Page 81 of Escorting the CEO
“We’ll see.” Miranda’s mouth curved into a smirk. “The truth always comes out in the end.”
I nodded. “In that vein, I should have told you a long time ago—you were a terrible stepmother. Cold, calculating, and borderline cruel. How’s that for the truth?”
She shot to her feet. “Me? I was the cold one? You werehorribleto me, Rhodes. Remember the iced tea debacle?”
“That wasn’t cold—that was hot. Hot sauce, and a good amount, if I remember correctly.”
“I was sick for three days.” Miranda shook her head. “You were hell as a teen. If I was distant, it was because I learned the hard way you weren’t safe to be around.”
“I don’t want to hear your crying.” I headed for the exit.
“Nor do I want to hear yours,” she countered.
I didn’t bother saying goodbye as I slammed the door shut.
Damn her. Miranda had always been awful to me. She’d tolerated my brother because he knew how to play the game, maintaining a mask of civility while deriding her behind her back. But I’d lacked a game face when I was younger. I couldn’t hide my dislike.
But her comment about the iced tea incident rankled, getting under my skin. I’d forgotten that one. Miranda always drank iced tea, and one afternoon, I’d intercepted her drink from the staff and poured half a bottle of high-octane Caribbean hot sauce into it. I’d laughed when she’d coughed and gagged, tears streaming down her reddening face.
In retrospect, itwassort of a dick move.
But I refused to feel sorry for her. She was trying to take my company from me. She was fighting me every step of the way. Miranda hadneverbeen on my side.
But the voice in my head—which I quickly quashed—pointed out that I’d never been on hers, either.
Enough.I didn’t want to think about it anymore.
Sighing, I locked myself inside my office to finish planning a wedding that no one seemed to want but me.
REHEARSING
RORY
“I am super excitedto be getting married tomorrow. I am super excited to be getting married tomorrow. I cannotwaitto get married tomorrow.” I stared at my reflection, willing some light to seep into my eyes, some color to return to my face. But there was nothing.
The violet dress I’d chosen was lovely, made of fine silk that felt incredible against my skin. But the smooth fabric was the only thing that felt good right now. I hadn’t seen Rhodes since I’d left him with Gigi on the playground. That, on top of the Tammy Harris Incident, was making me feel like hiding in his room until after the wedding, when I might be able to escape and head home.
Head home with nothing,I reminded myself. No money, no farm, no custody of Josie and Bo, and no… Rhodes.
I sighed and looked at myself in the mirror again. It was a gorgeous dress. Such a waste.
A knock on the door startled me from my reverie. “Miss Rory? It’s Philips. May I come in?”
“Sure, Philips.” I forced a smile at the butler as he entered and bowed.
“Good evening,” he said. “That’s a lovely dress, but a rather dour expression you’re wearing.”
“I’m working on it.”
He arched an eyebrow. “May I assist? Sometimes having one’s hair and makeup done lifts one’s spirits.”
“Of course. I appreciate it.” I gratefully sank down into a chair as Philips assembled his beauty arsenal. He went to work on my hair with a curling iron.
“It’s pretty incredible that you can do hair, makeup,andbutler-ing.”
“Thank you.” Philips didn’t miss a beat as he gently twisted my locks into perfect, bouncy waves. “When I was young, I used to assist Mrs. Barrington with such things. She’s the one who taught me.”
“Rhodes’s mother?” I asked.
