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I turn to check myself out in the reflection. My tropical tan makes the bright red of my dress stand out more. The dress is long to the floor with a small train. The bodice consists of a large keyhole with cups to cover my breasts and a button at the top across my collarbone. The sleeves go to my wrists, where I have on the diamond tennis bracelet Thor got for me while we were in Hawaii.
We’ve been home for a week, and it’s been the longest week of my life. My security staff decided Thor and I have to pretend we aren’t together until Shelagh is captured along with whomever she hired. I got used to Thor being in my bed every night and every morning for the last two weeks. We took the time to get to know each other again and to form our little family only to have it ripped apart when we came home. I worry I’m going to go back to being alone and Thor will go back to his life without us.
Tonight is the Red Gala, celebrating women in business. BUTEE is being honored. It’s been a bone of contention for Elora and me. She says it’s time to be honest with Thor about BUTEE, but I’m scared he’ll walk away when he knows the true depth of my deception. The bell rings through my condo, and I walk to the door. The building security has been amped up. I had to write several new programs to prevent Thor’s software from bypassing it again. I look through the camera and see Chase and Laya standing there waiting for me.
They got home a couple nights ago just to attend this gala with me. I had to tell him the truth that he always suspected. But he doesn’t know the real depth of my anger toward Thor and everything I did. No one knows how low I really sunk. Why I chose Elora to be the face of BUTEE.
I open the door. Chase is in a black tux with a red bow tie. Laya is in a red dress that has cloth flowers hanging from the extra-long ties at the shoulders. It’s slinky and has an open back. I notice Chase is keeping a hand on her as she glides into the room. Her long blond hair is in a loose messy bun at the back of her head. She had someone come in to help with her hair and makeup, just like I did.
“Dang, Thor’s not going to like that dress, Bri.” Chase chuckles.
“Serves him right. He agreed to this farce.” I’m still pissed that he said it would be the best to pretend for a while. I look over to where Orion is sitting watching a movie with his babysitter. “Okay, Rion, I’ll see you in the morning.”
He jumps up and runs to my side. He kisses me on the cheek and hugs me as I squat down for him.
“Tell Dad I love him too,” he says before he rushes off.
It still causes my heart to cramp thinking of how easily my son accepted Thor, and I still haven’t been able to tell him I love him. I know it’s because of my fear of him leaving.
* * *
We walk into the gala, and I’m instantly pissed off. Sitting at the table next to mine is Thor with his ex, Louise, sitting beside him. She gives me a snide smile, and I control the urge to flip her off. I sit down at my table, where Summer and her dad, Devin, are seated too.
Summer and Devin are from the same town as Laya, and is where BUTEE rescued them from a cult. Summer is in a beautiful red dress. Her long brown hair is in a braided crown around her head. I look up and see Elora sitting next to Chase’s stepdad, Elias. Because of the honor we are receiving, we wanted everyone who has been a part of BUTEE here.
I can’t stop my eyes from straying to the table next to ours. Every time I look, Thor is staring at me. His jaw is locked tight and he’s ignoring Louise. He’s in a black tuxedo with a red vest and pocket kerchief. His bow tie is black with red splatters through it. His shade of red matches my dress exactly, not Louise’s. I don’t know why she’s here or why he invited her, but I’m pissed off. I thought he loved me.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I give you this year’s Emerald City Red award winner, Elora Danvers of BUTEE Corporation.” The emcee introduces her, and I turn away from Thor to watch Elora.
We worked out everything she is going to say, but I watch as she folds the cards up and ever so slightly shakes her head. She fidgets for a moment as she stands at the podium. I watch her inhale a full breath and know what’s about to happen. It’s like watching a car crash in slow motion.
“Thank you, but I don’t deserve this award.” People gasp around us. “Please,” she says, and I know what she’s asking for. I stand up and look over at Elias as he nods.
“It’s time,” he mouths, and I fight the tears.
Moving to the stairs of the stage, I don’t look back to Thor. Maybe Louise being here was a harbinger of this. Elora steps back, and I step up to the podium. I look out at the crowd, and when I see his eyes, I give him the truth.
“Bennington Unlimited Technologies for Everyday and Everyone.” The words flow out of my mouth, and the truth that everyone has wanted to know for years is finally revealed. “It all started on a rainy day. I was so broken. I was standing at the pier looking over the edge, thinking about just ending it. I’d lost my guiding light, and the man I loved pushed me away. But the Puget Sound-Elliot Bay wind blew right then. It came with the words of my brother, Rowan. ‘Don’t ever give up.’ The sun shined through the clouds, and I saw the rainbow and knew I had to do something.” I take a deep breath and look to Elias.
“I went to the one woman who treated me like a daughter, and she helped me form BUTEE. She took me in when my family disowned me. She gave my son and myself the connection we needed. I miss her every day.” I then turn back to Thor. “Yvonne didn’t know I’d set my heart on making the man who broke it pay.” I look over to Elora and reach out for her hand. “Neither Yvonne nor Elora knew that my self-esteem was so beat down I didn’t want to be the face of my own company. I hired my best friend from law school, and together we worked hard to make BUTEE what it is today.” I squeeze Elora’s hand and release it.
“The RoBen Scholarship was a dream I couldn’t fight. I had to honor my brother, Rowan. The first recipients of it, Summer Miller and Laya Clark, have proved how strong women can be. I’m honored that we won the Red award, but I couldn’t have done any of this without Yvonne and Elora. They deserve this award. Yes, the company is mine, but it’s what it is because of them.”
I move off the stage, watching Thor the whole time. He gets up slowly and walks out. I can’t stop myself. I follow along behind him. He turns into the next ballroom, but before I can get to him, I’m grabbed by the arm. I turn to see my parents standing there.
“You used your brother’s name without our permission,” my father barks at me. “You ruined his reputation with your lies.”
“You should have let Elora continue to be the face of BUTEE. People won’t want to do business with someone who looks like you.” My mother’s eyes trace up and down my body. After years of practice and finally building up my self-esteem, I don’t care anymore. I don’t care what she thinks of me.
“Shut the fuck up,” is bellowed from behind me. “How dare you talk to her like that? She’s a beautiful woman and has built a multi-billion-dollar company without your help.”
I turn to look at Thor, but he’s focused on my parents and not on me.
“Thor, she is using our son’s name without our permission.”
“You mean, the son you both disowned.”
“Well, it wasn’t quite like that,” my father says in defense.
