While we were in Tennessee, of course, the paparazzi found out and snapped some photos of Theo and me. Some of the paparazzi guys were pretty sneaky and had managed to grab a close up photo of my engagement ring.
Speculation about the cost of my ring became the talk of the town, if the town was the collective media. No matter how many millions of dollars Theo spent, what mattered to me the most was what it stood for. It was a symbol of our love. If he had given me something much more simple, I would have loved it all the same.
It was true. With it on my hand as I worked at my computer, the sparkle and shine of the rock could be distracting. It truly was a beautiful piece of jewelry.
Everyone back at Pictogram congratulated me on our engagement except for one person, Penny. She cornered me in the bathroom.
In a syrupy sweet voice, she asked, “Can I see the ring everyone can’t stop talking about?”
A little guarded, I quickly flashed my hand at her, but she snatched my fingertips and pulled my hand closer to her. “Well, isn’t that beautiful.” Her face tightened with disdain and her eyes looked stormy.
Stepping back from her and walking to the door, I said, “Thank you, Penny”
As I reached for the door, she gave a snide laugh. “You know? I think it’s great you’re going along with all of this.”
I turned back around to face her. “What do you mean?”
Her red hair was more unkempt than I’d ever seen it. She usually wore a tight bun, but today, her hair had unraveled, strands of hair fluttering as she spoke. “You do know, don’t you? The only reason Theo asked you to marry him is because the Board told him to.”
My body felt like it had fallen through the floor. “He would never just listen to whatever the Board tells him to do.” My voice unintentionally quivered.
Penny’s mouth tightened into a smirk. “Poor thing. You just don’t know Theo like I do. He loves the company and would do anything to save it.” She laughed wickedly. “Even marry you.”
My anger boiled quickly. “That’s not true! Theo loves me. What we have is real. You wouldn’t know anything about it.” Hating myself for doing it, I added, “We even went to Tennessee to meet his family. We’re in love.”
Penny shook her head. “That publicity stunt in Tennessee? I have to say that was well executed. The media ate it all up.”
Doubt began to bubble up inside me, overtaking my anger. Could Penny be telling the truth? Would Theo do that to me?
“I took notes at the Board meeting, Mia. If anyone would know what is really happening, it would be me.” She cocked her head in mocked sympathy. “Oh no! Have I upset you?”
Grabbing for the door handle, I spat, “You’re lying. I don’t believe you.”
Penny clucked her tongue contemptuously. “You’re so predictable! I knew you were going to say that, but unfortunately, Theo and I are a lot closer than you think.” She stepped closer. Her heels clicked menacingly on the bathroom floor. “We’ve been sleeping together for years.”
My throat suddenly went dry. That couldn’t be true! I was with Theo now on most night. My heart dropped into my stomach. What if they were together on the nights I wasn’t there? What if they were having sex in his office, just like I had?
Gathering my strength, I managed to say, “That was before we even met.” Theo had never told me Penny and he were ever involved, but I hedged my bets that possibly they once were. It would explain Penny’s rudeness and spitefulness towards me.
“You might want to check your email, honey. I sent you a juicy clip that you probably want to see.” She cackled wildly. “Or you probably don’t want to see.”
Hurrying out the door, my legs felt wobbly and unstable. My entire world was crashing down on me. I ducked into an empty conference room. Whatever Penny had sent me it was probably something to be viewed alone.
Checking my email on my phone, there was an email from Penny with the title: Hate to break it to you.
My hands shook as I opened the email with a video attachment. I hesitated. Should I watch it? Could I handle what I was about to see?
Taking a deep breath, I told myself that I needed to know the truth.
I pressed play. It was Penny and Theo having sex. The video was too grainy for me to decipher where they were, but it was unmistakably the two of them. Conveniently, the time stamp on the bottom said the video had been recorded last Monday. A Monday where I stayed at school working on an assignment with Jill.
My legs gave out as I collapsed onto the floor in a ball of sorrow. Tears fell from my eyes in a torrent as my heart twisted and cracked in my chest.
Everything had been a lie. Theo. The engagement. His fake promises. His phony devotion. All of it was built on lies.