“Lucy!” Graham says sharply.
Lucy’s eyes fill with tears. “When you got sick, you forgave him. And after you started getting those shots, you also forgot everything he did to you. But you deserve to know what he did before you make any decisions about the company.” She pauses. “I want you to know.”
I stare at her, stunned by the revelation. Graham was stealing from me. He was embezzling money from my company.
“You’re out of your mind, Lucy.” Graham’s blue eyes are bulging out of their sockets. “I would never do that to Tess. Why would you lie like that?”
Lucy ignores him and turns her gaze on me. “He gave me a job at the company so I wouldn’t say anything to you.” She drops her eyes. “I’m so sorry. You’re my best friend. I’ll never forgive myself.”
I turn away from her, my head pounding. Harry has come out of the kitchen and is standing behind me. He looks as stunned as I feel. He never trusted Graham, but he didn’t know about this.
“You asshole.” Harry’s right hand balls into a fist. “What have you done to her?”
“Go to hell.” Graham lifts his chin, folding his arms across his chest. “You act so goddamn self-righteous, but you don’t know what this last year was like. Every morning, Tess wakes up and she doesn’t know what the hell is going on. She wakes me up screaming. I’ve been taking care of her—doing everything for her like she’s a child. Before that, I took her to every goddamn doctor’s appointment. I was there through chemotherapy treatment. I cleaned up the vomit. I deserve the company after what I’ve been through.”
Now Graham turns to me. He reaches out for my hand, but I wrench it away. “Tess, you know what I’ve done for you. You wouldn’t even be alive right now if not for me. And I kept your secret, because I know how much it scared you to end up like your mother.”
I blink at him. Of all the things he’s said, this is the only one that gets through. He knows my biggest fear. And he did try to help me.
“This is bullshit,” Harry spits at him. “She’s not going to give you her company after what you’ve done. Right, Tess?”
I open my mouth to answer him, but my throat is too dry to get any words out. Maybe it’s a side effect of the medication. Harry and Lucy are both watching me with equally worried expressions on their faces.
“I’ll take care of your company, Tess,” Graham pleads with me. “Just sign those papers and I’ll keep it going for you. And then you can do whatever you want with your boyfriend here for the last few months of your life. You don’t ever have to hear from me again.” There’s a mildly threatening edge to his voice as he adds, “You don’t want to drag this out in court, do you?”
He knows I don’t want that. I don’t want to spend my remaining time fighting this man. If I sign the papers now, it will be done. You don’t ever have to hear from me again.
Graham holds out the papers to me. I could sign those papers. I don’t want to give him my company, but I also don’t want to spend the last months of my life fighting him. And I can tell from the look in his eyes that he will fight me until I’m dead. What’s the difference if he gets the company? I won’t be around to see it, anyway.
“Don’t do this, Tess,” Harry says.
I take the contract from Graham’s hand. It’s still open to the page that has the X, waiting for my signature. He holds out the pen and I take it from him.
“You’re doing the right thing,” Graham says.
“I know I am,” I say.
I take the contract and I rip it in half. I let the pieces flutter to the floor.
Chapter 44
ONE WEEK LATER
Harry is helping me pack.
I don’t recognize most of the stuff in the closet—it’s all designer outfits that don’t feel like me. My inclination is to leave it all behind. We’ve got plenty of money in my bank account. I can buy clothing and anything I need when we arrive at our destination.
We’re leaving tomorrow morning. I can’t wait.
“You should bring a few things,” Harry points out. “I mean, you don’t want to wake up tomorrow and have nothing to wear.”
I don’t care if I wake up tomorrow and have nothing to wear. As long as I remember yesterday. This morning when I woke up next to Harry, I could still remember the day before. And the day before that. My memories are still patchy, but they’re all coming back to me little by little, like a jigsaw puzzle falling into place.