It had to be a coincidence. Sam only resembled Wes Robson. And was in his club…with the same name as Wes Robson’s dad… Disbelief rocked my being.
“And he told you his name was Sam?” Ephraim’s voice was gentle.
Pushing my bangs out of my face, I kept my hands on my head. How could I be… “I’m so stupid.”
“Mara,” Joe shuffled closer, “it’s not your fault.”
I peered up at him. Maybe Joe was mistaken. He only passed his boss every day, it’s not like they were close. “Are you sure?”
Joe gave me a sad nod.
“Let’s pull up his picture.” Ephraim took the seat next to me to search on his phone.
My laugh was harsh and bitter. “I was going to do the same thing when Sam—ugh, Wes—started hitting on me.”
Tears burned the back of my eyes, but I refused to cry until I was alone. Ephraim spun his phone toward me. On the screen was a stolid picture of Sam—Wes— in a suit and tie, a headshot that was used for his profile on his website.
“That’s him.” My heart crumbled, cut under the knife of betrayal. Well, didn’t I feel foolish. Like the stupidest, most naïve girl on earth. I’d let my guard down and wham! Stupid girl. “Why would he do that?”
“My guess is daddy issues. He wants to know why his dad was going to basically give this place to you.”
I scoffed. “I bet he assumed I slept my way into that contract. Of course, that’s what anyone would think.” My cheeks flamed. These men were my customers and they’d just witnessed a humiliation that blew Dr. Johannsen out of this realm. At least I was the only one hurt this time.
Joe shook his head with disgust and laid a hand on my shoulder. “He grew up differently than us. In his world, relationships are a contract in and of themselves.”
I scrubbed my face. “What do I do?”
Ephraim swore and pocketed his phone. “Would you like me to come with you when you confront him?”
Joe bobbed his head. “I’ll even go with you, Mara. He can’t get away with what he’s done.”
Confront Wes in front of an audience? Absolutely not. Humiliation, party of one. “No. You’re not putting your job on the line.” Betrayal gave way to anger. “No, you know what? I’m not confronting him. He wants to play some secretive game and dig for information, I can, too.”
“Mara…” Ephraim’s look was one I’d expect from a father who was afraid his little girl would get hurt. Ironically, it was one I’d gotten from Sam—the real Sam—when we’d talked business and he’d feared for my financial state.
“I know. But I need to know why he’d do this to me and he won’t tell me if I out him.”
Joe cut in. “Mr. Robson isn’t known for relationships. There are rumors of course, but nothing serious, and he never brings it to the office. I’m surprised he’s even making an effort.” Joe’s kind smile was another I would’ve loved from a father. “He might not even know why he’s doing what he’s doing.”
Joe might be trying to make me feel better, but Wes’s behavior was inexcusable. My falling for it was just as bad.
Ephraim cleared his throat. His elbows were propped on his thighs, his hands pressed together at the fingertips between his knees. His serious expression was all lawyer. “As much as I’d like to think he has legitimately fallen for you because you’re a good person, and he’d be an idiot not to, Wesley Robson is not a stupid person. He inherited everything, but he was a force in his own right before his dad passed away. He knows full well that he can’t deceive you forever, but he’s continuing to. You have to wonder why.”
“He even asked me out tonight,” I muttered miserably. For all my talk of playing the same game, facing him after work sunk a boulder in my gut. My courage was nothing more than words.
The urge to crawl out of my skin grew stronger. I rose and gave each guy a quick hug. Because what the hell, my store was closing and they were my friends. If Wes Robson could do something as slimy as lying his way into my bed, then he wasn’t going to have mercy on my store.
“Thank you, guys. I mean it. I’m going to go along with it, for now.” Because I didn’t know what else to do. The idea of Sam wasn’t one my heart wanted to let go of.
Imagine that. Another handsome man was using me for selfish purposes. At least Wes wasn’t married. His duplicity only hurt me.
“Be safe, Mara. I don’t think he’ll hurt you, but…”
I squeezed Ephraim’s hand. No, I didn’t think Wes would lay a hand on me. He had all the power anyway. He couldn’t hurt me any more than he already had.
Wes
“Wesley, I think I’m dying.”
“You’re not dying, Mother.” I sat on Mara’s front step. It was a little after seven-thirty and she was late.
“It’s the cold. It’s going to do me in. Have you rented that villa in the islands for me yet?”
“I’m not renting a villa.” But it was tempting. Months of my mom out of the state. Out of the country. What held me back was the tab she’d rack up because I’d have to open a line of credit for her to use.
“It’s either the villa or a hospital bill. I’m telling you, I won’t survive another Minnesota winter. Perhaps I’ll need to move in with you.”
“Stay inside and order in. They deliver everything nowadays. And no, you can’t live with me.” Access to my housekeeper, chef, and driver was what she really wanted. She coveted my private jet, too.
“We’ll talk about this later. I have another doctor’s visit and he’ll write a note. Not that I should need one for my own son,” she finished with sarcasm.
It wouldn’t matter, but I let my mom hang up.
