It all came crashing down for Bobby. He’d done this to Zofia. Not intentionally. Never intentionally. Still, it was his fault. To him, their relationship had been like a secret vacation: a welcoming relief from daily life, but something he’d always thought of as temporary. But he’d known it was more than that to her. He thought back to an evening at the Carlyle, months into their affair. I wish my mom could see me now, she’d said, as they shared a bottle of Krug. I’m so happy. It had been her first time drinking champagne. Bobby didn’t even remember the first time he had champagne—it was such a normal part of life for him. He was a stupid, privileged man. A monster, a user.
No wonder everyone loved Nick more.
Zofia never returned to work. She tried to quit, but Bobby wouldn’t have it. He instructed Goddard to terminate her contract so that she could not only collect unemployment, but also get the very best severance package available. Bobby made sure she kept her medical insurance, despite Goddard’s protests. It’s a matter of principle, he’d told Goddard. Her episode happened at work.
The only person he confided in about the affair was Doug, who’d promptly gotten Zofia to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Bobby hadn’t liked the idea of an NDA—it sounded sleazy, and he was most definitely not a sleazy guy—but he chose to listen to Doug because he was a lawyer. It was his job to protect Bobby, to protect Alma Boots. Once Doug told Bobby the NDA had been handled, Bobby personally transferred a substantial sum into Zofia’s account as a thank you—the first time he ever touched his trust fund.
Bobby did all these things because it was the right thing to do. Because Zofia was caring and loyal and hadn’t deserved to suffer. He did it so he’d assuage his guilt, his heavy conscience. And after he did all this, he moved on. He told himself he deserved a fresh start. He hadn’t meant to hurt her. Hadn’t meant to cause her intense mental distress.
Now, looking back, he doesn’t remember her ever mentioning a cousin. Not once.
Is Eva Stone lying about this, too? Or was it just that Bobby never listened to Zofia, even though all she did was listen to him?
“It’s true,” Gina says, looking at him in Nick’s living room, horror flicking through her eyes. It’s not a question. With Eva, it had been a question. But with Zofia, Gina can see it in his face. He had an affair. He’s guilty.
Bobby tries to reach for Gina’s hand, but she pulls back. A million questions fire through his mind, but there’s only one that matters.
“Can you forgive me?” Bobby asks, meeting Gina’s gaze. He won’t deny it.
“You went to see her in Florida…” Gina says. “You told me you went for her mother’s funeral.” Gina feels her stomach twist.
“I’m sorry. I panicked, Jib.” Bobby’s shoulders drop. “The truth is I went to ask her not to come forward. I had no idea she was Eva’s cousin, but I was scared she’d see the news and say something.”
“Of course that’s what you were worried about,” Alice scoffs. “Fighting two allegations would’ve been much harder.”
“I was never involved with Eva.” Bobby glares at his sister-in-law. It’s the truth. He is tired of repeating the truth. “I spent months living a nightmare, terrified I’d lose my wife. My family.” He turns back to Gina. “I never saw Zofia. She wasn’t at the address I had. I tried emailing her, but she never replied. I told her all I wanted was to talk—”
“She hasn’t spoken in over a year,” Alice says, snidely. “It’s why Eva came forward. So you’d finally pay the price for what you did. Eva lied, sure. But she lied about the who, not the what.”
Bobby ignores Alice. Right now, all that matters is Gina. His Gina. He can’t lose her. He loves her so much it hurts.
Nick begins to speak, “Bobby, I think you should—”
“You’ve done enough,” Bobby snaps. He is angry at his brother. For the Angie Aguilar video. For hiring that nosy firm. For getting involved with Eva Stone. For being their mother’s favorite. For having been born.
Gina turns to Nick, eyes brimming with tears. “You knew?”
“He’s seeing her. He confessed,” Bobby says. It’s the missing piece of the puzzle. Eva Stone lied to avenge her cousin? Bullshit. “Eva lied because she’s involved with Nick. Pregnant with his twins. The firm told us the pregnancy checked out.” This is about Nick wanting to take what is rightfully Bobby’s: his position as CEO of Alma Boots.
“I’m not seeing Eva.” Nick sounds as though he’s speaking to a child. “I met with her at a café to discuss an amicable solution to the complaint she’d filed against you. I was trying to help.”
“Bullshit,” Bobby scoffs.
“Nick,” Gina begins, her tone soft. “Tell me the truth.”
“I have,” Nick replies, his eyes are filled with tears.
Gina shakes her head slowly. “Then how are your cigars at her apartment?”
The cigars! Bobby had forgotten about the cigars for a moment. “He wants us to believe that a twenty-nine-year-old pregnant woman smokes expensive Cuban cigars.”
Nick ignores Bobby. He doesn’t look away from Gina. He seems to be trying to send her a telepathic message. Finally, he speaks, “I’m not the only Dewar who smokes that brand.”
“You know damn well I don’t smoke cigars.” Bobby feels indignation roil in his stomach. Is this Nick’s plan? To convince Gina that Bobby has a secret cigar-smoking habit?
“I don’t mean you.” Nick barely glances at Bobby.
“You mean…” Gina
