Something to Prove (28 page)
Read Something to Prove Online
Authors: Shannyn Schroeder
Running the bar might not be enough for her either. She knew she wanted more balance
in her life, so she could actually have a life, but she didn’t want to remove all
challenges. Once she figured out how to make the alley profitable, would running a
single business be enough?
in her life, so she could actually have a life, but she didn’t want to remove all
challenges. Once she figured out how to make the alley profitable, would running a
single business be enough?
She’d thought the only thing she wanted was to be CEO. Again, she was no longer sure.
No matter what thoughts entered her mind, she needed to do something. She grabbed
the box of glasses Colin had left in her office. Once in the hallway, she noticed
that the back door was open and she heard voices. Colin’s laugh echoed in the alley,
bouncing off garbage cans and probably carrying into the neighbors’ yards.
the box of glasses Colin had left in her office. Once in the hallway, she noticed
that the back door was open and she heard voices. Colin’s laugh echoed in the alley,
bouncing off garbage cans and probably carrying into the neighbors’ yards.
She took a step forward and opened her mouth to call him, but then she heard another
voice. Keith’s. A bubble of panic welled in her chest. She propelled her body toward
the door, wanting to stop them from talking, because she had no way to predict how
Colin would react to Keith. Colin extended his hand and she froze. She was too late,
so she just eavesdropped.
voice. Keith’s. A bubble of panic welled in her chest. She propelled her body toward
the door, wanting to stop them from talking, because she had no way to predict how
Colin would react to Keith. Colin extended his hand and she froze. She was too late,
so she just eavesdropped.
“Sounds good,” Colin said.
“Make sure she doesn’t find out.”
“You don’t have to worry. I don’t want to face that wrath.”
“She’d hold it against me, not you. You’re sure everything is handled?” Keith asked.
“Got it.”
Colin started to back up, and panic zinged through her whole body. She spun and lost
control of the box she carried. It sailed across the hall and bounced off the wall.
Glass clanked and jingled and then shattered. Luckily, the box was closed.
control of the box she carried. It sailed across the hall and bounced off the wall.
Glass clanked and jingled and then shattered. Luckily, the box was closed.
She knew Colin heard. How could he not?
“Are you okay? What happened?”
Her head spun with thoughts; emotions swirled in her chest. She cleared her throat.
“Oh, uh, nothing. I accidentally dropped the box of glasses. You really shouldn’t
have left them in my office.”
“Oh, uh, nothing. I accidentally dropped the box of glasses. You really shouldn’t
have left them in my office.”
Colin grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him. “Are you okay? Did you get
cut?”
cut?”
Concern filled his face, and she couldn’t reconcile that image with the idea that
he was just conspiring with her brother. “I’m fine. I hadn’t opened the box yet.”
he was just conspiring with her brother. “I’m fine. I hadn’t opened the box yet.”
One more thing to add to the trash. She couldn’t imagine what she wasn’t supposed
to find out about. It couldn’t possibly be anything good, though. Keith enjoyed back-alley
deals. Suddenly, her breath shortened. “Can you handle this? I need some air.”
to find out about. It couldn’t possibly be anything good, though. Keith enjoyed back-alley
deals. Suddenly, her breath shortened. “Can you handle this? I need some air.”
His fingers tightened on her shoulders. “What’s wrong? You don’t look so good.”
“Don’t worry. Elizabeth always gets upset when she’s clumsy,” Keith called from the
door behind Colin.
door behind Colin.
She peered around Colin’s shoulder and feigned surprise. “Keith? What are you doing
here?”
here?”
“I came to check out the progress.”
His smug smile rocketed her confused emotions straight into the pissed-off range.
She knew that look. The one that said he’d won. How dare he do this to her again?
She knew that look. The one that said he’d won. How dare he do this to her again?
She inhaled sharply and refused to let him know he’d gotten to her. “Well, I’m sure
Colin can handle showing you around. I have some things to do. I’ll be back later.”
Colin can handle showing you around. I have some things to do. I’ll be back later.”
Elizabeth walked slowly past both men and grabbed her purse from the office. Then
she went out the back door where she’d overheard them cementing their deal. Her movements
were stiff and awkward.
she went out the back door where she’d overheard them cementing their deal. Her movements
were stiff and awkward.
The stagnant heat inside her car pressed against her and breathing became difficult.
She started the engine and pulled away from the bar. She drove without a destination
in mind. She just knew she needed to get away from Colin and Keith.
She started the engine and pulled away from the bar. She drove without a destination
in mind. She just knew she needed to get away from Colin and Keith.
Seeing them shake hands was like reliving everything with Matt. Sadness burned her
throat and choked her, so she pulled over in the lot of a convenience store. Tears
poured down her face. She cried until she shuddered and hiccupped, then dried her
face.
throat and choked her, so she pulled over in the lot of a convenience store. Tears
poured down her face. She cried until she shuddered and hiccupped, then dried her
face.
