Chapter 22
577 Words
Chapter 22
“She signed it, Andy. Honor your end of the agreement.” Diana paused, and took in the large library Andy had escorted her to. It was the same one they’d been in earlier, but she’d spent that time doing her damnedest to focus on hammering out an agreement. She now realized that it was a comfortable room with wainscoting on the trim, a rock fireplace behind the desk, leather chairs positioned just so, and wall-to-wall books that appeared perfectly aligned. The room was warm with greens and gold, a sharp contrast to the deep red carpet.
“Would you like a drink, Diana, a glass of wine?” Andy poured himself a drink from one of the crystal decanters at the stocked bar as they entered the room. She figured it was the same amber liquid Todd had poured. But then, they all looked alike to her.
“No, thank you.”
He stared at her for a minute with an odd look.
“Look, Andy, if you just hand over the check, I’ll be on my way.”
Andy dangled his glass, then swallowed. He set it down on the smoothly polished desk with a clatter. “Diana, maybe I was wrong and you’re not like your mother, and maybe I wasn’t being fair—”
“Andy, stop it. I can’t do this with you. You broke my heart as a child. God, I thought the sun, the moon...everything shone on you. And when I went to you for help you said you would help, you’d make some calls. Then the next thing I know you’re looking at me with such hatred—because of Faye.” It all still stung. She gritted her teeth, and did everything to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.
“Diana... I’m so sorry, baby, if I could go back...” He moved another step closer, and she could smell the bourbon on him. But he was bold, not drunk. She did know that much.
“No, there’s no way you are going to touch me. You still see me as my mother. And I still see you as the overgrown boy who threw his weight around in a fit of rage to hurt me and my sister… because of something my mother did.” She sighed. “Andy, isn’t that why I’m here today, because your dad just did that very same thing to yet another of his playthings? You can’t treat people like this.”
“It’s not the same thing, Diana.” He shoved an agitated hand through his short, dark hair. “I’ve told you already you didn’t deserve what happened. I’m sorry.”
She wouldn’t look at him, her head was spinning. She’d never expected an apology, not from Andy. And the way he looked at her, with hurt replacing the hardness in his expression, she wondered if Jed was right about Andy.
“Andy... please let’s just finish this.” She met his darkened eyes with an angry fire in her own.
He stalked around the desk, jerked open the top drawer and pulled out a check, handing it to Diana. “It’s Jed, isn’t it? You’re sleeping with him, aren’t you?”
She snatched the check from him and tucked it in her purse. “No, I am not sleeping with Jed,” she said coolly.
He stepped around the desk, stalking her like a panther. “He can’t make you happy. You know that. He can’t offer you anything.”
“What is this, Andy? Some bold move on your part with me. Really?”
“Diana—” he said with exasperation.
“No, Andy, don’t. I don’t want to hear it. Goodbye.”
She left, closing the door behind her.
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