Page 190 of Original Sin

‘I can’t go into that now. Problems with Paula, shall we say? And he wants to make his marriage his priority from now on.’

She looked at her mother archly. ‘Ah, for one moment I thought it might have something to do with me being better suited for the job.’

‘Don’t be like that, Liz,’ said Meredith impatiently. ‘I thought this was what you’ve always wanted.’

‘Yes. It is what I always wanted, but I’ve never wanted anything by default.’

‘It’s not default, Liz. You’ve always been good enough – the best, in fact – but the company was your brother’s birthright. Maybe he isn’t as ruthless as you, Liz, but as a family, I’ve always hoped we’d be able to work together, us

ing all our skills and talents to make the company as great as it can be. But you’ve never wanted that. It’s always been like a competition for you.’

‘You made it a competition, Mother,’ she replied harshly.

Meredith’s cool face showed a flash of hurt and surprise. ‘Is that really how you feel?’

Liz nodded, feeling a dull ache in her chest. ‘It’s always been about the others,’ said Liz, her voice thick, tears welling behind her eyes. ‘It’s always been about Brooke’s beauty, Sean’s charm, William’s so–called birthright. What about me?’ she said, thumping her chest with her fist.

She looked away, angry that she’d revealed the burning sense of injustice she’d been carrying around with her for so long, ashamed that her mother had brought her to the edge of tears.

‘You are my most capable child, Elizabeth,’ said Meredith softly.

Liz turned on her. ‘Then why do you reject me?’ she hissed.

‘Because you don’t need me,’ said Meredith quietly.

Liz turned towards the window, closing her eyes, trying to make sense of all these unfamiliar emotions. It was true that Liz had never needed anyone to succeed in the world, but didn’t everyone need to be wanted? She suddenly felt cold and lonely.

Her mother had rejected her because she felt that Liz didn’t need her. Wendell had wanted her, but discarded her because he didn’t need her.

Liz took a deep breath and turned back to Meredith. ‘I’d want to increase my shareholding,’ she said. ‘Build stock options and bonuses into my contract.’

Meredith nodded. ‘As I’d expect.’

Her mother moved back down the plane to speak to the pilot, and Liz sat back in her seat. She should have felt on top of the world, but she just felt empty. Here she was, being handed what she’d always wanted, and yet somehow the victory felt hollow. Come on, Liz, she scolded herself. The business was hers, and the business had always meant everything to her. Just for a moment, she thought of Wendell, and a solitary tear escaped down her cheek. She brushed it away angrily. Yes, business meant everything to her. Because it had to.

CHAPTER SIXTY–SIX

Jewel Key wasn’t just a house, it was a private island off the Florida coast, one of the dozens of sandy dots of land that made up the beautiful Keys. In denim shorts and a T–shirt, Tess walked round the island’s perimeter, watching the small ferry that linked Jewel Key to the mainland shuttle back and forth to transport crates and boxes of food and champagne. On the tennis courts, workmen were erecting a huge marquee, while an army of gardeners were manicuring the lush grounds to perfection. As she walked, Tess could also see Wendell’s security team sweeping the area to make sure it was locked–down in preparation for the arrival of VIP guests tomorrow. She thought of Jemma and the way she had infiltrated the security team at the Venus party with a smile, but that inevitably led her on to think of Sean Asgill, and she shook her head to clear the image.

Tess took off her flip–flops and went to sit on an outcrop of rock that jutted into the jade green ocean. It was late afternoon, and the sun was a soft saffron ball sinking low in the pastel sky. She relaxed her shoulders, trying to empty her mind, but it was impossible to unwind. Tess knew she should be happy – the last few months had been a bumpy ride, but she had made it: the wedding would go ahead the day after tomorrow and her job would be done. A barrage of threats from the Billington legal machine had put the lid on the Olivia Martin story being reported further, and Ted Kressler, having received his two–hundred–thousand–dollar cheque, had crawled quietly back under his rock. Even better, Meredith had made noises about giving Tess her bonus and – should she want it – a full–time role on staff once the wedding was over. She’d been a success. So why did she feel such a failure?

She watched a pelican swoop down from the sky, marvelling that it ever got off the ground with that fat body and ridiculous beak. Tess kept trying to think of other things, but of all the thousands of thoughts churning around her mind, she kept returning to one question. How did Olivia Martin die?

Hearing a scrabbling sound on the rock behind her, she turned. Her heart lurched as she saw it was Sean Asgill. Him. It was inevitable their paths would cross at the wedding, of course, and Tess had been preparing herself for this moment, rehearsing what she’d say to him, convincing herself that she was a professional and that she could deal with it. But right now, she wasn’t so sure.

‘Hey,’ he said, sitting down next to her and sweeping his hand through his dirty blonde hair.

‘Hello.’ She managed a weak smile, although her heart was thumping so hard she felt sure he could hear it. Be normal, she said to herself. Make small talk.

‘When did you get here?’

‘About an hour ago,’ said Sean. ‘I’m staying here. Are you at the hotel?’

Tess nodded, pointing to the exclusive resort a few hundred metres away on the mainland where tomorrow’s rehearsal dinner was being held. They both watched the pelican land on the water with a splash.

‘Marriage, huh?’ said Sean. ‘It’s a big old scary thing.’

Tess said nothing, biting her tongue.