"Stop looking." She read the words aloud, completely unimpressed. "Who took this? Why was it taken? Have we verified the handwriting?"
I answered the questions in the order she'd asked them. "Libby. New Castle. The handwriting is definitely Toby's."
Alisa rolled her eyes heavenward. "You sent Libby after him?"
I was getting ready to tell her that there was nothing wrong with Libby, when Grayson clarified the situation. "And Nash."
It took Alisa a full four or five seconds to recover from the fact Nash had known-and that he was with Libby now. "And you," she told Grayson heatedly, "You had time to look up the legal precedent, but it didn't occur to you to talk to a lawyer?"
Grayson looked down at the cuff link of hi right sleeve, considering his response. He must have decided on honesty, because when he lifted his gaze back to Alisa, all he said was, "We couldn't be certain where your loyalties would lie."
This time Alisa didn't look angry. She looked like she might cry. "How could you say that to me Gray?" She searched his expression for a response, and I was reminded that she'd grown up with the Hawthorne family. She'd known Grayson, Jameson, and Xander their entire lives. "When did I become the enemy here?"
"I have never said you are the enemy." Grayson kept his voice and expression cool.
"Well, you sure act like I am. What have I done to deserve this?"
"I think you know very well what you have done."
At first, I wasn't sure what Grayson meant, but looking at Alisa's torn expression I soon figured it out.
"Nash." She said, "It's been over 6 years and you still won't forgive me."
Grayson was silent, but there was no denying what she had said was true.
"I have only done what the old man wanted me to do." She spoke like those words were being physically torn out of her. "Do you have any idea what that has cost me?"
"It's not just you that it cost." Grayson said quietly.
"I don't understand you Gray, Nash has forgiven me. I made a mistake. One that I will have to live with for the rest of my life. You of all people should understand that."
Emily. She was talking about Emily. What a low blow.
Grayson didn't rile easily though. All he said was, "We all have regrets in life. Some more than others."
Whether that was directed at her or himself or both, I couldn't tell.
I thought I was in the clear, but unfortunately, Alisa wasn't finished with me.
"I am holding this empire by a thread." Alisa swiped angrily at her face with the back of her hand, and I realized a single tear had escaped. Her expression made it damn clear that it would be the last. "Avery, I will handle this situation. I will put out this fire. I will do what needs to be done, but the next time you lie to me? I will throw you to the wolves myself."
Hey, I hope you liked it. I'm so awful with rewrites, but I thought this is one scene that could have had more. Hopefully it was ok.
