Chapter 31
New Rules
Gemma
LAMAR TRENTWORTH IS a smart man and feeding him bullshit like I have been is dangerous.
“So you think trying to seduce Enrique is the way to keep him in your life?” he asks.
I straighten my spine. “Yes, I guess I do.”
He wipes his long hair away from his flashing dark eyes. “Those are not pure thoughts, Gemma. You’re making me doubt my previous assessment of you.”
“If I don’t remind him why he has me around, he might forget,” I tell him.
Lamar sighs. “Love doesn’t work that way. Your constant feelings of insecurity where Enrique is involved obviously stem from the loss of your family. I really think we need to spend the next couple of sessions dissecting your emotions over your brother’s betrayal, your grief over your mother’s death, and your inability to accept your father’s mental state."
My fingers clench into fists. He has no idea what he’s talking about. “It’s just, sometimes I wonder if telling Penelope about us wouldn’t make things easier.”
Glaring at me over his glasses, he sneers, “Gemma, you absolutely must not breathe a word about your relationship with Enrique.”
I guess telling Lamar about my feelings concerning the conversation I had with Enrique in the elevator was perfect after all. It not only kept the conversation away from what happened in Mexico, but it also helped convince him I’m not as pure as he thinks I am, and he’ll be sure to tell Enrique I’m not almost ready, after all.
Of course, I made up those feelings I relayed—the ones of jealousy, of need, and fear of rejection. Yes, they were all made up—but luckily, Lamar doesn’t know that.
“Tell me you won’t say a word.”
“I won’t, but that doesn’t mean I understand.”
He stands and comes to squat beside me. “You’ll understand when the time comes for all of us to sit down together and discuss your role in their marriage.”
Role?
This throws me. “What are you talking about?”
Standing, he goes to his desk and scribbles a few notes. “It’s in the materials I gave you weeks ago. Have you not read it?”
I follow him with my eyes. “I guess I missed that part.”
He looks up. “Well, here at The Powers of the Higher Mind, we are taught to embrace new love into our lives, but it is only acceptable when the path is pure. We’ll pick this up in our next session.”
This is my cue to leave. Standing, I grab my purse and head for the door. “Yes. Thank you, Lamar.”
“Gemma,” he calls.
With my hand on the knob, I look over my shoulder.
“If you lie to me again, I’ll be forced to tell Enrique.”
“I—”
He waves a hand. “No excuses. Just read chapters fifteen through twenty before Thursday and any others you’ve told me you’ve read that you haven’t.”
“Yes, I will,” I tell him and then open the door, moving quickly to close it behind me before he notices how much I’m shaking.
Caleb is sitting on the sofa and up onto his feet before I reach the reception area. “Are you okay?”
“You can’t ask me that,” I whisper under my breath, shifting my eyes toward the cameras in the ceiling.
Catching on, he clears his throats. “Are you ready to leave?” He asks this loud enough for anyone listening to hear.
“Yes,” I sneer and breeze by him.
In the elevator, he stands in front of me. “What happened?” he asks quietly.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I hiss. “I just want to go home.”
Home.
Home.
That’s a laugh.
The only thing this session did was remind me that I don’t have a home anymore.
Thanks to Enrique.