Page 138 of Brighter Together

His voice changes. “Ella.”

I bury my face in my hands. “He wants me to convince you to choose them.”

Silence.

I force myself to look up.

Tommy is staring at me.

Trying to understand.

“What do you mean, convince me?” he asks.

I wipe at my face.

“The proposal.”

He straightens slowly. “What about it?”

My stomach twists.

This is the moment I have been terrified of for weeks.

“The plans were mine.”

He frowns. “What?”

“I designed them,” I sob.

Tommy lifts me off his lap and stands up.

I see the exact moment the pieces start joining together.

“In Manchester, you told me you had nothing to do with their business anymore.”

“I don’t.”

“But you designed the proposal they submitted.”

“Yes.”

He drags a hand through his hair. “Why?”

“Because Lee made me.”

Tommy looks at me sharply.

I hear how weak that sounds.

How convenient.

I sit up straight. “He found out Greenview Manor was tendering for the expansion. He knew I worked with you and knew the hotel, so he made me draw the plans.”

“Made you how?”

I hesitate.

That is enough.