This was not the same. Even if Keith had decided to employ the same tactics he had
when she was in college, she was no longer that naïve, trusting person.
when she was in college, she was no longer that naïve, trusting person.
But you are,
a little voice in her head called. True, she had mostly trusted Colin, but she’d
learned her lesson with Matt. She and Colin were business partners first and foremost.
She had a contract that would protect her assets.
a little voice in her head called. True, she had mostly trusted Colin, but she’d
learned her lesson with Matt. She and Colin were business partners first and foremost.
She had a contract that would protect her assets.
Her heart was a different matter, however. But she’d overcome those issues. She had
before.
before.
She scrubbed her hands over her face and headed back to her hotel. After freshening
up to remove the evidence of her crying jag, she put on a business suit. Then she
tried to catalog what she’d left at Colin’s apartment because there would definitely
be no more sleepovers.
up to remove the evidence of her crying jag, she put on a business suit. Then she
tried to catalog what she’d left at Colin’s apartment because there would definitely
be no more sleepovers.
Her stomach did a little flip. She would miss the sleepovers. Being with Colin had
taught her what relaxation really felt like. Just because she would no longer be getting
regular orgasms from him didn’t mean that she couldn’t still relax. She could learn
to let go of the stress and anxiety from work. At least that’s what she wanted to
believe.
taught her what relaxation really felt like. Just because she would no longer be getting
regular orgasms from him didn’t mean that she couldn’t still relax. She could learn
to let go of the stress and anxiety from work. At least that’s what she wanted to
believe.
She shook her head. She needed to focus on the problem at hand—beating Keith at his
own game. If only she could figure out how he planned to sabotage her, she could get
out in front of it.
own game. If only she could figure out how he planned to sabotage her, she could get
out in front of it.
A chilling thought speared through her. What if the sabotage had already started?
Everything that had gone wrong so far—the missing liquor, the disgusting bathroom
episode, the break-in—had all occurred on Colin’s watch. Keith could’ve put him up
to it.
Everything that had gone wrong so far—the missing liquor, the disgusting bathroom
episode, the break-in—had all occurred on Colin’s watch. Keith could’ve put him up
to it.
And then he let her feel guilty for the break-in because she hadn’t changed the locks
on the bowling alley. All the while comforting her and making love to her.
on the bowling alley. All the while comforting her and making love to her.
Her heart beat so fast it felt like it might burst. Colin had never struck her as
phony. He never put up a façade to be different. Looking back on what had happened
with Matt, she saw the signs, the little things she should’ve been suspicious of,
but convinced herself not to be.
phony. He never put up a façade to be different. Looking back on what had happened
with Matt, she saw the signs, the little things she should’ve been suspicious of,
but convinced herself not to be.
She sat and thought about every moment with Colin and came up empty. But the doubt
took hold so tight it strangled her. What if Colin was just better at deception than
Matt?
took hold so tight it strangled her. What if Colin was just better at deception than
Matt?
Maybe he played the game too well. Colin had taken care of her when she’d gotten sick,
brought her to his family, allowed her to make friends with his sister. What about
Moira? Was she in on this too?
brought her to his family, allowed her to make friends with his sister. What about
Moira? Was she in on this too?
No, Moira wasn’t that sneaky. Elizabeth briefly wondered how Moira would react if
she knew what her brother had been up to. She’d love to see some of that Irish temper
unleashed on Colin. She’d record it and it would be an instant YouTube sensation.
she knew what her brother had been up to. She’d love to see some of that Irish temper
unleashed on Colin. She’d record it and it would be an instant YouTube sensation.
Knowing that there was nothing to be done this minute, she readied to go back to the
bar to face the enemy. Keith, she could fool. Unfortunately, Colin had gotten very
good at reading her, and she wasn’t sure how she’d pull that off. If they suspected
she was onto them, they might rush things before she could get the upper hand.
bar to face the enemy. Keith, she could fool. Unfortunately, Colin had gotten very
good at reading her, and she wasn’t sure how she’d pull that off. If they suspected
she was onto them, they might rush things before she could get the upper hand.
She still had time. Dad wasn’t coming for days. She’d play their game and figure out
her next move.
her next move.
When Elizabeth returned to the bar, she still didn’t have a plan. She knew Mike was
scheduled to work, which would make her night easier. She still wasn’t sure how to
hide her newfound knowledge from Colin.
scheduled to work, which would make her night easier. She still wasn’t sure how to
hide her newfound knowledge from Colin.
Entering the building, she kept her head high and her path focused.
Make it to the office.
En route, she made the mistake of glancing at the bar. Colin stared like he was dissecting
her. She gave him a single nod and continued on her way.
Make it to the office.
En route, she made the mistake of glancing at the bar. Colin stared like he was dissecting
her. She gave him a single nod and continued on her way.
Once she was safely behind her desk, she relaxed a fraction. She needed to get rid
of Colin. Her office door swung open without notice and Colin strode in.
of Colin. Her office door swung open without notice and Colin strode in.
“What’s with the suit?”
“What do you mean?”
“You haven’t dressed like that in weeks.”
