“Vanessa, hey. Calm down. Nobody makes partner in only ten years these days. And if you do, it’ll be because the firm expects you to pull in enough business to justify that decision.”
“It’s just business? That’s what you’re saying?”
“Well, yeah. It’s okay to use family connections for that. People hire people they like.”
She choked back a hysterical laugh. She couldn’t even use her family name anymore because she wasn’t a real Pryce. Salazar wouldn’t hire her firm, no matter what, and now it became clear why he’d warned her about that before.
Felix was giving her a shrewd look. “Are you sure there isn’t another reason why you’re upset about people knowing about your marriage?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why do people keep their relationships secret? Like us, when we were dating.”
“It would’ve been awkward if people knew, especially since we were dating casually. It wasn’t serious.”
“Exactly.” Felix smiled, a tinge of nostalgia in the curve of his lips. “We didn’t want everyone to know when our relationship ended. So what about your marriage? It’s not like getting hitched to somebody like Justin Sterling is a badge of shame. My guess is you didn’t want anybody to know in case you went your separate ways.”
“You do the pop psychology thing as a sideline?”
“You don’t believe me?”
“Felix, there’s no way our divorce would stay quiet.”
“If you can marry somebody like him in secret, you can divorce him the same way.” Felix finished his cappuccino. “And mock me all you like, but the fact is, everyone wants to keep their failures hidden from the world. You’re a smart woman, Vanessa. Be honest with yourself.”
Vanessa reached for her latte and held it like a shield. Honesty scared her; it usually told her something she’d rather not know. Sometimes illusions were better for one’s peace of mind.
Except now it was too late.
Chapter Twenty-Three
After Vanessa walked out, Justin spent a few fruitless minutes trying to figure out what was bugging her, then gave it up as hopeless. Instead, he got in his car and drove to a downtown hotel lobby.
He checked his watch as he walked in. Right on time. A woman who matched the photo Pattington had sent was seated in a plush leather armchair that seemed to swallow her slim frame.
She wasn’t gorgeous the way Vanessa was. If it hadn’t been for Ceinlys’s admission, he would never have guessed that this woman was related to his wife. Peggy had shaggy brown hair, styled with care and wax. Her features were even and pretty, but not exceptional enough to stand out. Still, she seemed to fit in with the luxury marbled surroundings somehow.
She got up when she noticed him. “Thank you so much,” she said. “I know you’re a busy man. And sorry about the venue, but I wanted to make it quick before I have to get back to my mother.”
“I thought you were living with a boyfriend.”
“Wow. You were thorough, weren’t you? We broke up yesterday, and I moved out.”
They sat down, taking two chairs near a hotel phone.
“So. What is this meeting about?” he asked.
“I just wanted to say thanks. And I’m curious about the man my half-sister married.”
“There are more than a few profiles and articles about me.” He kept his voice matter-of-fact. The first thing he’d learned was that people rarely wanted to see him just for shits and giggles.
“All carefully edited to help you maintain an image. I know how the media game is played.” Her gaze roamed his clothes, shoes, watch, haircut, giving him the uncomfortable but familiar sensation of being catalogued for assets. “It’s amazing, isn’t it? That she and I are related?”
“You can always take a paternity test if you’re so astounded,” he said somewhat unkindly. She could try all she wanted, but he wasn’t giving her anything more. If it hadn’t been for her cancer patient mom, she would’ve gotten nothing.
“That won’t be necessary,” Peggy said finally with a smile that felt oddly empty.
Enough of this. “Have you contacted my assistant?”