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Gregory knew his choice. There was no question in his mind. He took a breath to speak–
–but Hanna raised her voice before he could. “I did it,” she said, sounding hollow but resolute. “Everything he said is true. I tried to kiss him in Saint-Tropez, but he wouldn’t let me. He loves his wife.”
Julia looked up as Hanna spoke. Gregory could see the words on Julia’s lips, the denial, the humiliation. The remorse. Her silence gripped her all the same.
Looking at Hanna was harder. She held her head high now, but the tears in her eyes shouted that she lied for him. Every false word that passed her lips fell on a sacrificial altar to bleed in Gregory’s name. She stepped away from him, a physical reinforcement to what she said. “Hanna–”
“No. Gregory, I’m sorry. It was all me. Your grandmother raised you to be a kind man. A thoughtful one. You were easy to take advantage of. Steven kicked me out. I needed a place to go. And there you were. Gullible and desperate for help. It was easy to convince you I loved you.”
For the first time in his business career, Gregory didn’t know how to respond. His heart screamed for him to issue immediate denials, tell Hanna she didn’t have to lie for him. The corporate shark that swam through the depths of his mind whispered that he could honor her sacrifice, play nice with the eel who had come to dinner until Gregory had what he needed. He and Hanna could discuss it later. The best of both worlds.Is that what she wants? What this is about? God, I want an hour of quiet to sort this out.
He didn’t have an hour. He didn’t even have five minutes. She had given him a hope to salvage the meeting with Steven but had done so at a terrible price. Now he could reach for the woman he’d grown to love and lose the family legacy he’d convinced himself he wanted. Throw away the empire his grandfather had invested decades to build, and give it to Robert Lane, who lied to him and stabbed him in the back.
That legacy wasn’t worth Hanna’s pride. “Hanna, please. I don’t believe this.”
“Of course you don’t. You were never supposed to. But you’ve found me out. It’s no good staying now. Don’t worry. I’ll see myself out.” She took another step towards the door.
He reached a hand out towards her. “Hanna–”
But she was gone, walking fast out the door to flee the room. Now, he had his silence. For the seconds it lasted, that hush consumed him, because as it descended, he realized he didn’t know when it would ever end.
* * *
Hanna couldn’t breathe.The walls felt too close, her clothes constricted her despite their perfect fit when she put them on. Her sobs stole the air from her lungs and turned it into painful gasps as she shoved her things into her bags. Laptop. Clothes. Hopes and dreams.
Claustrophobia had set in the moment Gregory opened the door to allow Steven and Julia in. Hanna had never thought to see them again, so she could leave that painful time behind her. The attempted kiss in Saint-Tropez, the humiliation of her dismissal, the discovery Steven had destroyed her reputation, she had wanted nothing more than to move on.
Since arriving at Greenhill Hall, she’d thought she had. How wrong she had been. Wrong to think her past couldn’t reach into the future. Wrong to think she belonged in this world.
Perhaps she should have known it would all come back to haunt her, as surely as the ghosts here had. She’d intended to tell Gregory someday, when she’d achieved more distance from that night on the beach. Or perhaps she should have gone public with what Steven had done earlier, though she didn’t know what that would have accomplished. Accusing a powerful man of harassment seldom garnered anything but doubt.
Instead, her silence had nearly cost Gregory billions of dollars and his family empire. All she could do was hold out hope her hasty excuses and dramatic exit would undo the damage her secrets had caused. Now, she couldn’t stay here, not while she knew whom Gregory had to do business with.
“I’m sorry, Gregory,” she murmured. “I almost ruined your chance at achieving what you wanted. And I’m sorry, Stuart, for not keeping my promise. I can’t stay here to help you. Please. You have to move on for yourself. Take Janette and go. This place isn’t for any of us.”
The zipper screeched as she yanked it closed. She wanted to screech, too, then collapse into sobbing.
Instead, she hefted her bags and left her room behind. Martin had a suite in the other wing, the one where Vivian and Laura kept their rooms. She could ask him to give her a ride into town. At least one hotel had to have a vacancy where Hanna could hide out until she could book a flight back to the States.
Vivian. Hanna’s heart squeezed.I don’t want to leave her. Not without saying goodbye. Tendering my resignation. After everything she’s done for me, leaving without a word would be a terrible way to repay her.All of it was, but Hanna hoped the older woman would understand why Hanna couldn’t stay.
This was a mistake. All of it was a mistake. I knew better than to get involved with Gregory. This is what happens when you skirt the rules and think you can get away with it. Never shit where you eat, they say, and this is why. You could still live as an extra in someone else’s fairytale if you hadn’t stepped out of your place in the story.
Now, she understood the real walk of shame. It paved a path from her room to the other end of the gorgeous corridor, to tell her lover’s grandmother that everything had fallen apart.
Or Hanna thought it did. Darlene stood in front of Vivian’s room, mouth twisted in a triumphant, unpleasant smirk. “Going somewhere?”
“Yes. To see Vivian,” Hanna said, and stepped forward to brush past Darlene.
Darlene didn’t move. Hanna’s arm brushed hers. A cold shock, like ice and static combined, jolted through Hanna. “No. I don’t think so, girl. The only place you are going is out of my house.”
“It isn’t your house! This is Vivian’s house! It’s Gregory’s house! You’re just a bitter, nasty old woman who doesn’t realize there is no backup plan! You can’t set your son aside because he’s inconvenient, then pick him up again later when you have nothing else!” Hanna didn’t realize she’d raised her voice until she heard her own words echo back from the walls.
A door creaked open up the hall. Martin stuck his head out the door. “Hanna? Are you all– Why do you have bags packed?”
“Marty. Please. I need a ride into town.” Talking to Martin gave Hanna a much-needed excuse to look away from Darlene’s smug face. “Don’t ask, all right? Not now. Please, can you help me?”
Martin regarded her for a long moment, brows furrowed and mouth turned down. “Let me get my shoes and my keys,” he said at last. The door clicked closed behind him.
