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Ella didn’t stay around to find out if Patty really did quit. She moved through the front doors and smiled as she walked to her vehicle. She knew what she’d done would hit her in a few hours, but for now she felt free. It was a very good feeling indeed.
As she began her drive home, she felt a tremendous wave of sadness wash over her as she reached for her phone. She desperately wanted to call Nana Bee and talk to her, ask her advice, and maybe just cry on her shoulder.
She was supposed to turn left, but she turned right, and headed for the cemetery where Nana Bee was buried. She might not get any answers, but at least she could lie there and talk to her, and maybe feel her presence a little. Even if Nana Bee was gone, she’d offer some comfort only she could give.
Ella wasn’t sure what she was going to do next, but she didn’t care. She was free from her monster boss. Everything else would work out. Maybe it really was time for her to leave San Francisco. She hadn’t been exaggerating to Paul, she truly didn’t have anyone or anything left to keep her in San Francisco any longer.
Chapter Sixteen
Bass
Bass was nervous as he parked his vehicle in front of the barn that was about twenty miles from Nana Bee’s place. Rafe had asked him to come and meet with him. It was the step they both needed to take. He was very aware that it could go horribly wrong. They should’ve had this talk years ago, but they were both stubbornly proud. That had gotten them far in business, but it wasn’t so good for personal relationships.
Rafe’s vehicle was already there and he was glad to see his former best friend wasn’t playing games that day. He wasn’t making Bass wait for him. He needed to man-up and not sit in his car like a damn wuss.
He climbed from the luxury SUV and walked with confidence into the arena of the barn. Rafe leaned against the fence, looking out at the beautiful horses running in the ring. There didn’t appear to be anybody else around. Rafe turned.
“I asked the staff to leave for a while,” Rafe said.
“Are we going to have another fight?” Bass asked with a bit of a smirk.
“I don’t think so,” Rafe said. “Then again, you never know what might happen.” He gave a bit of his own smirk.
“I didn’t sleep with her,” Bass said. He didn’t want to draw this out. “I don’t remember sleeping with her, that is.” Maybe they’d had sex, he couldn’t say for sure.
“Tell me what you remember,” Rafe said. This was more than he’d asked since he’d found Bass with his ex-wife years before.
Bass went to the fence and also gazed out at the horses. He’d thought about having this conversation with Rafe for the past five years. Now that they were here, he had a difficult time finding his words. Rafe seemed to know it, and waited, standing a few feet from him as he looked at the horses.
Finally, Bass decided to dive in. “I went to your house that night because I got bad news from a client. I lost a ten-million-dollar deal. I know they come and go, but I was pissed. I thought it was a sure thing. You weren’t home, but Sharron said you’d be back anytime. I came in and she was acting strange. She reached for my arm and asked if everything was okay. I told her I’d had a hell of a day and I just needed to talk to my best friend. I was going to call you right then, but she said you’d be walking in at any minute. She went over and made me a drink. I didn’t think anything of it. I took it from her and downed it. She handed me another one and I downed that too. I immediately felt a buzz and gave a sigh of relief.”
He stopped and strained his memory. He didn’t want to get this wrong. Rafe didn’t interrupt, so he continued after a minute.
“My head started getting fuzzy and I began sweating. I had no idea what in the hell was going on. I remember Sharron telling me I didn’t look good, that I needed to get some cold water on my face. I was getting dizzy. I felt her hand on my arm and I followed her, but it was almost as if I was watching someone else. I couldn’t see straight. I think we went up the stairs, but I wasn’t sure. I have no idea how much time had passed. The rest of it was a blur. There were noises, hands on me, I heard groans. I think I groaned. I don’t know. Then I remember you there. I stumbled from the house. I must’ve passed out in my car, because I woke up about two in the morning and drove away.”
Rafe didn’t say a word, but his body was stiff. It took a while and then he asked. “What time did you get to my house?” His words didn’t show any emotion.
“Hell, it was a long time ago, but I know it was before five,” he said. Probably about four thirty.”
“I got home at eight,” Rafe said. “I was running late and stopped for flowers. I think she drugged you.”
“I know she did, but I still felt guilty. I should’ve stopped it,” Bass said.
“I’ve held this anger for a long time, and it will take a while, but I believe you. Sharron was evil. I don’t know why she did what she did, but she got what she wanted and that was to rip you out of my life. It’s not something we can fix overnight, but I believe wecanfix it. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you sooner.”
Emotion coursed through Bass that made him want to kick himself. He chuckled. “I think I’m a girl right now,” he said, trying to toughen up.
“Yeah, before meeting Ari I didn’t allow myself to feel any real emotion. She changed me. I now know it’s okay to get sad, or feel joy. We’ve lost several years because of that woman, and it will take us a while to come close to where we were. We both lost a lot which is mostly my fault. It’s okay to let that hurt,” Rafe said.
“Maybe I’ll feel the same way soon.” He immediately thought of Ella. Could she make him a rounded man? Could she make him want more than to simply climb the ladder of success? There was a voice inside him telling him she could indeed. As if Rafe could read his mind, his next words stopped his train of thought.
“What’s happening between Ella and you?”
“Nothing right now. We kissed . . . finally, but then we were interrupted by her father of all things.”
“Do you trust her?” Rafe asked. There was no accusation in his words, but still Bass felt slightly guilty.
“I do. She’s not her father, Rafe. She’s a good woman, and she’s trying to survive like all of us.”
