Chapter Nine

 

A knock sounded on the conference room door that Alex had reserved in his hotel. Before him lay a folder, with a contract that he hoped would soften Peter Jensen’s anger when he came clean. He took a deep breath, because this was a negotiation unlike he’d ever experienced. This wasn’t about money, or power—it was about atonement, and he hoped, winning back the affection of the one woman who had become very important.

“Come in,” he said.

The door opened and Peter Jensen stood there, dressed in an off-the-rack suit. “Oh, Mr. Reinecke. I didn’t realize it was you.”

“Please,” Alex said, gesturing to a chair. “Have a seat. I have a proposition for you.”

Confusion caused a frown to form between Peter’s eyes, but he sat and waited. Alex pushed the folder toward him.

“I have a contract for you, to work on my refineries, with a significant pay increase, full benefits included, and your choice of location.”

Peter blinked. Alex knew it was an amazing contract because he had it specifically drafted.

“Um, wow! I don’t know what to say except—”

“Before you say yes,” Alex said, interrupting him. “I have something to tell you.”

“You do?”

“A confession.”

“About what?”

“My sister, Catherine.”

Peter sat back in his seat. “My own sister brought her up. I thought it was an odd conversation, but now I’m getting the vibe it was deeper than what I thought.”

“You know she died.”

“Yes, and I’m very sorry for your loss,” Peter murmured. “But what has that got to do with me?”

“Because I thought you were responsible.”

“Come again?”

Alex placed his elbows on the table top and linked his fingers, resting his chin on them as he gathered his thoughts. “I was told you had an affair with her. That you used her and broke her.”

“I see,” said Peter thoughtfully. “Now Abbi’s questions seem a little more understandable.”

“I can only imagine what she said.”

“She said nothing about you—wait. Tell me you weren’t the Alex dating her.”

“I was,” Alex admitted softly.

“Shit,” Peter muttered. “I don’t think you have to tell me anymore.”

“I am so very sorry,” Alex said.

“It’s not me you need to apologize to, is it?”

“No, but you’re the molehill. She’s the mountain.”

Peter folded his arms across his chest. “So this deal you’re offering … is it to appease your conscience?”

“It’s a legitimate offer. Your work is on point, and you’ve had nothing but recommendations from your supervisors. I was the one to fuck up your last position. Least I could do is offer you one better. If you choose not to take it, then I’ll make phone calls and personally make sure you’re not black-listed anymore.”

Peter stared at him for a long moment. Then he picked up the pen and opened the folder. “I accept your offer. But I have two conditions.”

“Name them.”

“First, you make it right with Abigail. Although she’ll never admit it, you hurt her deeply.”

“I swear it to you, even if I have to get down on my knees and beg, I’ll make it up to your sister. What’s your second condition?”

“A right hook.”

“Yeah, I thought that might be coming.” Alex stood and walked over to stand in front of Peter. “Go ahead.”

Peter stood, regarded him, then brought his fist back and let it fly, right into Alex’s jaw. He fell against the table, wincing as he tried to open his mouth and test how hard Peter had hit him. Pain blossomed, but it was a much-deserved punishment. Peter signed the contract, and Alex held out his hand.

“Thank you for forgiving me.”

“I didn’t say I forgave you,” Peter said. He ignored the hand. “Start with Abigail, and I’ll follow her lead.”

“I guess I deserve that. Thank you, Peter.”

Peter held up the contract. “Same back at you. Now go get groveling.”

****

Abigail clocked out and waved to her coworkers as she left for her lunch break. Yet as soon as she stepped outside, she halted upon seeing Alex standing there with his dog on a leash, tongue out as he waited for his master’s command.

Her heart thumped heavily in her chest. It had been weeks since she’d seen him, and she thought he didn’t matter anymore. That she’d gotten over him. But one glance and she knew she’d been fooling herself.

“Lucky needs a bath.”

“Lucky?” she asked, a little confused.

Alex gestured to the dog. “Figured that’s a good name for him. Couldn’t keep calling him Old Man. Hoping the new name translates to me.”

