"Are you going to turn her in?" I ask, knowing it's the right thing to do.
"No. Ainsley's wiped all traces of the emails and payments. But you should know that if she tries it again, we won't be riding to her rescue."
"Thank you, Reina. She won't have the opportunity to try it again. As of today, she'll have no access to any electronics, TV included."
"What? No? You can't do that, Dad."
"I can, and I will. Can you recommend a good set of bodyguards?" I ask Reina.
"Yes, but I don't think she'll need protection."
"They're not to protect her. I need people here who will make sure she doesn't touch a phone, computer, gaming system, nothing."
"Daddy, please."
"Shut. Up. Jeanne."
"I'll get you a list, Blake. Good luck. You're going to need it. Is everyone ready to go?"
"I need to grab my suitcase from upstairs," Audrey says and I look at her in shock.
"I thought you were going to stay. You said you had a week off coming after this."
"Things have changed."
She looks pointedly at Jeanne, but I shake my head. "Not with us they haven't."
Audrey
"We can talk while I grab my stuff. Will you guys keep an eye on Jeanne for a few minutes?"
"Take whatever time you need, Aud," Darcy says, looking at me with knowing eyes.
She had to give up the man she loved for noble reasons once. Yes, it was technically his choice, and not hers, but she knows that it hurts like a motherfucker. I have no choice in this situation, I have to do what's right.
I practically run up the stairs and into his bedroom, because I can't have him touch me. If he touches me again, this will be so much harder. I already don't know how I'm going to survive losing him again, especially when I actually had him this time. I have to be Audrey the Society girl, and not Audrey the woman in love, if I'm going to survive this.
"Stop running from me, Audrey."
"I have to go."
"No. You don't."
"I won't come between you and your daughter, Blake. None of us would ever be able to forgive me if I did that."
"You're not coming between us."
"If I stay, I will," I say, finally turning to face him. "This wasn't some childhood prank she orchestrated. Jeanne paid people to kidnap her. Bad men who didn't know she was the one who hired them. They could have done anything to her. Anything."
"But they didn't. You and your friends made sure she was safe."
"That's not the point."
"I know. She needs to be punished. I'm taking care of that. You heard me down there."
"I heard you, but I also heard her. She did all of this because she wants her mother to come home."
"That won't happen."
"It could. Misha still wants you."
"I don't want her. You know that. It wouldn't work."
"You owe it to your daughter to at least try."
He knows it. I can see it in his eyes before he looks away. "I want you, Dree."
"Do this for her, try for your daughter. If it doesn't work out, and I'm still single, then we'll try again."
"Still single? You're going to see other men?"
"I won't be out looking, but you'll be here with her."
"Not like that. She can move in, but I'm not sleeping with her."
"You might, if you truly give this a chance."
"This isn't how things were supposed to go. Not for us. This was our chance. We never really had a first one, and this was it."
"I believe in second chances, Hollywood."
"Then hold onto that thought, and hold onto me. I'll do what you ask-what I know I have to do for Jeanne-but we both know this isn't going to work out. Misha will never care about our daughter the way she deserves, and I'll never love her. You can tell me to try, but it won't happen. You have my heart, Audrey Sanchez. It beats only for you, and that's not going to change because I move Misha into a guest room."
"Don't make promises you can't keep. You have to try. For Jeanne, and for us. If that leads her into this room with you, then that's what was meant to be."
He pulls me into his arms and kisses me. I don't fight him, or push him away. I sink my hands into his hair, and pull him closer. "We're what's meant to be. I'm not going to forget that. Not because of Misha, or anyone else. Promise me that you won't forget it either. No matter what public pictures you see, or the ‘rumors' she's going to supply to the tabloids. Promise you'll remember that while I have to try, I don't want to."
I step away without answering, because I can't. I blink back as many tears as I can, but some are still falling as I make my way to the front door. Jeanne won't look at me, and that's just as well. I'm going to give her what she wants, what she thinks she needs, but it's going to cost me to do it. Maybe more than I can afford to give after all these years, but it's the right thing to do.
"Audrey," Blake says from behind me, sounding as tortured as I feel.
"I promise," I tell him as I turn to look at the only man I've ever really loved. "I promise."
I say the words we both need, and then I walk out the door. Reina puts her arm around me as we climb into the backseat of one of the cars, and I make it to the gates before I let myself fall apart. With Reina on one side of me, and Ainsley on the other, I sob uncontrollably. I know I did the right thing, but that doesn't make it hurt any less. They say if you love something, set it free, and that's just what I did. I can't dwell on whether he's going to come back to me or not, I can only pray that I'll be strong enough to survive again if he doesn't.
Chapter 10
Blake
"I need you to call a locksmith, Wanda. Ask him to come out as soon as possible."
"Are we changing the locks?"
"No. I need a new lock on my bedroom door. One that can't be picked."
"You're bringing her back."
"Yes."
"Mom? Are you talking about Mom?" Jeanne asks.
"I am."
"I can't believe you really sent Audrey away."
"I didn't send her away," I say, letting my anger show. "She left, because she thought it was the right thing to do. I would've done anything I could to change her mind if I thought I could've."
"I told you she was the best," Wanda reminds me.
"And you were right. I'm going out to the pool house. Call me when the locksmith gets here."
"Thank you, Daddy. It's all going to work out. You, me, and Mom are going to be perfect this time."
Wanda and I exchange a look because we both know that's not going to happen. I'll play out this charade because Jeanne needs me to, and so does Audrey. There's no doubt in my mind that Misha will show her true colors, and then I'll be dealing with a heartbroken daughter yet again. Maybe this time she'll finally understand that it's better for her to love her mother from afar than have her break her heart up close. I can only hope.
I look longingly at the wet bar in the pool house when I walk in, but while it's five o'clock somewhere, having a drink is not the best idea right now. I need to be on top of my game for the call I have to make. I haven't won an Academy Award yet, but I know how to perform. Misha should see through it-Audrey would-but she's too vain. She's going to eat it all up.
I close my eyes as I sit down, and then run my hands through my hair and over my face a few times. "Fuck," I yell to no one in particular. "Fuck."
I take a few deep breaths to slow my breathing, and then I dial. "Blake?" Misha asks, picking up before the first ring is even done.
"Hi Mish. Do you have time to talk?"
"For you, always."
"I was thinking. Jeanne needs to have you in her life, and I have all this space here in the house."
"You want me to move back in?"
No. Hell to the fucking no. "Yeah. I'm thinking it would be good for all of us."
"What about Audrey?"
"She went home."
"That's classic. Like really classic. You chose me over her once again. I bet she's off crying in a corner somewhere."
"You will not mention her name, or even think of talking about her," I say, letting my façade slip.
"You're the one calling me, Blakey."
"Do not call me that." This is a bad idea. I knew it a half hour ago, and I have no doubt right now.
"Fine. Blake, I would be happy to move back in with you. I have some new lingerie you'll love."
"Save it for someone else. I'm doing this for Jeanne, and you'll be in a guest room."
"Maybe to start with, but we both know how good we are together in bed."
"Good isn't enough for me anymore."
I hang up before she can toss out a comeback. Getting in the last word with Misha is always best, especially when it's the truth. I won't settle for good, in or out of bed, ever again in my life. Not after I've had Audrey, who blows my mind with her brains and compassion, and makes my body come alive with just the thought of having her hot body again.