Secrets by Forks1

Chapter Fourteen - My Mistake

Tanya Denali

I wasn't sure how I got here, but here I was, sitting in my car, in front of Dante's office. My whole body ached with tension. Oh, Tanya, how could you do this to her? She is just as much a victim in this situation- and those kids...

My head dropped into my hands. I should have just divorced the bastard and let her go on being oblivious to his deceptions. My fingers ran through my hair, grabbing fist-fulls as I tried to pull myself together. Was she the only other wife or were there more? Letting my hands fall into my lap, I shook my head. I don't care. He isn't going to be my problem anymore...

How could I blackmail her like that? What was I thinking? Damn you, Kate!

Toughen up, Tanya, what's done is done- there is no turning back now!

With a deep breath, my fingers grabbed the keys, pulling them out of the ignition. I jumped in my seat as the door opened, Dante squatted down next to the car. "Hey, you've been sitting out here for over fifteen minutes- are you ok?"

My eyes searched his for a moment. I need to tell him.

"Can we go inside?" I asked in a tight voice.

Dante pulled me out of the car, bringing me into a tight embrace. "You're shaking, Tanya, what happened?"

Pull yourself together!

"Nothing much," I said, except that I yanked the rug out from beneath Angela Webber and her innocent children. Pulling away I walked to the entrance of his office.

Dante held the door open for me, escorting me through the reception area back into his spacious private office. He pulled out a chair for me but I shook my head, folded my arms across my chest, and started to pace in front of his desk. Dante walked around his desk and sat in his large chair, leaning back, watching me.

What do I say? Damn- I just need to get this off my chest.

"You're going to wear the carpet thin at the rate you're going," Dante teased with a grin, though it didn't reach his eyes.

Stopping in my tracks, I pivoted around to meet his burning gaze. "Kate called me the other day. She saw Masen with another woman- a pregnant woman!" My feet picked up their path as I began to pace again.

Dante sat forward, propping his elbows up on the desk. "I hate to tell you this, but you and me- same thing only you're not pregnant." His voice was not harsh, but soothing, as he tried to make me feel better- but it didn't work.

"Bullshit! THIS-" I sneered pointing at him and then me, "is NOT the same- we have never set up house together."

"Why exactly do you think I bought my house two years ago? Did you think I wanted to have a longer commute to work?" He paused, watching the shock register on my face.

"We never..."

"I bought the damn house for you, Tanya, in the hopes that one day you would leave- him."

"Still, this is different... We haven't moved in together," I whispered.

"You're right, but Masen is still living with you- it is where his clothes are."

"No, you're wrong. I went to her house-"

"Who's house?"

"Angela's."

Dante looked confused. "How do you know her name?"

"Kate recognized her at the mall."

"Well, who is she?"

"Angela Forbes Weber-and she thinks Masen... She has pictures of her wedding to Masen! In Vegas of all places." I laughed at the absurdity.

"You went to her house? What happened while you were there?" he whispered, looking horrified.

"I told her who I was, who Masen really was. She was shocked and disgusted but do you want to know the most pathetic part of it all?"

"I'm sure I don't." Dante's voice was flat with no feeling.

"She still wants him. She is paying me to disappear out of his life for good!"

"What do you mean she's paying you?"

Shit. How do I say this without looking completely horrible? "I... uh... well- Kate put the damn idea in my head- I would have never- NEVER done this..." My voice broke.

Dante stood up, slamming his palms down on the desk. "Tell me what you did, Tanya!" The echo of his hands hitting the hard wood jolted through me as I stepped back, the back of my legs bumping into the chair behind me.

"I asked her what she was willing to do- to have me permanently disappear out of Masen's life. She didn't even blink before telling me she'd pay me three quarters of a million..."

Dante sat back in his chair, looking deflated and disappointed. "Oh, no," he choked, "what in the hell have you done? Do you realize the problem you may have just created for us? Shit!"

My knees began to shake, my heart raced as I sat down in the chair across from him. "What do you mean?" I whispered, tears stinging my eyes.

