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Finn tosses his head back and laughs. “Why would my father, the man who helped create the most prestigious fashion label in the world, sabotage his own company?”
“He wanted to get rid of me and asked Bianca for help.”
Scrubbing a hand over his face, Finn says, “I’m so drunk and confused right now. If you think he’d fuck up his company just because you left me years ago, you’re wrong. He might not like that we’re together, but he wouldn’t destroy our reputation.”
I pick at my fingernails. “That’s not why.”
Finn runs his fingers through his hair, messing it up more. “Then why?”
“It’s because of something he did to your mother while she lay dying in the hospital. I only found out about it when I threatened to leave Derek. Along with threatening your company, he told me if I left him, he’d tell you, Hayden, and Lucas what your father had done. You and your brothers worshipped him and had already lost your mother. I didn’t want to hurt you even more.”
Finn grows still, suddenly looking sober. “What did he do?”
Drawing a deep breath, I say, “Marco was having an affair. The night the hospital called the family to say their goodbyes, he never made it. He’d gotten the call—or so Derek said—and stayed with his mistress. Derek had pictures taken from cameras in the hotel room Marco was staying at with timestamps.”
Finn’s face grows dark and dangerous. “You’re lying.”
“It’s the truth. I wanted to tell you when we got back together, was going to after the charity event, but Marco collapsed and…well, you got the photo. Before he collapsed, I confronted him. Told him I wanted to tell you. He got mad and threatened me. That’s what that photo is about.”
“You’re lying!” he says again with a clenched jaw. He paces the small room.
Why won’t Finn believe me? The answer comes quickly. He doesn’t trust me. Never did. I give it one more try. “Why would I lie?”
Finn crosses his arms over his chest. “Where did Derek say my father was on the night of my mother’s death?”
I twist my hands together. “At his casino in Atlantic City. Apparently, unbeknownst to his guests, he put cameras in the rooms his big spenders stayed in. They were the people he wanted to blackmail one day.”
Jabbing a finger at me, he spits, “Lie! My father was rushing back from London to get to her. He worshiped the ground she walked on. Showered her with love. This is bullshit. You’ve dug yourself into a deep hole, and you’re trying to climb out of it. I’ve seen your true colors. I won’t fall for your games again.”
My heart sinks to my stomach. There’s nothing more I can say to make him see the truth. Except…there’s something I can show him. No one wants to see photos of their parents during their most private times—especially with another woman. But it’s all I have left to convince Finn I’m not lying.
“I have proof,” I say. “Derek gave me the photos.”
“I wouldn’t trust anything coming from Derek…or you.”
Shards of glass cut through my heart. No matter what I say, Finn will never believe me. I’ve lost him forever.
We stand staring at each other. I have no words left. There’s nothing more I can say. He looks at me with a blank expression. Love isn’t shining from his eyes anymore.
Tears clog my throat. Turning my back, I whisper, “Just go.” I can’t take a moment more of him looking at me like I’m shit under his shoe.
The sound of the door closing tells me he’s left. I sink into the nearest chair, prop my elbows onto my knees, and drop my face in my hands. Silent tears rattle my chest. It feels like I’m being ripped apart. My body aches from head to toe.
After a few minutes, I get to my feet, push my hair back from my face, and swipe the tears from my cheeks. I can’t hide in the breakroom all night. My heart is broken, and I can barely breathe, but I have work to do. It’s that or fall apart.
When I go back to the bar, I don’t expect Finn to still be here. But I find him sitting at the end of the counter, his shoulders slumped, staring into the glass of amber liquid in his hands. He doesn’t look up and acknowledge me, nor does he watch the performance on stage. I hate how dejected he looks. I hate that I’m the cause. If only I’d spoken up sooner, maybe none of this would be happening.
While I work the rest of my shift, Finn stays like he’s done every other shift. Except this time, he doesn’t see me home.
Chapter Forty-One
FINN
Atmydesk,Icradle my throbbing head in my hands. It’s like a hammer is pounding against my skull. The lights pierce my eyes, my mouth is dry with a bitter taste, and my stomach is churning, threatening to spill. Yet after all the alcohol I consumed, I still remember every fucked-up detail at The Temple. I’ve come into the office to finalize things before I leave for London, but I can’t focus on anything except Harper. How gorgeous she looked. What she said. The broken expression on her face when I left her at the doorway of the club after her shift.
The door swings open and Hayden and Lucas saunter in, taking seats opposite me.
“You look like shit,” Lucas points out.
