Roger’s POV

    Dad and I had moved out of the house and were living in an apartment together. Things were much more peaceful for both of us. Mom still blows his phone up daily, trying to beg him toe home. But he just kept blocking the numbers she’s calling from. We were both working long days as we tried to fix the mess we were in. I’m d that Dad hadn’t pointed out that I was the one who had ultimately messed everything up by listening to Mom.

    He had contacted the best divorce attorney in the city the Monday after the wedding. He wasn’t ying. I had been looking at ces to stay, and had bought this two–bedroom condo. It worked out well for us, and I already felt the me for putting Dad in a tight spot. Dad hadn’t mentioned it since the day we were heading to the wedding. It seems like he is putting the me on Mom. I guess it’s because he asked her to stop, and she hid what she was doing from him.

    My father’s attorney mentioned that it could y out in his favor. He had lost a lot of money buying up those stocks. They said it would work out to his advantage, especially since I was attempting to rebuild. Right now, they weren’t worth much. But after the divorce, if I can get Elizabeth, I mean Ana, back. I might just be able to survive the biggest mistake of my life.

    “I’ve been told that she returnedst night and will be returning to work this afternoon. The private investigator is trailing them. He said that she went to her attorney’s office and is now at lunch. I believe that she will be heading to work after lunch,” my assistant advised.

    “Got it, thanks,” I replied. I grabbed my suit jacket and headed out the door. I grabbed something to eat on theway to Fashion Forward. I knew she would be here soon, so I quickly ate. I wanted to speak with the privateinvestigator and confirm that she’s in the same SUV. I wanted to know what vehicle to look for today.

    I didn’t care that she went to her attorney’s office. That was going to fall straight on my mother and Sasha. I wasn’t going to help them out of the hole they dug either. They knowingly lied; now they can deal with theconsequences of those lies. I was sitting there, waiting for a blue Porsche to arrive, when I saw my mother’s car pull up. My mother, sister, and Sasha pulled up behind me, with a white van behind them.

    Clearly, they’ve learned nothing from their previous interactions. I got out of my car and headed over to them. “You three need to leave, now. Haven’t you done enough damage to me and mypany? I need her toe back. I won’t allow you to cause more issues. You know who she is now, yet you still came here to cause problems,” I snapped out.

    They needed to know what a dangerous game they’re ying. I’m not going to help them, and neither is Dad. They needed to leave now. I know she’ll be here soon. I’ve been here for forty minutes. Between stopping for lunch and driving here, it’s been an hour. The reporters approached us and started firing off questions.

    “Are you here to win your ex back?”

    “Will yourpany survive without those stolen designs?”

    “Is it true that your parents‘ divorce is because your father was interested in your ex–fiancée?”

    My head snapped towards my mother as thatst question was a tant lie. “Are you seriously acting like Dad cheated on you? He respected her, but there was nothing between them. Your jealously knows no bounds, Mom. You’ve lost it,” I told her before turning toward the cameras.

    “I’m trying to get Elizabeth, I mean Ana Caldwell, to return to mypany. Her designs have been our best sellers over the years. She’s an expert in design. But they are her designs. She didn’t steal them. I believe that the court case will prove that. Anyone who implies or states that the designs were stolen will be the one who needs to prove it. I never alleged that, and have not received any legal documentation about it. My–ex–wife, along with my sister and mother, was the one who implied that. They will be the ones to bear the burden of proof. But those designs belong to Ana. I’m hoping that she will be kind enough to allow me to use some of them in the near future,” I stated.

    “You were too soft on her. Don’t you know that she cheated on you? She had to be cheating this whole time, Roger. How else could she find someone to marry in such a short amount of time? I saw the pictures. He loves her. That kind of love isn’t instant. It develops over time. You just want to believe that it’s new tofort yourself. But you need to realize, brother, that she was nothing but a low–life cheater. Despite her family name. Look at what her brother does; it runs in the family. He unts his rtionships, as if they’re something to be proud of. So what if their Caldwell’s? That doesn’t make them any better than us, brother,” Regina stated.

    “I’m not going to argue with you here. You three need to leave and take this film crew with you. If Ana shows up while you are still here. I swear I’ll never forgive you. I need her toe back, or at least help me by selling me some designs. Mypany’s about to be ruined thanks to Mom’s brilliant idea. Listening to her and Sasha was the most ignorant thing I’ve ever done,” I snapped out.

