“Can you think of anything?” Maureen turned to Stephanie, her brow creased in a frown that revealed the depth of her bafflement.
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” She turned her palms to them in a gesture indicating her own confusion. Unless Donald Black had somehow convinced Jonas that she hadn’t been speaking the truth... but that wasn’t possible, Stephanie decided. Jonas knew her better than that. At least she prayed he did.
“Are you going to give him back the ring?” Toni asked quietly, her voice dejected and unhappy.
“I... don’t know yet.”
“It’s obvious he doesn’t want to face you,” Jan said, her expression thoughtful.
“Probably because he’s afraid of what would happen.”
“But I would never hurt him,” Stephanie returned, appalled at the suggestion that she would do anything to cause Jonas pain.
“Not physically, silly,” Barbara explained with a long sigh. “It’s obvious that he loves you—that isn’t going to change overnight—so breaking off the engagement is bound to be emotionally painful.”
“Maybe even impossible, if he’s forced to face you.”
“Then that’s exactly what’s going to happen.” For the first time, Stephanie thought she could see a glimmer of hope. She wouldn’t make things easy for Jonas. “I’m not going to hand over this ring without an explanation.”
“You shouldn’t,” Maureen stated emphatically.
“He isn’t going to let it happen.”
“He isn’t?” Stephanie wasn’t nearly as convinced as her friends.
“Oh, he might let you get as far as the door—”
“Maybe even the elevator,” Jan interrupted.
“But he’ll come for you once he realizes you really mean to leave.”
“He’ll stop me?” Stephanie was doubtful.
“Oh yes, the hero always rejects the heroine, and then at the very last second he realizes that he couldn’t possibly live without her.”
“He may even quietly plead with you and say ‘Don’t go’ in a tormented voice. You’d be crazy to walk away from him then.”
“It’s like that in all the best romances,” Maureen said, nodding her head sharply.
“But Jonas hasn’t read any of those.” Stephanie wanted desperately to believe that what her friends said was true, but she was afraid to count on it. Jonas was too proud. Too stubborn. Too Jonas.
“He’s enough of a hero to know when he’s turning away from the best thing that’s ever happened to him. He loves you.”
Barbara’s words were the cool voice of reason cutting through the fog of doubt that clouded Stephanie’s troubled mind. Even Elizabeth Lockwood had told Stephanie how much Jonas needed her love. She couldn’t doubt his own mother.
“He must love you, or he wouldn’t have asked you to marry him.” Toni was equally convincing.
“So the next move is mine, right?” Stephanie glanced around at her friends’ intent expressions.
“Most definitely.”
The four followed Stephanie out of personnel, moving in single file like troops marching into battle. Down the hallway they paraded, finally coming to a halt in front of the elevator. Jan pushed the button for Stephanie while the others offered words of encouragement.
“Fight for him,” Barbara advised her thoughtfully. “If he’s going to do this to you, then don’t make it easy on him.”
“Right,” Toni concurred. “Let him know what he’s missing.”
“Good luck,” Jan cried as Stephanie walked into the elevator. Just before the thick steel doors glided shut her friends gave her the thumbs-up sign.
All the confidence Stephanie had felt when she stepped into the elevator deserted her the minute she faced Bertha Westheimer. The woman barely looked in Stephanie’s direction. It was apparent the dragon was prepared for this confrontation.
For a full, intolerable minute Stephanie stood in front of the dragon’s desk. Bertha ignored her.
“Excuse me, please,” Stephanie said in a strong, controlled tone. “I’m here to see Mr. Lockwood.”
“He’s in a meeting.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“My dear young lady, it is hardly my concern what you believe. Mr. Lockwood has no desire to see you.”
“Now, that, I believe.”
For the first time since Stephanie had known Jo-nas’s secretary, Bertha Westheimer smiled. Well, almost smiled, Stephanie corrected herself. She wasn’t completely convinced that the woman was capable of revealing her amusement.
“I’d like to help you, but...”
“I’ll simply tell him you weren’t able to stop me.”
“Mr. Lockwood would know better,” Bertha said quietly. “If I can persevere against pesky attorneys and keep persistent salesmen at bay, one female employee is a piece of cake.”
But Stephanie could see that Bertha was weakening, which was in itself a sight to behold.
“He’s in a rare mood,” Bertha whispered under her breath. “I don’t remember ever seeing him quite like this.”