Deception

Lisa’s temper rose as she fought to control the irritation that lifted her voice. She’d never told Terri that Alan had tried to make a play for her, too. That would have been too devastating for Terri to handle. She’d dealt with Alan herself, in no uncertain terms. She had the connections to cut the cords of his success with just one phone call. And she made sure that he knew it. It was months before he would even stay in the same room with her for more than a minute.

“My God, Terri, he had a part in it, too. A big part.”

Lisa saw the veil of hurt descend over Terri’s eyes.

“Listen, I’m sorry if I sound callous, but you can’t keep doing this to yourself. I’m your friend, and I’d do anything in the world for you. I can’t sit quietly by and see you tear yourself apart—especially over an SOB like Alan Martin.”

Lisa reached across the table and took Terri’s hand. Her voice lowered to a soothing whisper. “You’re a wonderful person and when the time is right, that special someone is going to see it. Believe me.”

Terri tried to absorb the veracity of Lisa’s words. She knew Lisa was right. Alan was a bastard. But she’d loved and trusted him. She’d almost had his child. That wasn’t something that you could just forget because someone told you so. Over time it had gotten easier, she had to admit. And maybe a special someone would be there to help her forget completely. A secret place in her heart hoped that the someone would be Clint.

Moments of silence passed with both women absorbed in their own private thoughts. Lisa desperately wanted to share the news of her recently discovered pregnancy with Terri, but deep inside she felt that the news would only add to Terri’s misery rather than make her happy for her friend. She’d discussed it with her husband, Brian, and he’d advised against telling Terri, at least right away. Reluctantly Lisa had agreed. This was the first time in the ten years that she and Terri had been friends that she kept something this special from her. The feeling left her empty and a little melancholy. She searched for something to say to ease the tension-filled silence.

“Were you able to use the information I gave you on Clinton Steele?” Lisa asked finally. She instantly noticed the faraway look that passed across Terri’s face and the faint smile that tugged at her lips. Interesting.

“Yes. Thanks,” Terri said softly.

Lisa’s brown eyes creased into a taunt as she leaned forward and ran a hand through her mop of auburn curls. “Come on, tell…tell.”

“There’s nothing to tell.”

“Don’t give me that. I’d know that little smirk of yours any day. So?”

“All right, all right. Just don’t beg,” Terri teased, itching to tell her friend about Clint.

She paused for a moment to collect her thoughts. She began slowly. “Well, at first, I had real misgivings about him. Everything that I had ever heard or read was negative. Hightower Enterprises was notorious for buying up smaller companies, and that’s how he built his fortune—along with very wise investments in the stock market and profits from the companies.” She laughed a self-deprecating laugh. “Little did I know that Mr. Steele never took control of the companies, but helped to rebuild them for the owners. And when they were back on solid ground, Clint turned the reins back to the original owners if they decided that they wanted them. A lot of them didn’t, of course, preferring to put that part of their lives behind them—”

“It’s a shame,” Lisa interjected, “that the media never tells that part of the story. They only publicize the buyouts, but not the positive end results. If you hadn’t asked me to investigate him, I wouldn’t have known myself. He actually started out as a runner on Wall Street. He’s a remarkable man, Terri. Huge amounts of his profits go to the black colleges, universities and community organizations.”

“I know. The worst part is that I fell right into step with the bad press, eating up every word. And he never said a thing to me. He just let me believe those things about him, too proud to tell me anything different. He said he preferred to keep that side of his life private.” Terri sucked on her bottom lip, disappointed in herself.