Sure enough, she sighed. “Why? Give me one good reason.”
“I don’t want you to owe him anything.” I don’t want him to provide for you because that’s my job. “He likes to flaunt his money, then act like he’s some great enabler of his children’s success. Did he brag about what he did when we turned twenty-one?”
She shook her head.
“He gave us fifty million bucks each for our twenty-first birthdays. The money was supposedly our legacy, so we could pursue our dreams and be happy.” Dane snorted. “Because money can make up for everything in his world. When I was twenty-one and one day old, I gave mine back to him. I didn’t need it, and I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of pretending that he’d done his paternal duty.”
Something shifted in her expression. Maybe it was empathy that softened her face. “Okay. If you feel that strongly, we’ll donate the clothes. I’d hate to…burn them.”
“Thanks.”
“Oh you get to thank me, even though I can’t thank you?”
He didn’t respond. It wasn’t the same thing at all, but he couldn’t explain it to her.
When he’d made the decision that he couldn’t let her be with Salazar, even if things might end badly, he’d also decided that keeping one secret couldn’t be that complicated. But he’d misjudged. It was like a pebble tossed into a lake, creating ripples that affected everything.
It didn’t matter, he told himself. As long as Sophia didn’t know, it didn’t matter.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Sophia and Dane entered his master bedroom suite together. It felt like forever since he’d had her removed from the premises, although it’d really only been three days. Even though she’d been here before, this time felt special, like she was taking a step toward a possibility rather than a brief detour.
The huge walk-in closet was neatly divided into two sections—one for him and one for her. Dane had a surprising number of clothes, most of them business wear: pressed suits and dress shirts and slacks. Whoever had brought her things from the Pryce family mansion had also unpacked for her. His gaze skimmed over her rather meager outfits and four pairs of shoes—flats, heels and sneakers.
“That’s all you have?” he asked, shock heavy in his tone.
She shrugged. “Yup. But it’s really plenty.” Four tops, five skirts, two pairs of slacks plus a black cocktail dress were enough to get her through until she could save some money for shopping.
His jaw slackened. “Did the creditors seize your things, too?”
“No, it wasn’t like that.” The ugliness of her departure from Seattle still had the power to make her heart tighten. “I could only, um, take one bag.” Before he could probe, she added, “It’s not easy to travel with a dog and a lot of suitcases.”
“You need more things.”
“I’m fine.” Not that she disagreed with him. She hadn’t been thinking clearly, and she’d forgotten to pack things she should have in her hurry to get out of the city. But she didn’t have the money to buy anything until she got paid.
He snorted and pulled out his phone. From the arrogant set of his eyebrows and mouth, she knew he was going to ignore her. She put a hand over his mobile.
“Dane, I didn’t agree to do this so you could buy me things. People are probably speculating by now.”
“So? Let them talk.”
“It’ll bother me. If they’re strangers, I would’ve tuned them out, but they’re your family.” Despite what he claimed, he cared about them.
“Fine. What are you going to wear to the opera?”
“What opera?”
“I have two tickets. Opening night.”
She stepped back and regarded him. “Do you even like the opera?”
The smile he gave her was positively angelic. “I love the opera.”
Like anyone was going to believe that. She didn’t think he had any tickets either. But he might get a pair just to make a point.
And unfortunately, she didn’t have anything that would be suitable, especially for an opening night. He’d undoubtedly put on a tux.
“Thought so,” Dane said after a moment of silence. He lifted the phone and dialed. “Josephine. Can you spare about four hours tomorrow? Uh-huh. I know you have the time. Whatever you want. Of course. Excellent…”
While he made the arrangements, Sophia looked around the penthouse, trying to conceal her unease. She’d have to ask Josephine to stick to a realistic budget, so she could pay Dane back later. “Where’s Roco?” she said when Dane was finished.