The bet, p.22
The Bet, page 22
I was so glad Sloane had told me. I would never have found out otherwise. I was going to go and see her after I finished here.
Eli got close to you to 'learn' from you.
Why had I never considered that possibility? He'd acted so crazy about me that I'd thought he was truly in love with me. I'd pushed him for a commitment, telling him I'd divorce my husband for him if he would commit to marrying me. I hadn't seen our break-up coming. It had completely thrown me.
I was such a fool.
When it became clear that Eli wasn't going to open the gates I got back into my car and parked across the road. The road was a narrow country lane that motorists tended to cruise down at high speed, so I just hoped my car would be safe. I walked over to the gates and began to climb. I wished I was wearing pants. It would have been much easier to climb if I was. I was flashing my panties in this skirt. Eli was probably watching on his CCTV cameras and laughing heartily.
Thankfully, I was wearing flats, and there were lots of nooks and crannies in the gates to use as handholds and footholds.
On the other side, I descended slowly, and then jumped down once I was only a few feet away from the ground.
I ran to the house fighting tears, thinking about how foolish I had been. I'd been so flattered when Eli began to show interest in me. It had gone straight to my head. All of a sudden, I no longer cared about working through Kurt's issues with him or praying for him. He could get lost. Eli Aaronson was interested in me.
I stopped at the front door. How many times had I been here with him? Meeting him secretly. Making out. Sleeping with him behind Kurt's back. He'd sucked me in completely, turning my head with his wealth, refinement, and lavish lifestyle. And all along he'd been using me.
I remembered all the times he'd asked me about my business. Despite being completely taken in by him, I hadn't told him a single thing he could use to compete against me. I'd known he was trying to break into the beauty industry, so I'd been very careful not to let anything slip about upcoming products—although I had given him lots of tips on how to thrive in the beauty industry.
"You snake," I hissed ringing the bell.
I was going to break a window if he didn't open up. It would get us back on the front pages, but I didn't care.
I saw a shadow move on the other side. Good. Someone was coming. I expected it to be one of his housekeeping staff, so I was completely taken aback when the door opened to reveal Eli himself.
The first thing that struck me was how terrible he looked. During our affair, I'd been deeply in lust with him. I couldn't get enough. Now, he just looked slimy to me. I wouldn't touch him with a ten-foot pole.
"Lottie," he said, smiling. "Do come in."
I glared at his back when he turned and headed into the house. Didn't he know never to turn his back on an enemy? A woman scorned was the worst kind of enemy. The way I was feeling right now, I could break one of the fancy oriental vases lining his hallway over his head. I noticed the limp, and for the first time, I was almost glad at what Kurt had done. Eli deserved it.
I shut the front door and followed him into the drawing room. The house was still so familiar to me. I'd spent nights here with him, while my husband thought I was away on business trips. I'd left work early many times to spend afternoons here with him. I'd sometimes come first thing in the morning and spent the whole day.
"Please sit," Eli told me. "What can I offer you—"
"Were you just using me?"
Eli smiled. He lowered himself onto the sofa. "You were using me, too."
"I wasn't. I…cared about you." I exhaled, glad I'd caught myself before telling him I'd loved him. I'd told him while we were together. I wasn't going to repeat that now and let him think I was still pining for him.
"You didn't, Lottie."
I sat down. Did he really think that? "So what was I using you for?"
"You were using me to give you the thrills you've stopped feeling with your husband."
That wasn't 'using'. That was the process of falling in love.
"We were both using each other," Eli said firmly. "The arrangement worked well for both of us, and served both our interests."
The shrill of a cell phone sounded.
Eli dug his phone out of his pocket. He glanced at me. "I have to take this."
I nodded.
"Hello, Becky."
I frowned at how soft his voice had become. That was the tone he used to use for me. He used to say, 'Hello Charlie' and I used to like how deep his voice had become and the way my name rolled off his tongue.
"I could be doing better," he said softly.
He's talking to another woman in front of me. Okay, I wasn't his wife. I wasn't even his secret lover anymore. But couldn't he have some respect?
"Becky, can I call you back in a few minutes?" He paused. "Give me just a few minutes."
I stood up when he lowered the cell phone from his ear. "Tell me this," I said. "Were you behind my product leak?"
He said nothing.
"What did you gain from that, Eli? I lost millions of dollars. What did you gain from doing that to me?"
Eli looked at me for a moment. Then he had the audacity to smile. "I didn't do it to spite you, Charlie—"
"Don't call me that!" I snapped. "It's 'Charlotte' or 'Lottie'."
Eli looked unmoved. "Marshal has gotten it into his head that he wants to marry Sloane. I decided I had better sink any chance of that ever happening."
I frowned. His son, Marshal? Sloane and Marshal?
"You didn't know?" Eli asked.
"Of course I know," I lied. "Sloane has told me all about it."
"Ah, so that's why you're here," Eli said. "You're angry about what happened. Well, had I not persuaded your daughter to have an abortion, she would never have been able to become Miss USA, so I'm sure she's glad we had that chat."
