Page 29 of The Heiress

“You’ll be staying in the Coquina Suite on the second floor. Jace will be in the second-floor turret in the Blue Room,” Mr. Dombrowski explained as we stood in the foyer. He’d grown a thick mustache since I saw him last and wore another of his black suits.

To my left were the five advisors from Roark Corp who I’d be meeting with in an hour. They were all carefully vetted, signed non-disclosure agreements, and sworn to secrecy. On my right stood Georgia’s attorney and lifelong friend Charles Ming.

Once the DNA was confirmed things moved ahead at warp speed. I was very glad Jace insisted on coming with me. It was nice to have someone on my side. Not that there were sides (except there were totally sides.)

Dombrowski was an interesting one. Sometimes he seemed so warm and welcoming, but other times he got a look or used a word that gave me the impression it was at least partially an act. Basically, I went into this trusting exactly no one but Jace.

Then I turned and for a moment I thought I was staring into a mirror. It was me, but a little more refined, more jewels, better clothes, and just a little bit older. I’m sure there were more differences there that I’d discover over time, but that first blush impression as my eyes fell on Georgia Roark, live and in person for the first time, was that she was my mirror image.

In all my years thinking I looked like a perfect mix of Mom and Dad, I never once reached this level of certainty thatthis personshared my genes. I felt it now.

She didn’t move or speak. She stood frozen in the doorway, her hand splayed over her stomach, her lips trembling. But I didn’t feel any instinctual urge to comfort her. She might look like me, but we had no emotional connection. There wasn’t some magical bolt of lightning that created a bond between us simply because she created me.

Also, I was pretty numb. The trip south had unsettled my stomach, plus the nerves, plus this. Inside I was black and outside I was fire. My brain refused to process the information in front of me or, you know, tell me what to do next.

So I also stood frozen. We just stared at each other.

I was minimally aware that everyone else was staring at us too. There was a lot of staring.

Dombrowski finally did something. He stepped into the space between us. “Georgia, I’d like to introduce you to Samantha Rossi.”

“Victoria,” she said, not moving.

The name still felt wrong.

“Yes,” he confirmed. “Victoria. But like we discussed, that isn’t her name.”

Her eyes pinched at the corners, giving me my first glimpse of her true emotions. My name mattered to her. It pained her.

She licked her lips, trying twice before she was able to speak again. “Samantha. It is so good to finally see you again.” Her voice cracked on the last word andthatpierced my heart.

Even numb and overwhelmed I wasn’t inhuman. This woman was heartbroken and I was the reason, even if those reasons were out of my control.

“It is good to meet you as well.” I didn’t use her name because ifmyname meant that much to her, hearing me call herGeorgiainstead ofMomwasn’t going to help.

She stood up straighter and her presence filled the room. Everyone stood a little taller as all their attention fell on her. “My daughter and I deserve some time together. Business can wait until later. I’ve arranged refreshments in the drawing room. It’s a lovely, bright room that I hope you’ll like, Samantha.”

If it got me away from this audience it would be the best room I’d ever seen. “It sounds wonderful.”

The line of business people broke up, streaming out a side door that appeared to lead to offices, leaving only Dombrowski and Jace in the foyer with us. The numb feeling started to fade a little but a wave of panic replaced it. I was about to sit and speak with the woman who gave birth to me.

Mouse.

Luckily Jace touched my elbow, anchoring me as he whispered against my ear, “I’m going to get us settled in our rooms and check out the house. Depending on how long you’re in there, I may take a look around the neighborhood, too.” Then he gave my elbow a comforting squeeze. “Remember I’m just a phone call away. If you need anything, feel scared, need an out, just call or text. I’ll be here as fast as I can.”

My instinct was to hug him, so I did. But it wasn’t our usual friendly hug. It was...more. I needed to be held for a moment, held together and assured I wasn’t alone in the world. It was terrifying to find out my parents lied to me, and it wasn’t any less scary to stumble down this awkward path to discover what happened.

“It’s okay,” he whispered, running a hand down my hair.

I nodded when what I really wanted was to hold him tighter. “Thanks. I’ll see you in a bit.”

He released me and I immediately hated the loss of him. Then he cupped my face and smiled. “Enjoy this opportunity. You got this.”

With a swipe of his thumb he turned and followed Dombrowski up the stairs.

“Is he your...boyfriend?”

I turned back to Georgia. “No. I’ve known him since we were kids. He’s one of my very best friends.” And yet, even as I said it, I knew I was lying. We were more than best friends. Something had always connected us on another level that I’d never been able to understand. Having him back made that even more obvious.

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