    “Well, I guess it’s toote, because we’re already here,” Ana’s voice came from beside me. She sat in a Porsche that I’d never heard pull up. I suppose all the yelling drowned out the sound of the engine.

    “You b***h, that’s my car!” Sasha screeched out. She started walking over to Ana, and the car immediately took off. The gate was already open. I guess they knew her car, because they shot right through and parked about sixty feet away from the gate before getting out of the car.

    Sasha was screeching at the top of her lungs about Ana’s car. I realized that the car she wanted so bad, but was too expensive, had to be the one I was currently looking at. I must admit, it was a nice car. I could understand why Sasha was pissed, but if she hadn’t been spending my money like water on clothes, shoes, and purses, she would have had the money to buy that car.

    “Are you trying to take everything away from me, Elizabeth? Is that what you’re doing? Because that was supposed to be my car. It’s the only one like it in the city. When will you be satisfied?” Sasha spat out as she shook the now closed gate. She was furious and only got madder as Ana stopped walking about ten feet from the gate.

    “Exactly what have I taken from you, Sasha? If memory serves, and it does, you’ve been the one to take

    everything away from me. First, my fiancé, whom you married secretly. You couldn’t afford the car because you didn’t want to work and had been overspending for months. It’s not your car, it’s mine. Bought and paid for. Guess what? If you take money to the dealership, they’ll sell you a car, too. You just have to be able to pay for it. You even tried to steal my jewelry designs. So please, enlighten me, what exactly did I take from you?” Ana asked.

    “You knew I wanted that car, don’t act innocent. How else could you end up with the exact one that I wanted?”Sasha continued to try to shift the me onto Ana.

    “It didn’t have your name on it, and I liked the color. So, how could I possibly have known? I was told that the deal had fallen through when I was on the lot. However, your name was never mentioned. What I want to know is how any of you knew I was back in town? Are you having me followed? If you show up to ambush me again, I’ll get restraining orders against all three of you. The days of me allowing you to clown around me are over. I don’t care what happens to any of you. Especially you, Joyce. I’m done,” Ana snapped back.-

    Sasha suddenly went quiet. She had no way to twist it; Ana had clearly told her what was up. My mother went to speak, but I stopped her.

    “Ana, I know how badly I messed up. I don’t want your work for free. May I purchase the rights to some of your work? I’m asking you as a friend and because we share a rtionship as former co–owners. I would love for you toe back and work with me again. I was angry and devalued all the work and effort you had put into my business, our business. Please don’t let it copse, and put all our employees out of a job because of my mistake. Just a few designs? Please.” I asked. I was humble now. I knew this was myst chance to save my business.

    “So, now that reality has set in, you suddenly know what you did to me was wrong. Why should I help you?” Ana asked. Her voice was hard. I could tell that she wasn’t going to make this easy on me.

    “I was disloyal and maniptive. I was angry and took it out on you, even though you had done nothing wrong. I see that now. You had been the only one who supported me all these years, and I failed youpletely, I failed to protect you from my family. I failed to show thepany how valuable you were. I allowed my friends to disrespect you for no reason other than I wanted to im thepany’s sess as my own. I was wrong for it. I sat at the helm, acting like I got myself there. Taking everything from you and trying to leave you with nothing was a d**k move. I’m sorry, Ana. I was sorry before I knew who you were, but I truly wish I could go back and change everything. I wish I knew then what I know now,” I admitted.

    “I bet you do. But no one twisted your arm, Roger. This is what you wanted. Don’t get upset at me for giving you exactly what you wanted. Don’t forget, and I’m sure you haven’t, because your mother has mentioned this to me several times. Losing one employee won’t, destroy apany. Sasha was on the payroll for months, yet still hasn’te up with one design. Maybe you should ask your mommy what to do next? You seemed to enjoy following her advice before,” Ana mocked. I knew that was going to be her answer, but I had to try to see if I could win her back over.

    “You should be happy that he’s giving you an opportunity toe back. Once you embarrass Fashion

    Forward when you lose the giarism case, they’ll drop you like a hot potato,” Joyce cried out in frustration.