comforting her. She’d been crying for an hour, and she was nearing the point where there were no more tears left to cry.
She sniffled as she turned her head to rest on her cheek and looked up at her sister. “I’m such a fool.”
“No, you’re not.” Rhonda lay her hand on Genevieve’s cheek. “You couldn’t have known.”
“They all knew. Every single one of them. They lied to me, and I fell for it. I’m sure they’ve all been having a good laugh over this.” Sadness and grief washed over as she pictured him. “I can’t believe he lied to me.”
She was wrong. There were still plenty of tears left to cry.
Rhonda lay down and faced Genevieve. “I’m sure there’s some kind of explanation.”
“I don’t care.”
“Yes, you do.”
“Nothing he can say will make me understand why he did this.” She glanced over at her alarm clock and sat up in a panic. “How am I supposed to go to this gala now? I can’t face them. I can’t get up in front of them and introduce Skylar. I can’t look any of them in the eye after this.”
Rhonda sat up and took her hand, squeezing it between her own. “You are the strongest person I know. You will get through this.”
“I don’t know how.”
“I know it’s really messed up what they did, but you have done an amazing job with this fundraiser. Just get up there and show them that they didn’t break you. Don’t let them win.”
She lay back down on her pillow as details of the past two months flooded her mind. The way he avoided spending time together at the office. The day he’d whisked her away to the chocolate factory because his own father and Wayne Middlebury were standing outside the main entrance. His close relationship with Skylar—his sister! The rooftop garden, where they wouldn’t be seen working together. Taking her into the beach house—his family’s beach house. Mrs. Middlebury recognizing him at the regatta that morning.
Remembering all those moments made her livid. Why hadn’t she done a little research before taking the job? She could have easily looked up the history of the Schultz family and found more information there. But she’d been so anxious to leave behind her other job that she’d taken the position, trusting the wonderful reputation and notoriety of the Schultz Chocolate company.
What a joke.
Her thoughts returned to all the sweet moments she’d shared with the man she thought was Kurtis, and her heart began to ache. How could she have been so oblivious to his lies?
Rhonda was right. She couldn’t stand by and let him get away with this. She had to go there and tell him she knew who he really was. And even though facing him was a heartbreaking prospect, she knew exactly what she was going to say.
TWENTY-THREE
Genevieve was nowhere in sight. Sebastian had purposely waited until the gala was well under way before he arrived, standing toward the back in the shadows, staying out of sight for fear of someone outing him. Skylar had told him Genevieve would be seated with their family toward the front, but she wasn’t at their table. He scanned the room, surprised not to see her there.
It appeared the evening was going off without a hitch. The band they’d hired was playing some jazz tunes, guests were enjoying the music out on the dance floor, while others were placing their bids at the auction tables.
He glanced around and took in the warm glow from the lighting and the candles. The place looked amazing all lit up at night. The only light missing was hers. He knew the second she walked into the room, the whole place would shine.
His biggest regret of the day was not being able to spend it with her, not being there by her side as everything they’d worked on came to fruition. But he couldn’t have shown his face and risked ruining her day. Instead, he’d spent the afternoon making special preparations for tomorrow to take her out and spoil her and celebrate the success of the event. That is, if she was still talking to him after tonight.