“Alex—”

“I’m begging again. Please hear me out, Abigail.”

She sighed. “Okay. Coffee house.”

Déjà vu hit her between the eyes as they settled at a small table. This time, however, Alex had brought the water bowl for Lucky. The dog plopped down at their feet, tongue out as he watched the world through his canine eyes.

“I made it right with Peter.”

That mollified her a little. “He’s got his job back?”

“Yes. And benefits. Not much I can do about the apartment. It’s already been resold.”

She waved her hand. “Just don’t come after the one I’m in now.”

Silence fell between them, but Abigail waited. She refused to fill in the uncomfortable gap with placating words.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly.

“For?”

“For assuming Peter hurt my sister. For deceiving you. For being the world’s biggest asshole.”

It took all her strength not to smile at that. “You were an asshole. What made you believe Peter was the man who broke Catherine’s heart?”

“I wasn’t the best brother to her,” he admitted. “She was thirteen years younger than me, so I didn’t have that much interest in a baby sister at that age. It wasn’t until she was older that we began to connect as siblings. She came to visit me in Saudi Arabia, where my assistant—well, let’s say I got the proof needed to have him convicted. I don’t know why she didn’t come to me to tell me what he’d done, but that’s something I’ll probably always wonder about. At least he confessed.”

She let out a deep breath, relaxing her shoulders. “Then she has justice.”

“Yes,” he said. “She has. And it was thanks to you.”

“Me?”

“You gave me clarification. It’s hard to think when you’re angry, and I was pissed at myself that I wasn’t there to help her. To save her. I should’ve been a better brother. A better protector. I let someone close to me hurt my little sister.”

When he explained it that way, she suddenly understood what had driven him to lash out. Unfortunately, it might have been toward the wrong individual, but at least he had found the truth.

“And … I think I fell in love with you, too.”

Her eyes widened. “What?”

“You told me you thought you loved me. I wanted so badly to say the same thing, but whenever I looked in the mirror, I was haunted. The words died, but not the feeling. And I hope—God, I fucking hope—you give me a second chance.”

“Alex—”

He held up a hand. “I know what I ask is probably impossible for you. But I want to start over. Please, Abigail. Let me prove I’m not that asshole anymore.”

Then he slipped out of his chair and knelt before her. People passing by stared and whispered, pointing at him, but Alex didn’t seem to care. He kept his gaze focused on her, and she couldn’t seem to look away. Yes, he’d hurt her. Yes, he was colossally wrong.

But she still had feelings for him.

Love?

Maybe.

Abigail felt herself nod. “I’d like to start over, too. I’m not quite there with the love part, but I would like to learn about Alexander Reinecke.”

He smiled, leaned up and kissed her quickly on the cheek. “Thank you, Abigail.”

Lucky gave a gruff little bark. They both looked down at him, tail wagging. Abigail leaned over and scratched his head.

“Yeah, that’s a great name for this little guy,” she said, looking up at Alex. “I’m glad, at least, you got him.”

“Yeah,” he replied, smiling as he pet his dog. “I’ve been wondering how I was going to keep him when I travel so much, and I decided to contemplate a career change.”

“Wow. From your oil and stuff?”

“I’ve never heard it described as oil and stuff, but yes. Even though it’s made me quite a bit of money, I’m interested in renewable and sustainable energy. And luckily Nevada has a lot of sunshine and incentives for me to stay.”

She waved her hand dismissively. “I don’t care about your money. Cash and assets don’t make you happy. Case in point, look at you.”

“What’re you talking about? I’m happy.”

“Don’t get me wrong,” she said. “Money can buy a certain type of peace and personal satisfaction, but tell me one thing that you have that makes you happy. Truly, emotionally, can’t get the smile off your face happy.”

He fell silent for a few moments, then looked from her to the dog. “I suppose you’re right. I’ve worked so hard my whole life to get out of the poverty I was born into that I never considered whether or not it brought me joy.”

“Now you can start looking at the bigger picture.”

“I am,” he said, pinning her with a very poignant stare. “Believe me. I am looking at my bigger picture. From now on, I’m going to be a better man. You wait and see.”