“Judge Schaefer implied that I coerced Alan while he was sick and fragile?”
“Something like that, yes,” Alice said hesitantly.
“You don’t need to look like that, Alice. Do you think that’s some novel accusation? I’ve heard similar charges and whisperings for years now. Fortunately, Alan Durand was a very smart man. His mind remained as sharp as it ever was up until almost the very end. He’d already locked up things tight with his will and estate pla
nning far before he weakened. The naysayers never had a chance, given Alan’s foresight and brilliance. The only thing left to them was to hiss their conspiracy theories to each another.”
Alice listened to this with a sense of relief. It didn’t surprise her that there would be those who would dissent when the transfer of so much power went wholesale to Dylan.
“Was there something else that Schaefer said that bothered you?”
“Yes,” she admitted in a small voice.
“What?” he asked, whisking his hand along her jawline and caressing the side of her neck. She shivered in pleasure when his long fingers slid beneath the hair at her nape and he rubbed the tense muscles there. Had he sensed her increased uncertainty and was trying to relax her?
“Thad probably was wrong about it,” she wavered.
“Alice, just tell me.”
“He said that Sidney was one of the people who questioned your suitableness as CEO.”
Her heart leapt a little when his rubbing fingers never paused.
“That’s true. Sidney did protest. But not for the same reason most of the dissenters did.”
She met his stare, amazed by his calm proclamation.
“But why? I thought Sidney trusted you.”
He shrugged. Alice slid her hands up his shirt and cupped his shoulders.
“Remember that Sidney was my psychiatrist in the years after Addie was taken. Because of that, he is of the opinion that he knows a great deal more about the inner workings of my mind than he really does.”
“What does he think he knows that would bring your worthiness as CEO of Durand into doubt?”
She sensed his hesitation. His irritation.
“Dylan?” she asked when he didn’t respond immediately.
“Sidney is of the opinion that I’ve dedicated my life to Alan Durand’s legacy out of guilt.”
Alice flinched slightly at the harshness of his words.
“Because of the guilt you felt when Addie Durand was taken while under your watch?” she asked slowly. He nodded once, his mouth tight. The subject clearly annoyed him. “Sidney thought you couldn’t be a good leader of Durand because of this guilt?”
“No. He expressed his doubt because he was concerned about me.” He must have seen her confusion. “Sidney believes I should move out of the shadow of Durand. He thinks that I’ve chosen to remain eclipsed by the tragedies that happened when I was a teenager. He is of the opinion that I’ve chosen a life of guilt and oppression instead of freedom to choose my life’s path.” Alice was still bewildered. “Sidney believes that I’m obsessed with the topic of Addie Durand and her kidnapping,” he snapped succinctly.
Alice’s mouth fell open. She suddenly felt cold. So this was the source of the underground current of tension she felt at times between Dylan and Sidney.
And this was the source of Dylan’s constant worry about her well-being and safety.
As Dylan’s child therapist, Sidney had been privy to the harsh effects Addie Durand’s kidnapping and presumed death had on an adolescent boy’s mind. It made sense.
It made horrible sense. What if Dylan’s intense attraction toward her was related? What if his involvement with her was some kind of psychological residue of their shared trauma?
Oh God. It was too much for her to consider right now, when the entire structure of her life—her very identity—seemed to be crumbling all around her.
“You don’t believe in Sidney’s theories?” she asked shakily. Hopefully.