"Ten years ago, Mr. Forbes gave me my first start. He put his faith in me, hiring me to do security detail when there were more proven companies out there. It was by his recommendation that my company has grown to be oneof the most sought after security firms in the nation. You just blackmailed his granddaughter!" Dante nearly shouted as he stood up. "If she feels like she needs to be protected, who in the hell do you think they are going to call?"

He walked around his desk, stopping in front of me.

"I didn't know- It wasn't my intent to blackmail her when I went there. When the door opened and I saw those little boys, their bronze hair, their green eyes- Angela's pregnant belly, her huge diamond ring..." My voice trailed off.

Strong hands wrapped around my arms, pulling me up to my feet. "You don't need the damn money…" It was clear that Dante was holding his temper as he spoke through his teeth.

"It isn't about the money!" I screamed. "I just wanted to hurt HIM! I wanted to turn his world upside down so he knows how it feels to be played with!"

Dante lowered his face to mine so our eyes were even, his voice was low and quiet as he said, "You are going to fix this. You are going to go back to her house to apologize and then you are going tell her that you don't want a penny. You are going to do it today. Do you understand me?"

The only thing I could do was nod my head. The shame and disgust I felt for myself was more than I could handle. The tears that had been threatening welled up and spilt over the lids as a quiet sob broke out of my chest.

Dante pulled me into a tight embrace. "I didn't mean to yell, you had no idea how I was connected to the Forbes family. I just know you are better than this, my love."

His loving words made the tears come faster and my sobs come quicker as I clung to him. "I'm so sorry," I gasped between sobs. "I never wanted to hurt anyone except... him."

Dante stroked my hair. "Shh." Dante continued to hold me, comforting me, loving me despite the horrific mistake I had made.

I made the drive back to Fountain Hills in a daze. I was completely humiliated at my previous actions and prayed that Angela would forgive me. Please, God, let her forgive me.

Standing on her doorstep, I rang the bell. After a few minutes, I rang it again and then knocked.

Where is she?

The next morning...

A soft knock sounded on the bathroom door as I stepped out of the shower. "Yes?" I called out.

"There is a messenger at the door asking for you, Tanya, he says you need to sign for the envelope," Julia, Dante's housekeeper, said through the door.

I pulled my robe around me while squeezing my eyes tightly shut. My stomach clenched, nausea flooded my body. "Crap!" I hissed as the horrible memories of yesterday replayed in my mind.

"Would you like me to tell him to come back later?" Julia asked.

I grabbed a towel from the rack, running it over my hair, pulling some of the moisture out. "No, I'll be down in a minute."

I felt as if I was completing the walk of shame as I descended the stairs. The young messenger stood in the entrance waiting. His head was down as he used his phone to text back and forth with someone. As I reached the bottom step, I cleared my throat to get his attention.

He glanced up, smiling. "Mrs. Masen?"

I inwardly cringed at the name. "Yes."

He pulled a clipboard and envelope out from under his arm. "If you could just sign here," he said pointing to a line on his clipboard.

My arms moved, bringing my hands behind my back, my fingers interlocking. "Actually, could you just return it to the sender and tell her I changed my mind?"

I was hopeful that he would say yes. When I went back to Angela's house last night she was not home. I had gone as far as to sit out front for over an hour waiting for her to come back so I could apologize and call the whole deal off.

"I'm sorry, I can't do that. Could you just please sign this so I can get back to my deliveries?" The impatience was clear in his voice.

My hand shot out, grabbing the clipboard from him and signed my name with more force than was needed.

I watched the messenger walk back to his car, the small thin envelope in my hands felt like it weighed more than a ton of bricks... gold bricks.

I glanced down at the white weight in my hands and hurried back up to the bedroom. I was about to slide the envelope between the mattresses but then stopped. There was no way I would be able to sleep knowing what was beneath me... I walked over to the dresser and put the envelope under some of my clothes. I would be returning this money to Angela as soon as I could.