Focus! What happened?
The crazy ex-girlfriend slash attorney knocked on the door. Tess let her in because she wanted to give her a piece of her mind about sending Tanner over there to force himself on her in some convoluted attempt to make her cheat on Chase. Like that would ever happen.
Tess recalled opening the door and a few minutes of conversation, but after that she couldn't remember anything else. Their brief encounter was hazy and distant. Almost like a dream but it had happened.
***
What do you want?" Tess had asked as she answered the door.
"I want to talk to you." Audra entered the house without being asked.
"Oh, please, come in." Tess shut the door and turned to face her. "Chase isn't here."
"I know," she said. "I wanted to talk to you."
"About what? How you keyed my car or sent Tanner here to assault me?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." The smirk on her face said otherwise.
"Come on, Sinclair. You're really not that smart."
Tess wasn't annoyed that Chase had a past relationship with Audra. It was before she came into his life. She could even forgive the fact that he kept it from her once she gave him the opportunity to explain. Her hostility toward this woman stemmed from her actions. Tess wouldn't stand by and allow Audra to come between her and Chase. Not now, not ever.
"I didn't come here to fight with you," Audra continued. "I'm just here to help you see the damage you're doing."
"What damage would that be?"
"You don't belong with a man like Chase. He's so far out of your league it's laughable. The fact that he's too blind or too horny to see it is absurd. You've sponged off him long enough. If you really care about him, you'll leave. Do it before you move your father in. How long do you think playing house with Chase will last?"
"You've got some nerve." Tess placed her hands on her hips. "How dare you come into this house and pretend to speak for Chase. You know nothing about our relationship."
"I know he never told you about us." Audra grinned. "Why do you suppose that is?"
"Because it was insignificant to him. He probably forgot all about it. Maybe it wasn't important enough to waste a conversation on? There could be a number of reasons." Tess wasn't going to allow this woman the satisfaction of planting any doubt in her mind. Chase may have made a mistake but she still trusted him.
"You're so sure of yourself. I can't wait until it all comes crumbling down around you. I'm going to be there when he realizes who you are and what you want from him. He'll see I'm the better choice. We lost our way, but we would have found a way back if you hadn't come into his life."
"You're delusional." Tess stared at Audra, but she seemed distant and unfocused.
"No, I'm not." She stepped toward Tess. "I've just realized something."
"What's that?"
"A leech like you isn't going to just leave on your own. Now you're moving your family in. You're going to stay as long as Chase allows you." She shook her head and pursed her lips. "The poor fool thinks he's in love. You tricked him."
"You need to leave and take this up with Chase." Something was off in her eyes. Chase had mentioned she had flipped before and needed time away. Tess needed her out of there so she could call and warn him.
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Yes, you are."
When Tess turned to open the front door, she heard Audra move behind her. Suddenly there was a loud thud followed by a sharp pain that exploded across the back of Tess's head. She managed to turn and see Audra holding the huge, silver candlestick that had been on the foyer table. Before she could get her bearings, she staggered forward, bumping into the table and knocking over the crystal vase. She heard it shatter just as she hit the floor. The sound of glass popping was the last thing she remembered before opening her eyes.
***
Her head ached and her feet were raw. She glanced down. No shoes. A chill spread through her like when she would wake up from a bad dream. She hadn't had any bad dreams since she started sleeping with Chase.This isn't a dream, she thought as she looked around at the old, run down cabin.
What am I doing here? And how did I get here?
It had been years but Tess recognized the place. It was their old cabin. Chase said it was still here. He promised her he wouldn't knock it down when he developed the land and built her a vacation home. She thought if they renovated the cabin, her dad would get many more years of joy out of it.
She swung her legs to the edge of the couch, her head still spinning from the blow she took. Her eyes burned and her feet pinched, probably from the shards of glass in the foyer.
"Oh, good, you're up," Audra said from the corner of the room. "I didn't think you would ever wake up. You're so lazy."
Tess saw the outline of her face in the dimly lit room. The only light came from the burning glow of the fireplace.
"Why are we here?" Tess's voice was low and shaky.
"You remember this old dump?"
"It's my father's cabin." The place where she had first met the man of her dreams, only she didn't know it back then. She'd shared this space with Chase as a child. The cabin held many memories for her. Most of them good. That's why Chase had bought the land. He wanted to give her back those memories and make new ones with her.
"It was your father's cabin." Audra walked across the room and sat on the couch beside Tess. "Before he lost it to the bank. I researched the property when I found out Chase bought it." She patted Tess's thigh. "This land is prime real estate. Do you know how much all of this is worth?"
Tess nodded, trying to process Audra's words.
"Of course you do because you're not stupid. You probably know Chase's net worth too. You hit the jackpot when your father handed you over to a complete stranger, didn't you?"
"That's not what happened."
"Don't kid yourself. I've seen your father's financial status, or lack thereof. He needed Chase to get him out of debt."
"What?"
"That's right. Not only did Chase rescue you from being homeless, but when he moved dear old dad into that top notch rehab facility, he paid off all his debts, and there were many. I'm sure your dad had no problem with Chase enjoying certain perks when it came to his daughter. After all, that was the least Pat could do. Use you as a trade for his financial rescue."
"Screw you."
"It all makes perfect sense, doesn't it?"
"Maybe in your crazy mind."
"That's why Chase didn't tell you about our relationship. He knew eventually he'd grow tired of you and we would get back together. He just took you as payment for everything he'd done for your dad."
"Then why would he offer to move my dad into his home? Why is he building us a house out here? That doesn't sound like a man who is looking to dump me."
"That makes sense too." Audra laughed. "You're awfully slow on the uptake. Chase would never throw your dad out on the street. He's building this place so you and he will have a place to live when he comes back to me. Chase is a gentleman. He'll feel bad when he ends things with you. He doesn't like to hurt people. I won't argue with him either. If taking care of you and your dad helps him feel better about leaving you then I'll be happy to indulge him."
"Wow." Tess couldn't believe the way Audra's mind worked. "You have it all figured out."
"It took me a while but I worked it out on the ride here. It all came together. Chase is a good man. He helped me when I needed it. That's what he does. You don't need to worry. He'll take care of you too."
"You're the one who needs help." Tess tried to get up but Audra pushed her back down.
"I'm the one with the advantage here," she said. "You just need to rethink your position and you'll see I'm right. You're not good for him. He needs me. He'll see that when you get out of my way."
"What do you think Chase will do when he finds out you kidnapped me?"
"You're not going to tell him." She propped her feet up on the unsteady, old coffee table. "You're just going to tell him you've thought things through and you can't forgive him for keeping his relationship with me a secret."
"I'm not doing that."
"Then you're not leaving here." She crossed her arms over her chest. "It's going to be a cold, lonely way to spend Christmas. I'll leave you right here, out in the middle of nowhere. Eventually you'll starve to death or freeze. I don't really care which one. I'll be warm and safe in Chase's bed, comforting him."