Just one more mistake she’d made. Taking off her suit made her forget who she was.
“Did you need something?” she asked as a way of brushing aside his question.
“Mike’s here, so I’m going to check in at O’Leary’s. I’ll be back later tonight.”
“Don’t bother,” she snapped before she caught herself. “I mean, take the night off.
I’ll close with Mike.”
I’ll close with Mike.”
“You sure?”
She nodded and hoped he wouldn’t come closer.
“See you later then. I’ll be well rested.” He closed the door behind him.
He’d get plenty of rest since he had no shot of seeing her tonight or any other night.
Elizabeth had no idea how Keith managed to live like this. For two days, she’d avoided
Colin as much as humanly possible and it had been sheer torture. Every morning she
dressed in a power suit, resolved to look at him like any other employee, to keep
her distance.
Colin as much as humanly possible and it had been sheer torture. Every morning she
dressed in a power suit, resolved to look at him like any other employee, to keep
her distance.
But he chipped away at that resolve with a grin and a wink. She clung to the image
of him making a pact with Keith so his charm wouldn’t melt her. She’d never been faced
with such a challenge.
of him making a pact with Keith so his charm wouldn’t melt her. She’d never been faced
with such a challenge.
She sat in her car, staring at the ugly-ass building, shoring up her defenses. Keith
left town again with a promise that he’d be back for her birthday. Neither he nor
Colin mentioned anything about their time together. Surely, if everything was on the
up-and-up, they would’ve said something, offered a report, or even a comment in passing.
left town again with a promise that he’d be back for her birthday. Neither he nor
Colin mentioned anything about their time together. Surely, if everything was on the
up-and-up, they would’ve said something, offered a report, or even a comment in passing.
But they were both tight-lipped, which was truly uncharacteristic for Colin.
Her heart was ripping in two. She wanted to believe in Colin. There was ample evidence
to support his feelings as genuine.
to support his feelings as genuine.
But reality, her reality, had taught her that appearances could rarely be trusted.
Feeling sure of herself, or at least as sure as possible at the moment, she opened
her car door to go to work. Her phone rang and she hesitated. Dad. If she spoke to
him now, she might lose the strength she’d just built up, but it was usually better
to get it over with. “Hi, Dad.”
her car door to go to work. Her phone rang and she hesitated. Dad. If she spoke to
him now, she might lose the strength she’d just built up, but it was usually better
to get it over with. “Hi, Dad.”
“Hi, sweetie, how are things?”
Weird. Dad never led a conversation with pleasantries. “I’m good. How are you?”
“Good, good.”
Oh, no. He was repeating himself. He almost never did that, but when he did, it wasn’t
good. She leaned against the car, the afternoon sun beating down on her, blazing a
path across her cheek. “What’s up, Dad?”
good. She leaned against the car, the afternoon sun beating down on her, blazing a
path across her cheek. “What’s up, Dad?”
“Well, I’ve been talking with your mother, and she really wants me to retire this
year.”
year.”
No, no, no. He couldn’t make this decision now. Not after putting it off for a couple
of years. Not now that she’d put in all this work.
of years. Not now that she’d put in all this work.
She swallowed hard. “I know. She mentions it every time we talk. She’s under the misconception
that I hold some sway over your decision.”
that I hold some sway over your decision.”
“She’s issued an ultimatum this time. She’s planning a cruise around the world, with
or without me.” He let out a chuckle as if he couldn’t believe Mom would go without
him.
or without me.” He let out a chuckle as if he couldn’t believe Mom would go without
him.
Elizabeth had no problem believing it.
“What does this mean for us? I’m assuming you’re going with her, right?” Elizabeth
turned the other cheek to the sun. If she was going to burn, she might as well make
it even.
turned the other cheek to the sun. If she was going to burn, she might as well make
it even.
“We bought tickets for January. I’ve already let Keith know.”
Of course Keith was informed first.
“I’ll start transitioning power at the end of the summer.”
So she still had a chance.
“We’ll talk more when I get to Chicago. I just wanted you to know.”
Really he just needed to tell himself he wasn’t playing favorites. “Okay. Thanks.
See you soon.”
See you soon.”
She disconnected. At least her strength hadn’t been sapped by the conversation. She
had even more of an incentive to show her dad how well things were going, and neither
Colin nor Keith was going to take this from her.
had even more of an incentive to show her dad how well things were going, and neither
Colin nor Keith was going to take this from her.
Colin was a mess. He’d spent a day planning with Keith under the guise of showing
him the business. He didn’t see the competitiveness in him that Elizabeth claimed
was there. The man seemed to care about his little sister. He wanted what was best
for her, but even Colin could recognize that there was something else neither of them
talked about.
him the business. He didn’t see the competitiveness in him that Elizabeth claimed
was there. The man seemed to care about his little sister. He wanted what was best
for her, but even Colin could recognize that there was something else neither of them
talked about.
Call it his bartender’s intuition. Keith and Elizabeth carried some deep secret, and
it weighed on their relationship.
it weighed on their relationship.
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