Page 34 of Heartless

“I’m going to go and leave you to your evening.”When Jake readied to speak, I touched his chest.“I still have Nigel’s car.I’ll text you when I get home.”

Silas settled on the large sofa.“Stay for the game.”

“Oh, no thank you.”

That made him laugh.“Not into sports?”

I giggled and shook my head.“Not even a little bit.”

Jake kissed my temple.“Are you sure you’re okay?”

No.I’d just lost my friend.“I’ll be okay,” I whispered.

I waved at Silas.“Bye, Silas.Nice to see you again.I hope your team wins.”

Silas chortled.“Me too, sweetie.”

His ‘sweetie’ was gently teasing, so I smiled.At the elevator, Jake kissed me, short but sweet.

****

At the back of thecar driving me home, my cell rang.Nigel was calling.

Earlier tonight, I’d been pleasantly surprised when he’d apologized for what he’d said about my relationship with Jake, and I’d thanked him for respecting my boundaries.He was an interesting man, extremely smart with a gift for telling stories.By the time a delicious chocolate soufflé had been served, I’d relaxed into the idea that I could have done much worse in terms of father.After dessert, he’d given me first-class tickets for a European cities tour including five-star hotels.

When I’d gaped at him, speechless, he’d gently tapped my hand and said, “You said you’d always dreamed of seeing Europe.Tell me when you plan on going, and I’ll meet you there for a leg of the trip if I can.”

Like all of Nigel’s gifts, it had triggered that twinge of discomfort, which had then led to feeling of guilt for being unthankful.

I took a deep breath and brought my cell to my ear.“Hello, Nigel, how are you?”

He’d been tired during dinner, but he’d just put it down to too much work and traveling.

“Sienna, your friend Gabrielle just called, and she was very upset.She said that despite my reservations, you’re still seeing Jake Rhodes.”

God.Gabby.“I didn’t know you knew Gabby.”And I certainly didn’t know they’d been talking to each other about my relationship with Jake.

“Jerry and I have been business acquaintances for years, and Gabrielle is a lovely young woman with a good head on her shoulders.She’s worried about you, and you should listen to her.”

I pressed my lips against my teeth to keep the scream raging in my chest from bursting.Then, I took a deep breath.“She was upset because Jake rejected her advances.”

“He’s lying.”

“I was there.I saw her.”

His tone sharpened.“Sienna, there are things you don’t know about Jake Rhodes.This man has secrets.”

Another deep breath.“What secrets, Nigel?”

He didn’t reply.

“Tell me.What are Jake’s terrible secrets ?”

When silence filled the airwaves, I leaned into my cell.“You have secrets too, Nigel.Like Rowena Wheelan, your other daughter who you paid off to keep quiet about who her father is.”

His tone was sinister.“She signed an NDA, and—”

“That’s your answer?She signed some paperwork?What about the fact that you lied to me about her?Were you going to make me sign an NDA as well?”