Page 111 of Sins (The Sins Trilogy 1)
Chapter Forty-Nine
Anthony
I call myself a hundred kinds of idiot all through the week. I can’t believe I slipped and called her Ivy. But when she didn’t wake up, even after I called out her name repeatedly and shook her, I panicked. And got stupid.
The dismay I felt, however, was nothing compared to the crushing disappointment of realizing the name Ivy meant nothing to her. It didn’t trigger anything.
If it were her real name, wouldn’t she have said something like “That sounds familiar” or “That’s what people used to call me”?
But it still doesn’t change the fact that I can’t stay away from her. And over the last few days, I’ve come to a decision.
I don’t care what her name is. I don’t care if she remembers me or not. I don’t care what her past is or who she’s related to. Whether she’s in my life by accident or sent by my enemies.
The only thing that matters is she’s alive. And that’s enough.
I know Edgar’s going to freak if he finds out. He’s going to say I’m irrational, making the same mistake I made with Lauren…and that I couldn’t possibly have learned enough about Iris to come to such a decision after only a week together. But I’m tired of fighting my feelings. After a certain point, logic means nothing if your heart is screaming something else.
A crazy-happy life with the woman I want is better than a sane, miserable life in darkness without her. If the only way I can have the light in my life is through madness, I’ll embrace it with open arms, consequences be damned.
I look at the clock in my office. It’s ten. She’s doing the interview right now. Unless something goes horribly wrong, Elizabeth is going to hire her.
A call to my cell phone jerks my gaze away from the clock. It’s Harry.
“Yes?”
“Hey, Tony. What do you think about letting me use your jet to fly home?”
“Commercial beneath you?” Ever since we flew on my jet together once, he’s been trying to get back on it, using whatever flimsy excuse he can come up with.
“I need to see Mom.”
I sit up straight. “Why? What happened?” Must be bad if it requires Harry’s presence.
“I just heard from Edgar, so I don’t know the details. But it sounds like Sam Peacher asked her to put in more money into that new luxury condo he’s building.”
“Okay. So?”
“She doesn’t want to. Like, really doesn’t want to.”
“So what’s the issue? She should just turn him down.”
“That’s the thing. She’s apparently going to invest anyway.”
What the hell? From what Edgar says, Mother hasn’t lost any money with Sam’s ventures. But that doesn’t explain why she would feel compelled to invest with him if she doesn’t want to. Father makes plenty, and our family’s old money anyway, with a few billion in the war chest.
“Anyway, she’s seriously upset, and Edgar thinks it’d be a good idea for me to spend a few days with her. So…what do you say?”
There aren’t many people Harry can’t cheer up, and it makes sense Edgar wants him to come home if Mother’s that agitated. But it still doesn’t answer my question. “If she hates dealing with Sam that much, why is she doing it? What’s really going on, Harry?”
He lets out a frustrated sound. “I don’t know. Edgar doesn’t, either. He actually tried to stop Sam from visiting, and Mom told him to butt out. So who the hell knows what’s going on, but I don’t like it any more than you do.”
I run a hand over my face. I probably shouldn’t give a fuck. I mean, I’ve been disowned. But I still owe a debt to Mother I can never repay. “Fine. I’ll have Wei take care of the flight.”
“You’re the best.”
Leaning back in my seat, I steeple my hands. Mother could never be described as sentimental or forgiving. She didn’t think anything of banishing me to Europe for my role in Katherine’s death. And she’s always kept Sam Peacher at arm’s length, like a somewhat dirty rag she needs to throw out. What’s changed?
Normally I would suspect blackmail. But Edgar said Sam has been aboveboard with Mother, and I trust my brother’s judgment.
Still…the whole situation stinks worse than a dead fish left out in the sun.
