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“So, let me get this straight, once and for all—your father has been suppressing vital information about Cavanagh Corp’s use of chritonium since he bought my father out?”
“Exactly, and not only that, but he’s been paying off, bullying, threatening, manipulating, and who knows what else, anyone who looked like they might make life difficult for him. Ex-employees, board members, Grampsie…for years.”
“Until this young girl?”
“Yeah. Kik. Kristina Sanchez. Her father Luis Sanchez worked at Maclean Enterprises back in the day, he was one of the main people involved in testing chritonium before much was known about the risks. He was exposed to it a lot, and it really fucked with his body, to the point where he’s now gravely ill, and needs a lung transplant, or he’ll die.”
I stopped speaking, registering the way my mom had blanched at my words. She actually looked like she’d seen a ghost. She clutched at her necklace, and though I’d looked at it a thousand times, I realized I’d never really seen it before. My mom must have read something in the look on my face, as she followed my gaze before looking down at the pendant in her hand. It was an angel.
“It’s the Archangel Michael, an angel of healing. He gave it to me.”
“He? Who, Victor?” As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I realized how stupid they sounded.
My mom smiled mildly, a faraway look settling on her features. “No. Luis Sanchez. We had a thing. I mean… it was a brief affair… I mean… I was married to your father, so yes, technically, it was an affair. I’m not excusing it, it was wrong, but I will say that it was long after I discovered that your father had locked me into what was essentially a sham marriage, and had been sleeping with other women since before I’d even walked down the aisle.” Fuck, hated that asshole.
“I was young, and foolish, and blindly in love with him, but all I was to him was a pawn in his power play to acquire Maclean Enterprises. Once he got what he wanted, he had no more use for me, except to bear him children, and make him look good at functions. I was miserable, but your father had me right where he wanted me—locked in my gilded cage by golden handcuffs—” The exact same words Grampsie had used. “—he had the power to destroy me, and Grampsie.”
“Wait. So, if you had an affair with Kik’s dad, she’s not…”
“Mine? Listen to what you’re saying. I’ve only ever given birth to two beautiful babies in my life. You and Bella are by far the best things to have come out of knowing your father, and you make it all worth it.” I’d known that in my heart when I’d asked the question, but it was good to hear, regardless.
But no, Luis Sanchez and I became ‘friendly’ years after his wife had left him, then died suddenly, so while I technically cheated on your lying, cheating, manipulating, father, Luis was never unfaithful to his wife. He was sweet, loving, and loyal, but ultimately, it was never going to be more than a fling—circumstances would never allow for more.” By ‘circumstances’ she meant my father. “Why do you ask?”
“No reason.” I mumbled to the floor, and resisted the temptation to squirm like a grade schooler.”
“Rubbish. Is something going on between the two of you?”
“Not exactly. Or kind of. No.”
“But you want there to be?” My mom always could read me like a book.
I shrugged.
“Use your words, Drew. You’re not a child anymore.”
“I do. I kind of think I love her.” Hard though it was to say the words, it was also a huge relief to get them off my chest.
“You ‘think’?” She raised an eyebrow pointedly.
“Okay. Okay. I love her. But she hates me…” With good reason. “…So there’s that.”
“Hmm… well, if she’s anything like her father, and you’ve done her, or somebody she loves wrong, that could be tricky to get around. He’s the most loyal and principled person you’ll ever meet, which is why he never wanted to go after Cavanagh Corp.”
“Now I’m not following you.”
“He knew what problems it would unleash for me if our affair was made public, which it undoubtedly would have been as part of the process associated with a lawsuit, and therefore he decided to keep quiet for fear of the repercussions for me.”
“So he’s suffered in silence all these years to protect you. That’s crazy. Noble, but crazy.”
“Like I said, he was loyal to a fault.”
“Hmm…” My head was spinning, trying to take in all this new information.
“I know it’s a lot to take in—” Which was the understatement of the century. “—but I’d really like to hear the rest of the story from your side,” she prompted gently.
“Yeah, right. Okay. Sorry, I got a little distracted. So despite the risks, and her dad having no intention of doing so himself, Kik was determined to get justice for her dad, and as many other victims as she could, and wasn’t about to take no for an answer.”
“And that’s where you came in?” She was sitting bolt upright on the edge of her seat, more engaged than I could ever remember seeing her.
