“I think she’s a great choice.”
If he hadn’t already swallowed, he would’ve spewed water everywhere. “You do?”
“Yes.” Her voice was firm, as if she had given the matter a great deal of thought. “She’s intelligent and attractive. Socially, she’s a good match.”
“Interesting. You’ve never said anything nice about her in the past.” Why was Steph complimenting Carina when they’d just had a big confrontation?
She hesitated, clearing her throat. “Sorry if I wasn’t encouraging before. You don’t need my approval, but I ought to support you in every decision you make.”
“Instead of expressing your honest opinion?” he asked, wryly.
“I changed my mind. Women are allowed to do that, you know. I was harsh and judgmental before. Decided to look at her the way you do.”
Who was this woman? Certainly not the Stephanie he’d come to know over the past two years. “And how do I look at her? Since I can’t see,” he prodded, hoping to provoke a bit of ire and bring back the old Stephanie.
“You know what I mean. There’s a reason you’re attracted to Carina. You could’ve had any woman you wanted, and you chose her.”
“Right. Any woman I want. Any woman willing to marry for money.”
“Branson Knight!” It was her scolding schoolteacher voice. He’d succeeded in irritating her. “You know, good and well, money isn’t your only asset. It’s not even your best asset.”
“Then what is my best asset?
“I can’t believe you’re fishing for compliments,” she barked, in an obvious sidestep. “How can someone be so generous and caring in one instant, and conceited and selfish in the next?”
He painted a scowl on his face, though he was ridiculously pleased she’d called him generous and caring. He jumped when he felt her standing beside him. He lifted his face toward her. “Why the heavy sigh?”
“Mr. Knight, can I be honest?”
“Always,” he said, and he meant it, though he cringed at her formal address.
“I need this job… now, more than ever.”
“So?”
“So, you’re wasting your time asking me these questions, because I’m bound to say what I think you want to hear.”
“Then let me tell you what I want to hear.” He stood abruptly, frustration rising in his gut, lapping at the edges of his control. “Just this one time, I want you to have the gall to say it to my face.”
“Say what?”
Her tone was small, like a small child cowering at his fury. But he didn’t care. Only his father, who cared nothing about him, had ever been straight with him. He couldn’t trust anyone—none of his friends, Stephanie, or even Fordham. He faced her and glared in a way he knew must be terrifying. Her feet shuffled away from him.
“I want the truth. That’s one thing I get from Carina. She’s blunt—honest to a fault.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Her voice shook, but he continued his tirade. He jerked his hands up to point to his eyes. “Tell me to cover these with shades, so you don’t have to see them. Say I’m a monster. Admit when I get close, you turn your face or shut your eyes to avoid looking.”
“No.” She’d scrambled four or five feet away from him.
He heard a frightened gasp escape her lips. He ought to back off, but he couldn’t. Not when he was so close to hearing the truth. Now, more than ever, he needed someone he could trust implicitly. Why couldn’t Stephanie be as brutally honest as Carina?
“The truth, Stephanie. I want the truth, or I want your resignation. I’m tired of playing games. I can handle rejection. I’m used to it.”
“I don’t understand,” she cried, and took a shuddery breath.
He closed the distance between them and gripped her shoulders. “I want you to look into my eyes and tell me what you feel. I can handle whatever you say. What I can’t handle is dishonesty.”
Her entire body trembled in his grasp. But he knew from the direction of her voice, she hadn’t turned her face away.
“I feel… I feel vulnerable. I feel misjudged. And most of all, I feel…”
He waited, holding his breath. Sickened. Petrified. Go ahead. Say it.
“Alone… Desperate, unloved, and alone.”
Her arms shook free of his grip, and her footsteps receded from the room at a running pace. The door slammed shut, the sound reverberating in his ears.
Alone? What does that even mean?
CHAPTER 5
Stephanie was still shaking when she made it to the end of the hallway. Fighting a wave of dizziness, she bent over and put her hands on her knees, leaning sideways against the wall for support. What now? It’s not like she could run home—she lived here, now. She wiggled her toes inside her well-worn flats, a reminder of her tight budget. An hour ago, she’d declared she would do whatever it took to keep her job. She had to get a hold on her emotions and march back inside his office.
She heaved a deep, calming breath and straightened her spine, pivoting to face the long hallway with his intimidating office door at the end.
