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"I'm saying that Matthias loves you so much, he doesn't know what to do with himself. I'm saying that he's hurting, not from anything you've done, but because he hurt you. I'm saying that for the part I played in that, I'm sorry. And so much has happened between us that I don't know if we can ever be friends again. But that I hope we can. Because if my brother had to choose between you and me. I know who he'd choose. He loves you. He's always going to love you. And he fucked up, but haven't we all?"
He gives me a look that takes me back eight months. Sitting there with him at a Sydney rooftop restaurant, about to make the biggest mistake of my life.
It's been a long time getting here, but even Damien doesn't see me as the same person anymore. And I don't know if I could've gotten here without Matthias. In the time we were together, he did nothing but make me feel like I could do anything. I miss that.
"I have anxiety attacks," I blurt out. "I've always had them, but they get worse when... when I left Sydney. And I had a really bad one before Matthias was supposed to come to Australia. That's the only reason he took me. I didn't want to ambush your wedding."
He sighs, tugging at a napkin. "Did you have them when we were together?"
I nod. "But nobody knew."
"I’m sorry you couldn't tell me. I was a bad friend." Damien slides off the bar stool and tucks his hands into his pockets. "He didn't tell me why he wanted you to come to Australia. He just told me that he couldn't leave you. And that's when I knew that what you two have… it's real. Don't waste it, Clarissa."
And for a moment, we stand there, old friends, wanting the best for each other.
"Thank you, Damien. And... I need to say something. I should've said a long time ago."
He smiles and stops me to say, "I'm sorry too." He takes one last look around the club. "And I'm proud of you, Clarissa. You're going to do amazing things."
And when he leaves, for the first time in a long time, I wonder if there's a chance for Matthias and me after all.
Chapter 53
Matthias
PatrickLinzerfaceschargesof multiple counts of sexual assault. Investigators say they have been combing through an anonymous report containing evidence of years of Linzer's treatment of sex workers and women he met on dating apps. He's currently in custody and bail has been denied. This follows weeks of reports that Linzer's firm is leaking funds after a mass exodus of his highest ticket clients. Stay tuned for updates.
I press the button on the remote and the TV fades to black.
"Well, I guess that's that," I say to Dmitrik over the phone. "Job well done."
"What's next?"
"The same thing we've been working on for years. Clock's ticking. We have six months left."
"I'm on it," Dmitrik answers, hanging up the phone.
Hannah comes in, her face worried. Which is a rare sight.
"Your uncle just called. He's called an emergency board meeting. They're meeting in an hour; your brothers have all been informed."
I'd expected this. After Terry Masters's resignation two days ago, I've been waiting for Gerry to make his next move. The board is split, half in our camp, half firmly in Gerry's camp.
It's going to be a dog fight. And Gerry fights dirty.
"Call Paula. I need to see her five minutes ago," I say, sitting up in my chair.
The corners of Hannah's mouth twitch. She knows,she knows, I don't give up without a fight either.
***
Half an hour later, Paula is standing at a podium in the lobby of the Baxter Tower, reporters surrounding her. "Guys, we're going to start in just one minute, okay?"
She turns to me. "You sure you don't want me to look over your statements?"
"Paula, they would require that I have written some down." I grin. The look on her face is priceless, and I only hope that the bonus she gets when this is over will help her pay for the Botox from all the wrinkles I've given her this year. "I'm ready."
She nods, and speaks into the microphone. "In light of the recent allegations about Mr. Matthias Baxter's personal life, it is only fair that he gets a chance to respond. Please hold for questions until he is finished." She steps off and gives my arm a tight squeeze.
