He looked coldly at her, his brow raised. “Oh?”
“And I took a look. It’s not good. It pretty much confirms Ava Herrera’s account of what happened that night, down to the torn blouse.”
“I see.” But he waited, both brows raised. “And?”
“And I think we have a dilemma. Under the rules of discovery, any relevant evidence must be provided to the other side. I’m trying hard not to reach the conclusion that we should notify Ms. Herrera of the DVD’s existence.”
“Ms. Matthews, I’m perfectly aware of the rules of evidence. But I don’t see why this is even an issue. If Ms. Herrera was diligently protecting her interests, she’d have already attained a copy of the surveillance. If they had any interest in the video, they could contact the hotel, as you did, and request a copy. It’s not like it’s very hard. And it’s certainly not up to us to hand deliver them any evidence that they were too lazy to discover themselves.” It was practically the same argument she had made to herself. “Am I making myself clear here?”
Kate chewed her bottom lip. Perfectly. She nodded.
“Good. Because I’d hate it if I helped you get this far only to have you shoot yourself in the foot at this stage in the game.”
He’d helped her, all right. But only for what it could gain him, not out of any personal affection, as she once had believed. Had the McKenna depositions gone any other way, she’d have been hung out to dry without a qualm. And if she went through and produced this DVD for the other side, she’d not be only saying good-bye to her partnership, she’d be out the door in a blink of an eye.
She stared at him clearly for the first time since she had known him. The halo she usually saw encircling his head wasn’t just tarnished but had evaporated entirely.
It made this next decision all the easier.
She stood. “I completely understand what’s at stake. Here, this is a copy of the DVD from the Radisson,” she said and placed it on his desk. It was hard to miss the satisfied grin that crossed his face. She paused, relishing the moment and what she was about to say. “Because it’s only fair you retain that copy so you know what’s on it after I send the copy I’ve made to Ms. Herrera’s attorney. It’s going out certified mail today.”
“Kate.” This time his voice raised several octaves and Tim half stood in his seat. “Wait. You need to understand what you’re about to do. This is a decision you can’t come back from.”
“I know, Tim. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. My resignation will be on your desk by the end of the day.”
Seeing the look on his face as she sailed out of the office was priceless. She just wished she’d be around to see Mark McKenna’s when the stories he’d fabricated came crashing down.
Her heart lighter, she reached her office and shut the door. She had a call to make and a letter of resignation to write.
She stared at the phone for a long minute, though. Because the call she wanted to make wasn’t to Jessica to take that offer, not just then. It was to one person only. The one person who would understand the sacrifice she’d made, and who would make her feel like her choice, no matter what, had been the right one.
Because he had that much faith in her.
Swiping an errant tear, she picked up her phone and made her call.
“Jessica Lund, please.”
…
“You gonna stand there all day and watch me work?” Cruz asked Saturday afternoon as they worked on framing the basement at Dominic’s house.
“I would if I thought you had any idea what you were doing,” Dominic quipped. He had to get his head in the game, though, and he couldn’t keep letting thoughts of Kate and the last time they’d been here together flood his mind. It was pointless.
When Cruz had called him this morning to see if he needed some help, Dominic had considered refusing. Knowing that this last-minute offer probably had something to do with his announcement at dinner last Sunday.
It had taken a few days, but it seemed as if his family had come to terms with what he’d done—if the growing number of voicemails on his phone were any indication. Even Daisy had called and after three voicemails where she yelled at him for butting into her life and lying, she’d calmed down enough by the fourth to tell him she loved and appreciated what he’d done for her but if he ever tricked her again, the time she’d shaved his head in high school the night before class pictures would be child’s play. She’d even mentioned finding a job as a baker at an up-and-coming neighborhood café that gave her flexibility she needed with the kids and the pleasure of getting paid for doing something she loved.
Unfortunately, none of the calls were from the one person he really wanted to hear from.
But he had to join the land of the living eventually, and today seemed as good a time as any. Dominic needed someone to talk to. It was time.
Especially when he thought about the evening that he’d once imagined for them tonight. Celebrating her promotion and dancing with the most beautiful woman in the room at that engagement party.
Now he had images of her and Michael together.
“Don’t tell me. You’re thinking about a certain redhead. If you’re still so obsessed with her, why don’t you pick up the phone and tell her whatever you need to so she can forgive whatever stupid thing you did and you guys can make up and move on?”
“It’s a lot more complicated than that. Kate’s probably back with her ex by now.”