Christmas at Fireside Cabins - Jenny Hale Page 0,98

into the books. It was a simple oversight that the accountant found, and tax adjustments were made to correct it. That’s all it was.”

She eyed him suspiciously. “That’s not what the press says, and you certainly didn’t tell me…”

“You didn’t let me. And come on, Alexa. You and I both know what the press can be like. Do you really believe them?”

“I don’t believe you. Why did you run if you’re not guilty?”

“Because I’ve had it with all this.” He waggled his finger between them. “Do you realize this conversation has been nothing but an effort by you to fix your broken reputation? Not even once has it been about you and me. You’re angry and hostile because I made you look bad… It’s always been about appearances.”

“Liar. I married you in some hole of a shack in the sand.” She wrinkled her nose in disgust. “That was not about appearances.”

“I wouldn’t call a beachside ceremony under a thatched-roof cabana in Fiji ‘a shack in the sand,’” he said, shaking his head, disbelief on his face. “But it further proves my point. Let’s end this right now.”

She shook her head, slipping her glasses back on. “No. I won’t end this until either I prove to the press what a terrible person you are, or you tell them yourself. You won’t get a single signature from me on any divorce papers until you say that I wasn’t involved, admit your cover-up, and face criminal charges for embezzlement. And in the meantime, if I can make them see how you completely deceived me, maybe they’ll listen to me when I say I had nothing to do with any of this.”

The camera in the woods went off yet again.

“At least I’ve got photos to prove my story now,” she said, nodding to the invisible paparazzo before opening her car door and getting in. The engine of her Tesla revved and she pulled away down the drive.

Lila sat in her cabin, physically shaken by the altercation with Alexa.

“This isn’t how I’d planned today to go,” Theo admitted. “I told you she wouldn’t play nice.”

Smash had gone to his cabin, probably to give them time to talk, and the two of them were sitting in the silent cabin, the fire barely flickering, an icy chill snaking around Lila’s ankles, giving her a shiver.

“It’s really okay, though. She can’t hurt me any more than she already has.”

“Can I ask you something out of curiosity?” Lila said, still trying to make sense of what had happened.

“Anything.”

“Who are Brian Brown and P. Perry? I saw the names on an envelope in your office.”

“Brian Brown is just a name I made up to try to hide away from everything. But now I realize that I can’t escape it. I need to face it. And P. Perry is me—Paul Theodore Perry.”

She offered a weak smile, glad to know his whole name and also that there were no more questions, but the whole ordeal had her head pounding.

“I think I need some time to process this,” she said. She needed to clear her mind and get some rest so she could think straight.

Theo gave her hand a supportive squeeze. “Okay,” he said. “Dad and I will go to his cabin to give you space.” He looked uncertain, and she wondered if he’d been just as shaken by Alexa’s visit.

“Thank you,” was all she could muster, completely exhausted by the day.

“I’ll text you from Dad’s phone so you have a way to get ahold of me if you need me.”

Lila nodded.

“I’m so sorry, Lila,” he said, but she stopped him.

“I just need some time.” She tried to focus on Theo but the pain in her head was now piercing.

Theo stood and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. Then he let himself out, leaving her alone in the cabin.

Getting up, she let herself into the bedroom. As she sank down onto the soft mattress, her thoughts were still going a mile a minute. Her face was probably going to be plastered across magazines and online. Who knew what they’d say about her? Despite the fact he didn’t want to be, Theo was a public figure, and people were interested in his life. Even if he could get Alexa to agree to a divorce quietly, it would most likely be a messy one. She worried Alexa would draw it out just for spite, and spread rumors about them because Theo would never admit to the press what she wanted him to admit—he