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While away in California, he had decided it was time to tell her the truth. He’d been praying about it, hoping she would find it in her heart to forgive him. He had no idea what was going to happen, but he couldn’t let it go on anymore. It would be the most difficult conversation they’d ever have, but come what may, he had to do it. No matter how afraid he was that this would change everything, he couldn’t go on lying now that he was head over heels in love with her.
Fifteen minutes had passed since he’d arrived, and the time was nearing for Genevieve to take the stage and introduce Skylar, who was giving a speech and awarding the regatta winners their trophies. Why wasn’t Genevieve there yet? He pulled out his phone, thinking he might call her, and noticed it had died at some point during the day. He wondered if he’d missed any calls.
He shifted his stance and scanned the room again. Where was his beautiful girl?
Just then, he spotted her, looking like she’d stepped out of the 1920s—long hair pinned up in golden waves, a black headband with a little feather sticking out, strings of pearls around her neck, and the flapper dress she’d told him about. The fringe swayed back and forth against her calves, and the fabric clung to her curves in just the right way, which made his pulse pound a little harder as he watched her walk toward the stage.
“Gen,” he called out to her, but she didn’t hear him.
He was channeling Gatsby at the moment in his brown wool suit with coordinating button up v-neck vest and two-tone oxfords. He’d even worn a fedora to complete the look. Genevieve was going to love it, and they were going to be the best looking couple on the dance floor.
That’s all he wanted. One dance with her at the end of the night. One more chance to hold her in his arms and kiss her lips before he took her aside and told her the truth. He just prayed it wouldn’t be the last time he ever got to do those things.
When Genevieve stepped up onto the stage, Sebastian could tell something wasn’t quite right. Her eyes were puffy, and she wasn’t wearing the signature smile that usually lit up her face. Instead, she was staring at the microphone, hands trembling as she gripped it on its stand, like she needed something to hold her up.
She lifted her head, and their eyes met. Her lips parted briefly, and he thought he might get to see those cute dimples of hers after all, but she didn’t smile. Not at all. Instead, she pressed her lips together, like she was fighting herself from crying.
His heart ached. He wished he knew what was the matter. He wanted to make it all better for her. But what came out of her mouth was not what he was expecting.
“Good evening, everyone. Welcome to tonight’s gala. I’m Genevieve Willis, event coordinator for the Schultz Foundation.” Her voice was shaky, and she took a deep calming breath before continuing. “My dad always told me that honesty is the best policy. It’s cliché, I know. People say it all the time, but he used that phrase more than once while I was growing up, and it’s always stuck with me. My whole life, those five words have made me strive to be an honest person. Not just for myself, but to make my dad proud of me.
“Before coming to work for the Schultz Foundation, I had never worked for a company filled with such honest and generous people. I never knew it was possible to find a company that had so much integrity and felt so much like a family. Putting together this regatta has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I’ve learned a lot about myself and the heart of this company. Because of the Schultz Chocolate family, I’m seeing everything in a whole new light. And that’s the honest truth.”
People around the room began to clap then, but she kept talking.
“And now I’d like to introduce you to the man who has made the biggest impact on me since I arrived. A man who believed in me when I wasn’t sure I could pull off this event in six weeks’ time. A man who helped me with every last detail of this gala and took absolutely no credit for it.”
Her eyes fixed on Sebastian’s, her tears sparkling under the spotlight, and he was hit with a sudden sense of dread.
“He’s a man of many talents … and many faces.”
His stomach dropped. She knows.
“The president of Schultz Chocolate. Sebastian Schultz, everybody.” She stopped looking at him and simply walked off the stage and toward the exit, not introducing Skylar, who stood staring with her mouth hanging open as Genevieve rushed to the exit.
Sebastian heard Skylar take the stage, apologize for the confusion, and begin talking about the regatta as he bolted after Genevieve.
“Gen!” He called after her in a loud whisper, but she kept walking until they were outside. “Genevieve!”
She spun around to face him, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Are you all right?”
“Of course not, Kur—” A sob interrupted her.
“I’m sorry.” His heart ached in his chest. He wanted to touch her, to take her in his arms and comfort her. Her tears were making him crazy. He hated that he’d done this to her. “You have no idea how sorry I am.”
“Why would you do this? Why not tell me who you were from the start?”
Someone walked out of the building then, and Genevieve swiped the tears from her face.
“We shouldn’t talk here,” Sebastian told her. “Let’s go somewhere more private.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you ever again.”
“Gen—”
“Don’t call me that. In fact, don’t call me anything. You lied to me about your name, so you don’t get to use mine anymore.” More tears fell.