44 - Sisyphus

It was Sean! Owen used to make a lot of calls to someone named Sean. Could it be Sean Trason, the same actor who had claimed to have an interest in me? Who had needled me for a date since Owen and I separated? Was it all some scheme to get closer to me and find out what I knew? Did he ever like me, or was it all some sick, twisted game?

To think, he had smiled in my face all this time while secretly plotting against my company. We’d worked together nearly every day, and I hadn’t known.

Back when Owen had been making the calls, I hadn’t met Sean yet. I wouldn’t have been able to put two and two together. The actor had only fully partnered with Lush Productions when we started filming “Love to Make,” although he’d already had tremendous success in the film industry prior to joining us.

Coincidentally, the calls stopped once Sean signed with Lush Productions. Or maybe the conversations just started happening more in person. I couldn’t believe I’d been so fooled. Every turn I made and each step of progress seemed futile. It was like Sisyphus, forever pushing a boulder up a hill only to have it roll back down and start over.

Sean had done everything he could to get close to me. Now I had to wonder what his true motives were. I’d always assumed it was because he was a womanizer obsessed with a woman who didn’t want him—when every other woman did want him. But could there have been a deeper reason for his affection?

And I’d kissed him! Disgust at my actions coursed through me. At least it was a one-time thing. Even if I’d been totally into the kiss during that scene of “Love to Make,” I’d had the good sense not to let him in. Thank God for that. I could only imagine what kind of trouble I’d be in now—emotionally, financially, criminally, and otherwise—if I’d said yes to him any of the times he’d asked me out.

Seething with rage and betrayal, I got out of the tub. I needed my support system. So, I dried off and called Alex. He answered on the first ring, probably because I rarely called. Most of the time, I was too busy for phone calls, which was why people learned to text me if they wanted to reach me.

“Fay, what’s up?” Alex asked. “Is everything alright?”

“No, it’s not. I’ve just had a rather alarming revelation. Can I come over?” I glanced at the time on my phone. It was 9 p.m., kind of late for a house call, but I needed to talk about this.

“Sure. We’re both still up. We’ll leave the door unlocked for you.”

“Thanks, Alex. I’m on my way.”

Hanging up, I put on the first outfit I could find, not bothering to see if it matched. I quickly brushed my hair, not even drying or styling it. Then I stormed out of my house and got in my Mercedes. I was a woman on a mission, and Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

I was more than just scorned. Sean and my family had created a monster that I wasn’t sure they could tame. They would all burn, and I would burn with them if it meant they’d see justice. This was something I could not forget, and if I forgave them, it would not end with reconciliation. They were dead to me, every one of them.

I swerved into Alex’s driveway and parked, taking a second to collect my thoughts. I couldn’t go in there like this. Heck, I didn’t know how I could function when I was this angry. But I knew Alex and Nolan would have the answers I needed. They would know the right contacts and the right lawyers to take care of this.

All I needed was a strategy to take Sean down. Max had already been arrested for shooting Luca, but we still needed to finish compiling evidence against him to put him and Sean in prison, just like Owen. We could do this.

In my eyes, they deserved more than prison. But I wasn’t going to play executioner. Let the law serve the justice, and let me bear witness to their damnation. I would happily watch while they burned.

There was just one problem. I didn’t know how to separate my feelings from what needed to happen. In this state, I knew I could go off on Sean and ruin everything. If I let on that I knew, he would have time to run or to destroy evidence. That was another reason I needed my support system.

Taking a deep breath and closing my eyes, I prepared to go inside. I grabbed my purse, exited the car, and walked up the long drive. The door was unlocked, just like Alex said, so I let myself in.

“Hello?” I called.

“In here!” Alex yelled from the kitchen.

The scent of freshly baked cookies grew stronger the closer I got to the room. Nolan stood in front of the oven, and Alex sat at the bar. He rose from his seat when I entered, though, concern evident on his face.

“Fay, what happened?” He moved to stand in front of me, brushing a strand of hair out of my face.

“Sean Trason happened,” I said, unable to keep the hard edge out of my voice.

“What did he do?” Alex’s face became stone. He looked ready to kill the man, and I hadn’t even told him what I figured out yet.

“What didn’t he do?” I growled. “He was working with Max and Owen. He was the mastermind behind the money laundering and embezzlement schemes. I’m pretty sure he only joined Lush Productions in order to be closer to the books and ledgers—and to perform his crimes more efficiently.”

“I’m not going to say I’m surprised,” Alex said, crossing his arms. “The man has always been a snake.”

I couldn’t say the same. It seemed like I was always surprised by each betrayal. When would I ever learn?

“This reminds me of something that happened to my aunt’s estate overseas about a decade ago. I only heard about it secondhand,” Nolan stated. I’d forgotten that where he’d come from, he was a royal.

Waiting for him to continue, I sat at the bar, and Alex followed suit. Nolan opened the oven to check the cookies. The smell was even better after that, and I was dying to try them. Finding that they were done, Nolan removed them from the oven and switched the oven off.

“I made these from pre-made cookie dough, but they should taste the same as homemade. Probably better than I can make. But they need to cool first.” Nolan set his oven mitt down. “Now, where was I?”

“You were talking about something that happened to your aunt’s estate,” Alex supplied.

“Oh, yes.” Nolan made eye contact with me as he sat on the other side of the bar, steepling his fingers. “My Aunt Mable owns a booming farm business. She grows multiple crops a year. Like me, she was tired of the royal life, moving to the country for a simpler one.

“She’s only ten years older than me, so she’s still working her farm, but she didn’t always run the business alone; she used to have a partner. Cheryl Stevens was her business partner for many years … until Cheryl began siphoning funds from the business. a little here and a little there went missing. Eventually, it became noticeable. By then, it was nearly too late.

“Cheryl's illegal activities almost ruined my Aunt Mable’s business. But my aunt managed to catch her, gathering enough evidence to both sue and put her away. It was similar to what we’re doing with Max, and the same can be done for Sean,” Nolan stated with confidence.

Alex grabbed my hand, squeezing it in reassurance. “Don’t worry, Fay. We’ll put Sean away and make sure he and Max pay.”

I felt a surge of warmth at their confidence and support. “Thank you, guys.”

Nolan cleared his throat, handing me and Alex each a cookie. “Now, there is something else I wanted to talk to you both about,” he said.

I straightened in my seat, noting the seriousness in his tone. “Okay. What is it?”

Nolan rubbed a hand through his graying hair. He looked nervous, and I wondered what could have put him on edge. When he didn’t continue, Alex asked, “Dad, what’s going on?”

“Just … give me a second,” Nolan uttered.

Alex and I waited patiently—well, somewhat patiently. My already shot nerves were getting to me. Finally, Nolan sighed and started again. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and the only logical explanation for things—past and present—is that …” He paused, and my brow furrowed in confusion as I waited. Then he said the most shocking words yet: “Fay, I’m your father.”