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Grace’s voice cuts in. “If I’ve learned anything through my own experiences, it’s that women deserve the chance to find a man. I mean, what does money matter if a man has secrets, or fetishes, or God forbid, a criminal background? Or if he cheats. Women deserve to know this ahead of time, and that’s what we do.”
The voice-over continues. “Listen tonight to find out what she learned about the James family and how her interaction with them led her to literally switch sides and represent only women.”
“I’m excited for this new chapter in my business and in my life,” Grace says. “After my divorce, when I was finally single and coming out of an unhappy marriage, well, let’s just say I’ve learned how easy it is for a man to hide things. Hopefully, I’ll be able to use my experience to spot the liars.”
“Send the next text,” I demand.
Vanessa types out the message containing the link to a gossip article suggesting that one of the James brothers has an illegitimate child. It promises to disclose the identity of Chase’s mom and bring to light Cash James’s affair with a married woman.
Payback is a fucking bitch named Vanessa, and I’m the one pulling the strings.
Cat will remain unscathed, and our daughter will remain hidden. But I know what she’ll do to protect her brothers. All I have to do is wait by the phone.
36
BREATHE BY ANNA NALICK
Cat
I’ve spent the past twenty-four hours hiding in my apartment. I can’t even face Sophie. After Jay stormed off yesterday, I somehow managed to go to the bathroom and make myself presentable so I could say goodbye to Chloe without drawing any attention.
I don’t even blame him. I should call him. I should do something,anything, but sit here feeling sorry for myself,but I’m too lost to formulate a plan.
We were so close to having it all.
My mind can’t help but replay every moment Jay and I shared over the last few months. I’m seeing everything through new eyes. The lengths he went to in order to win me back. The songs, the waffles, the sex club, buying the fucking magazine. The way he looked at me, like it physically hurt not to press closer to me.
I stopped trusting myself years ago when it came to his actions, interpreting his thoughts, believing his words, and so I didn’t recognize the truth, which was plain as day for everyone else to see. It wasn’t a game to him. Jay showed his love through actions. He always has.
God, what have I done?
To top it all off, Carter confirmed that Cash has moved Grace into the penthouse. It shouldn’t bother me. Jay told me she meant nothing to him all those years ago.Meansnothing to him now.
That should be the least of my worries after the way Jay stumbled upon Chloe and then stormed out.
And it would be, if not for the text message that just popped up on my phone.
Vanessa: Your brother really should vet the women he dates first. But I guess it’s no surprise. Like father, like son.
What the hell does that mean? None of my brothers are anything like my father. Every one of us loathes that man.
A link pops up in the text thread. It’s a video clip of Grace and Vanessa sitting on a couch. They’re angled toward one another, interview style. The link is from Channel eight, the station Vanessa works for. My stomach drops.
Please God, do not let them know about Chloe.
I reread the text and watch the video. Then I click back to the article she sent after it. My mind spins. Once I’ve scanned it a second time, I dial Frank. I need him to bring me to Cash immediately.
It’s no secret I’ve never liked Grace, but this goes beyond anything I imagined she could do. And my idiot of a brother told her all our family secrets? Not to mention the pregnancy. How is Cash stupid enough to get her pregnant?
But part of me can’t help but sag in relief at the knowledge that Chloe’s parentage hasn’t been revealed. Not that I’m surprised. Cash doesn’t know she’s mine, so he couldn’t have told that media-hungry whore about her.
My next call is to Cynthia. She needs to know so she can keep Chloe out of town until I figure out how to deal with this.
“I saw,” she says in a low voice without saying hello.
“I can’t believe this,” I hiss.
Frank is studying me in the rear-view mirror. He doesn’t know what I’ve seen. I don’t want him to give Cash a heads-up. No, I want to see my brother’s face when I show him this.
