Part 13 (1/2)
”Yes, that surprises you, doesnat it?” Jackson surveyed her wide-eyed shock with grim satisfaction. ”None other than Phil Chronies, the man who lost his arm in my service. The man you left to die.”
”Because he was too greedy to leave the golda”” Suddenly she realized what she was doing, and stopped short. She would not justify herself and her actions. Not to her father. Not when shead just returned from the dead to find not relief, not welcome, but accusations. ”How can you believe the worst guy in your whole organization without even asking me what happened?”
”You are your motheras daughter, s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g around with some black-haired foreigner instead of working like you should.”
She heard the echo of a bitterness so old it had started long ago. ”Yes. I am my motheras daughter. Iam loyal until the day when I realize that nothing I do can make you . . . approve of me.” Love me, she meant, but he wouldnat understand the term.
Warlord had done one thing for her. He had shown her a sort of lovea”warped, possessive, but given freely. Warlord had bound her with a rope, but now, as she looked at her father, she realized how tightly shead been bound by his expectations.
Now she was released.
She took a step forward. ”Youare a fool, Jackson Sonnet. I would have done anything for you. Anything. And you listened while Phil Chronies poured poison in your ear. You took his part against me.” She laughed briefly, and with a sense of freedom shead never experienced before. ”Thank you, Father, for making it possible for me to follow my dream.”
He shook with baffled frustration. ”What the h.e.l.l are you talking about?”
”Iam out of here.” She looked down at her bag. She was wearing her coat. The icon was in her pocket.
Except for her picture of her mother, and she would pick that up on the way out, there was nothing she needed here. Nothing in this house she wanted.
”Iam going to England. Iam visiting the Victoria and Albert Museum. Iam going to Spain to visit every winery in the Rioja. Iam going to eat oranges and olives and tomatoes and bread. Iam going to make friends who know how to play. Iam going to bike, and swim in the Mediterranean, and bask in the sun.” She took a long breath, then released it . . . and all the tension of twenty-eight years spent bent and warped by Jackson Sonnetas unending pressure.
He blasted her with all his usual subtlety. ”Thatas the stupidest plan Iave ever heard.”
”Itas not a plan, Father. For the next year, Iam not planning a thing. Iam going to let the chips fall as they will.”
”How the h.e.l.l do you think youare going to pull this off?”
”Thanks to you, Father, and your stupid schedules that a.s.sured Iad never have time off, Iave ama.s.sed a small fortune, and I can afford to take a year off.” Reflectively, she added, ”Or two.”
”Are you insane? Youave worked every day of your life. What makes you think you can spend time doing nothing buta””
”But what I want? What Iave always wanted? Iam going to be civilized. Iam going to be a girl.” She tried to think of what would impress him with how serious she was. ”Iam going to get a pedicure.”
”A pedicure?” He couldnat have looked more outrageda”or alarmed. ”What the h.e.l.l do you want a pedicure for?”
”Iave only had one in my whole lifea”and I liked it. Now Iam going to have as many as I want.”
”Youare fired!”
She thought about it. ”No. I definitely think I quit first.” She bowed to him in mocking appreciation. ”Good-bye, Father. Or should I call you Mr. Sonnet? Enjoy your time with Phil, and try to make yourself believe heas telling you the truth.”
The blood vessels that etched her fatheras ruddy cheeks popped up like scarlet rivers on a map. ”I canat believe youare giving up like this.”
”Iam not giving up. Iam finding myself.” Picking up her bag, she walked out the door.
She didnat look back.
Chapter Fourteen.
Two years later
Aqua Horizon Spa and Inn
Sedona, Arizona
Karen Sonnet stood in the hotelas cool, tall, modern wood-and-stone foyer, talking to Chisholm Burstrom, president and CEO of Texas-based Burstrom Technologies, and his wife, Debbie, about tonightas events, when a new guest stepped through the doora”and Karenas breath caught.
The stranger crossed toward the check-in desk. His black hair was cut by a master stylist, and his sculpted face was clean shaven. His stride was long and confident, and his immaculate black European-cut suit fit his masculine form perfectly. His crisp white s.h.i.+rt and blue tie could have belonged to any wealthy businessman who visited Aqua Horizon Spa and Inn to relax and do business.
This guy looked nothing like Warlord, yet something about him made her heart rate accelerate.
His indifferent gaze swept through the lobby. He focused on her. His eyes sharpened.
They werenat black.
Karen stepped back, her hand on her chest to contain her thundering heart.
His eyes werenat black, but an odd light green.
Hand thrust out, he started toward her. . . .
Behind her, Chisholm Burstrom gave a shout.
Karen jumped.
”Sorry, honey. Didnat mean to scare you.” Briefly Chisholm laid a hand on her shoulder, but his gaze was fixed on the stranger. With two long strides he met him. ”Wilder, you old son of a gun, glad you could make it.”
”Chisholm, thank you for inviting me.” The stranger shook Chisholmas hand. ”Iam looking forward to the chance to meet your executives and get the scuttleb.u.t.t on the new gaming technologies.”
”None of that!” Mrs. Burstrom stepped between the two men and flirted little glances back and forth between the two of them. ”This hotel is the number one destination spa in the world. I handpicked it specially, I made up the guest list, I chose the activities, and this isnat going to turn into a business conference. Chisholm, you promised! And Mr. Wilder, you donat want to get on my bad side. Iam a fearsome enemy!”
Mr. Wilder held his hands up, palms out. ”I would never cross you, maaam. Iam not that brave!”
The three laughed, comfortable with one another and the situation; then Mrs. Burstrom turned to Karen. ”Karen, this is Mr. Rick Wilder, one of our very special guests. Rick, this is Karen Sonnet. Sheas the force that has been planning our soiree for months.”
”Sheas an invaluable little gal,” Chisholm said.
This time the stranger looked at Karen, really looked at her.