Sloane had had an abortion? Eli had persuaded her to have it? That meant Marshal had been the father.
My head went light.
When had all this happened? When had Sloane gotten pregnant? Why hadn't she told me?
"Don't worry," Eli said. "Sloane can rest assured that I won't leak information of her pregnancy and abortion to the press. Imagine the negative publicity. Imagine how she'd feel if she was stripped of her Miss USA crown. Imagine—"
I cursed.
Eli looked surprised. "Lottie," he drawled. "You always were such a tiger. I actually miss you sometimes."
Before I knew what was happening, I'd leapt across the room and slapped him hard across the face.
Next thing, three of the housekeeping staff were upon me, dragging me away from Eli as I yelled and cursed.
I was dragged out of the room and down the corridor. One of the staff opened the front door and I was unceremoniously thrown out.
I looked around the porch. There were potted plants here and there. I picked one up. It was heavy and pretty solid. I threw it at one of the windows with all my might. The window shattered with a satisfying crash.
This is not the answer, I told myself as I picked up another potted plant. But maybe just one more window. I threw it at another window. That smashed too.
Angry didn't even begin to describe how I felt. Hurt? Ashamed? Too mild.
I turned and headed towards the gates. I was going straight to see Sloane. I had completely failed her.
I have failed as a mother.
I ruined my family for nothing.
I should have loved Kurt despite him not being a Christian. I should have been content with what I had. All that glittered wasn't gold. The grass had looked so much greener with Eli, since he was more in my 'class' while Kurt was like a ball and chain sometimes because he wasn't as ambitious as I was. That was what had led to Kurt's bitterness over my success. It wasn't the success in itself but my attitude about it.
And Kurt dealt with it the only way he knew how: With his fists.
I wasn't excusing him, but I was no longer excusing myself either.
I should either have made Kurt get help, or left him, not have an affair.
I felt hot all over. My head was spinning.
The affair had caused so much heartache to all parties involved. I was hurting and ashamed. My reputation had been completely destroyed. Kurt had become murderous and suicidal and was going to jail for ten years. Sloane hated me and was battling with guilt and depression. Sadie, despite forgiving me, was hurting too. Eli had a limp.
By the time I reached the gates, the very thought of having to climb over them made me want to cry. I had no strength left in me.
Thankfully, they began to slide open as I approached. I laughed shortly. Eli and his housekeeping staff obviously didn't want to give me any excuses to return and start breaking more things.
I walked through the gates. I need to speak to Sloane. Right now. God, please let her open the door to me.
I stepped onto the road.
A car horn blared, and then something slammed into me.
I was flung into the air. Every one of my nerves screamed with pain when I landed.
Oh, God, I've been hit.
Please don't let me die.
Chapter 30: Marshal
I still didn't want to drive the car my dad had sent me, so it took me forever to get to my dad's house. I was just across the road from the house when I saw the gates open. Lottie Golding walked out.
I was shocked. I thought their affair was over after all that had happened. There was no way they would reconcile now. Would they? They couldn't be that hardened.
I was about to cross the road, but a car was coming so I waited. Across the road, Lottie didn't seem to have noticed me yet. She stepped onto the road.
My heart skipped a beat. I yelled at her to look out but it was too late. The car hit her. I ran over. I was about to pick her up when I remembered that you weren't supposed to do that.
I was shocked when the car that had hit her sped away. I tried to see the license plate, but couldn't. The car was moving too fast for me to read it. I hoped my dad's security cameras had picked it up.
I placed Lottie in the recovery position and then took out my cell phone and called an ambulance. Blood was seeping through her blouse. I told the emergency services that she was losing a lot of blood. Fear gripped me. She was so limp. She could already be dead. I gave the emergency services my dad's address and prayed they would get here soon.
Lottie made a gurgling sound. Blood trickled from her mouth onto the road. Another car was coming. I jumped to my feet and waved for it to slow down.
The car slowed and then passed by Lottie carefully. I crouched down beside her and felt her wrists for a pulse. I had plenty of experience in doing that because of Christy.
It was there but very faint, and the beat was weak and irregular rather than strong and steady. "Please, hang on."
"Marshal?" Lottie whispered. More blood poured from her mouth.
"Yes?"
"Call Sloane."
I called her immediately. Then I realized she wouldn't answer. She hadn't replied to my text this afternoon. She could even still be on her way home from the TV studio and might not have her phone with her.
"God, let her answer the phone," I groaned.
"Hello."
"Sloane!" Relief hit me so hard tears filled my eyes. "Your mom has just been hit by a car and things aren't looking good. She wants to speak to you."
I placed the phone on loudspeaker and then held it by Lottie's mouth.
"Sloane?" Lottie said weakly.
"Mom?"
"I love you, Sloane. I love you. And…" She coughed, and blood sprayed from her mouth. "…I'm sorry for everything. I love you and I'm sorry."
I clutched Lottie's hand, teary-eyed.
"Mom?" Sloane asked. Her voice wobbled. "Are you okay?"
I closed my eyes briefly. No 'I love you' in return?
"No," Lottie said. "I'm sorry for everything. Please tell Sadie I love her. And tell your dad I'm sorry."
