Page 12 of Tangled in Temptation

Timothy

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THE SOFT TICKING SOUND of the clock felt too loud. Everything was off. This house was supposed to be my refuge. It was supposed to represent a second chance to do life over after the mistakes I’d made a decade ago. For a wonderful couple of months, that’s what it had felt like, but now it felt suffocating. It felt like I was being chased by demons. Technically, just one demon by the name of Regina. I couldn’t seem to escape the woman. She was damned determined to ruin my life.

I rubbed my temples. The headache I had developed days ago was still holding on. It almost felt like a champagne hangover with a bubbly stomach and a head that throbbed with every breath. Unfortunately, I hadn’t drunk much of anything last night. This was the Regina effect. She could take a grown man to his knees with her shrill voice and endless demands. I almost missed the sound of muffled music coming from Paisley’s room. She’d gone silent. She wasn’t speaking to me or anyone. I wasn’t even sure she was still in the house. The only clue was the occasional dirty dish in the sink or a towel hanging on the rack outside on the patio.

The only silver lining was the fact that Regina was out of the house. The state was not big enough for the two of us. I wished she would just go back to Germany. Leave us alone. I considered doing an exorcism after she got out of the house. I wanted to get rid of the negative energy she left behind. My beautiful house was forever tainted by her presence.

Bennet barged in with a clipboard clutched in his hands and a scowl on his forehead. He cleared his throat, breaking the silence that had become my unwelcome companion. He was waiting for me to say something.

“Yes?”

“I was just reviewing your schedule,” he said. “You’ve got the charity auction in New York City in two weeks.”

“What charity event?”

“You already replied that you would be going,” he said.

“Cancel it,” I said. “Apologize and send a check.”

He shook his head. “It’s not that easy. You can’t just back out.”

“Sure I can,” I muttered.

“No, you can’t. It’s for the children’s cancer foundation.”

I grimaced, knowing I would be the world’s biggest asshole if I backed out. It was one of the charities I was fond of. I didn’t want to leave them hanging. A simple check wasn’t enough. My presence would bring publicity, and that was just as important. I had to smile for pictures and make sure everyone knew I was contributing a lot of money. It was a domino effect.

“Right, the auction,” I muttered, my gaze falling back to the cluttered desk. With everything going on, I had completely spaced it.

“Timothy, I know things have been tough lately, but we can’t let it affect the business. The auction is crucial for your public image and fundraising efforts. You said you wanted to up your philanthropic efforts when you pulled back from the business. I spoke with the director months ago and assured them your schedule would be cleared.”

I sighed, rubbing my temples as if I could massage away the mounting stress. “Bennet, I appreciate your dedication, but right now, I can’t focus on a charity event. My life is unraveling, and I don’t know how to fix it.”

Bennet’s eyes softened with understanding. “I get it, Timothy. Regina is causing you a lot of grief, but avoiding the auction won’t make those problems disappear. Let’s at least try to salvage what we can. You’ll feel better once you’ve gone. I know how important this is to you. If you don’t go, you’re going to feel guilty, and it’s only going to stress you out more. I think two hours is sufficient. You’ll put on the tux, smile, shake a few hands, and leave them with a bunch of money. Everyone goes home happy.”

It wasn’t nearly as simple as that. “I guess what you’re telling me is I don’t have a choice.”

“Something like that,” he chuckled. “How are things today? Have the dark clouds cleared?”

I shook my head, frustration building within me. “I’ve exhausted every effort with Paisley. She doesn’t grasp that I can’t just refuse to hand her back to her mother. Regina has the law on her side, and I’m stuck in a situation with no solution. I can’t focus on the auction when my personal life is falling apart.”

Bennet sighed, pacing the room. “I understand the complexity of the situation, Timothy. But maybe if we show some stability in the business, it could help in the legal proceedings. We can’t let everything crumble around us.”

“Nothing is crumbling,” I said.

Bennet leaned against the desk. “Timothy, I know it’s tough, but shutting everything out won’t make it better. You need to find a balance between your personal and professional life. Do not let Regina take this away from you. I know it’s important. Don’t let her win.”

“I’ll let you know tomorrow,” I told him, making it clear it was my final answer.

He nodded once. “Understood.”

I worked for a bit before I found myself walking through gardens. It was a warm night, and the smell of the flowers was thick in the humid air. My thoughts went to Catherine, wondering how I had let myself fall so hard for her. I didn’t do that kind of thing. Not anymore. I had turned off all emotion and was all about making calculated decisions. She came in and turned everything upside down. I couldn’t believe how much I missed her. I missed seeing her, watching her work and most of all, talking to her. She had a very calming presence.

I couldn’t say what came over me, but I suddenly had to see her. I walked inside and found Bennet officially off-duty and watching a Tom Cruise movie. “Bennet, I need to go out for a minute. Will you be around to keep an eye on things?”

“Sure.” He shrugged. “Is she here?”