Lottie's eyes fluttered shut and I touched her shoulder. "Lottie?"
Please don't die.
I couldn't have her die on my hands. I was a stranger to her. A person should have their family around when they were dying. Sloane and Sadie should be here.
"Marshal?" came Sloane's voice from my phone.
"Hey."
"Have you called an ambulance?"
"Yes."
"Ask them to take her to Imperial Private Hospital. I'll meet you there."
"Okay." I hung up. I could hear sirens in the distance. "Help is almost here," I told Lottie.
Her eyes were closed. "Oh, God, I forgive Eli," she whispered.
I took her hand and squeezed it lightly.
"And I forgive Kurt." There was a gurgling sound as she took in a wheezy breath. "I'm sorry for every bad decision and wrong choice I've made."
I felt like an intruder, listening to her dying words. But maybe there was a reason God had ensured I would be here with her.
"I want to pray," she whispered. "And…make my ways…right."
Ah. Maybe that was the reason. I remembered how Aunt Shay had led me to Jesus almost word for word. I led Lottie in the same prayer. She repeated the words after me. Her voice was so weak, I knew she didn't have much time left.
We'd just finished praying when the ambulance screeched to a halt beside us.
Lottie was lifted inside. I begged to go with her and held her hand as they treated her.
The beeping from the monitors they hooked her up to wasn't encouraging.
I felt the faintest of pressure from her on my hand as we neared the hospital. Her eyes fluttered open.
I leaned down to catch anything she might want to say.
"I wrote some letters for Sloane," she whispered. "They're on my laptop. Some of them she should receive during Miss World."
"I'll see that she gets them," I promised. "Save your strength, Lottie."
She closed her eyes. Her head slumped to the side. Her grip on my hand loosened.
As I straightened, I was blinded with tears. I was so glad I'd been there when she was hit. So glad I'd chosen that time to visit my dad.
A moment later, the monitor made a high pitched sound and the line on the screen went flat.
◦◦◦◦◦
Sloane, Sadie and Jayden were waiting at the hospital when we arrived. The doctor on call checked for vital signs and shook his head sadly.
Sloane and Sadie completely fell apart when they saw Lottie and the news was broken to them. Jayden held Sadie. I didn't know if Sloane would want me to hold her.
"Can we go someplace more private?" I asked the girls. The last thing I wanted was some opportunist journalist getting a picture of this. Not that I was paranoid or anything, but the reality was journalists would love to get pictures of this private moment.
Sadie pushed Jayden away and grabbed Sloane. They walked into the hospital after the gurney that carried their mom's body.
Jayden and I followed behind them.
Lottie was taken to a hospital room so the girls could say good-bye to her. The nurses told Sloane and Sadie to take as much time as they wanted. I was surprised when Sloane and Sadie allowed Jayden and me to enter the room with them.
Sloane was crying like she would never stop. I knew her well enough to take a guess at what was going through her mind. She would be wracked with regrets and guilt.
With her dad in jail, she must also be feeling overwhelmed at having to handle this without him. She and Sadie would have to make all the funeral arrangements. They had a lot of decisions to make.
Jayden took Sadie out of the room after about an hour, saying he wanted her to take a walk and get some fresh air.
Sloane remained by her mom's bedside, still crying.
As soon as Jayden and Sadie were out of the room, she looked over at me.
I didn't know what to say, so I said nothing.
"Thank you for being here," she whispered.
I just nodded.
"It was me," she said hoarsely. "I sent the anonymous note about the affair that led to all this."
"I know," I replied. "But none of this is your fault."
She nodded, gazing at me desperately from across the room as though she really wanted to believe that but couldn't. She had a white-knuckled grip on Lottie's lifeless hand as though letting go would make her death real.
"Would a hug help?" I asked.
"Yes."
I crossed the room and hugged her tightly. She sobbed into my chest, still clinging to her mom's hand.
I decided I would be there for her only if she wanted me to. If she wanted me to stay away I would. I didn't want to be added pressure for her.
Whatever she wanted from me, I would give.
Epilogue: Sloane
I wrote down Mom's last words to me as soon as I got home that day, so I could preserve them forever. I love you. I'm sorry, and I love you. I read them daily.
A few days after Mom's death, I read some letters that Marshal retrieved from her laptop. He said she'd told him to make sure I received them.
I read about how Mom had been planning to confess her affair to Dad after she filed for divorce. That made me feel a little better about the situation—it meant everything that had happened might have happened anyway even if I hadn't sent the anonymous note—but not much.
I read about how Mom had been hard on me only because she saw a lot of herself in me. She didn't want me to make the same mistakes she'd made, including choosing an unsuitable husband.
I wished we'd had a conversation about everything before she'd died, but I was grateful for the letters. They went some way toward providing closure about the situation.
Sadie and I planned a funeral fit for a queen. Many of our mom's celebrity friends attended and gave moving eulogies in her honor. She would be missed by her fans, forever revered by peers, but it was me, Sadie, and yes our father, who would feel the void of her loss the deepest. It would stay with us forever.
