“I need to see Henry,” Alexandra said when she walked up to his assistant’s desk. The woman dialed her phone, turning away from Alexandra to speak in whispers. The office was silent as a tomb, depressing given her current state of affairs, but at least Henry was there. He walked out to greet her, giving her a hug although he’d never been demonstrative in the past. She pulled back, rubbing her neck while she watched Henry gush at her as though she was his long-lost daughter he’d spent hundreds of dollars searching for.
“I need to talk to you.” She refused to waste time with pleasantries. If he was going to fire her, he needed to get on with it.
“I know.” He grabbed her hand, patting it a couple times and leading her into his office. “I want to apologize for the way we left everything on Friday. I was crass, and didn’t mean to be so harsh with you.”
Alexandra looked around, waiting for the candid camera person to pop out and say “Surprise!” but it never happened. Instead, Henry rattled off some half-assed apology and advised her job was safe, including the potential partnership she’d been eyeing.
“Okay,” she said, shaking her head to clear it. “I’m sorry, but where is this coming from? When I saw you last week, you were ready to fire me on the spot. Now you’re laying out the red carpet. Did something happen I need to be made aware of, because I’m a little taken aback by all this.”
“I understand,” he said, like he was soothing an errant animal as opposed to a real woman. “When I was able to go home and consider all that transpired, I realized I was wrong. Your business is your own, and I shouldn’t have interfered. You’re more than welcome to date Roman Valentine, with our complete support.”
“Thank you? But as I told you last week, my relationship is not your business, and I couldn’t care less if you agree or approve.” Anger passed through his eyes, the flash so quick she thought she’d imagined it before he pasted on the smile again. She wasn’t losing her job, which was a blessing, but she had bigger fish to fry. “Did you know my trademark case was related to my robbery case?”
“Huh.” Henry leaned back, rubbing his chin. “How do you figure?”
“Well, the pizza parlor owner is the grandfather of the gentleman we defeated in the trademark suit,” she explained.
“Really?” His eyes widened, feigning disbelief. He was hiding something, she could feel it. Cagey old bastard.
“Yes, really. And the grandfather was approached with the offer of payment by a gentleman in a suit to get the grandson to drop the suit, although he never agreed.” The flash was there again before a cool demeanor overtook his face.
“Does the grandfather know who approached him?”
“No.”
Henry clapped his hands together, leaning forward so he was halfway over the desk and in danger of invading her personal space. “Then it’s a non-issue. There’s no way to conclude the two are related. The cops did their investigating, and they apprehended a suspect, who you were able to prove was innocent. It’s a win for everyone.”
“But—”
“No buts. Your cases are over, and you won them both. It’s over. You’re digging into issues that no longer matter. It’s done.”
Alexandra would wager her fortune there was more to it, but Henry was no help. She agreed, but she’d be damned if she was going to let this go. She was determined to get to the bottom of it. Henry was a setback, but there was no reason for him to believe she’d keep searching or he’d be on her ass with so much work she wouldn’t know what to do. “Of course. I was just a little zealous.”
“Happens to the best of us.” He chuckled.
She tapped her fingers on the side of the chair. “I guess I got caught up. I wasn’t going to mention it, but with everything going on, I’m going to need to take the rest of the week off.”
His head cocked to the side, studying her. “Why?”
“Well, it’s the anniversary of my father’s death this week—”
“Say no more. Take the week, spend it with your family, and come back on Monday.”
“Thank you.” She stood up, wanting to get out of the Twilight Zone the office had become. Henry nodded, going back to his computer, dismissing her. Alexandra had less than a week to try and get to the bottom of what was going on before her workload became unmanageable again.
She gathered the rest of the files she needed from her office, throat tightening when she caught sight of the too-familiar picture. Relieved she was still going to fulfill her goal, the cold pain of regret he wasn’t there to witness it still settled like an ache on her chest. Grief was an old friend who came to visit and always overstayed his welcome, yet she opened her heart to him whenever he came knocking. Her father was flawed, yes, but he was still one of her greatest heroes.
***
Roman dragged himself into his favorite restaurant to meet his family for drinks the night after his final blow-up with Alexandra, defeated and out of sorts. His mother’s eyebrows hit the top of her head when she spotted him before concern filled her eyes.
“Well, you look like shit.” His dad wasted no time telling his opinion. Thank you, Captain Obvious. He raised his finger for the waiter to bring him his favorite whiskey. Too bad he’d be reminded of staring in Alexandra’s eyes while he drank it.
“It was a long day,” he defended himself.
“Too long to shave or put on a decent suit?” his dad scoffed. Roman rubbed a hand over the day-old scruff, considering his wrinkled shirt and khakis. He loathed looking unkempt. He resembled a frat boy who just came off a three-day bender.
“I’ve been busy.” He downed the drink in one gulp, gesturing for another.
Not satisfied with Roman’s response, his father continued to lay into him. “If you’re here to get drunk, we’re leaving. You won the damn case, so what the hell is your problem? You’ve been ignoring us for days, you didn’t come and see me last week, and now you’re throwing back drinks like it’s free alcohol night at the local club.”
His mother stared disapprovingly, folding her hands on the table, the whites of her knuckles apparent from the strength of her grip.
Roman rubbed the back of his neck, willing the tension away. He’d been tight for days, ever since he’d left Alexandra, and it’d only gotten worse since yesterday’s argument. It was probably his penance for breaking up with her, the pain a welcome addition to the ache in his chest. “Clearly I’m not the company you guys want tonight, so I’ll be happy to go.”
“Is this about them exposing your relationship? You guys handled it well, and it died down quickly enough,” his sister asked.
Quinn slapped his back, causing him to jerk, before he pulled him closer for a bear hug. “It can’t be about his relationship, because this dumbass broke up with her.”
“Oh, Roman,” his mother exhaled. “Tell me you didn’t break up with her.” His mother never met Alexandra, something Roman had considered remedying before they parted ways.
“He did,” Quinn answered before he could. “Told her she was too good for him because he dragged her into his mess.”
Roman felt flushed, and his pulse beat rapidly in time with the pounding in his forehead. “Why don’t you mind your own damn business? Nobody asked you.”
“Boys,” his mother interrupted. “You will not fight like children in this restaurant while we’re sitting here as adults. Remember when they used to go at it like a bunch of damn cats and dogs?” she asked her husband, who agreed. “Besides, Roman needs to take a walk with me.”
“I do?” he asked as the same time his brother asked, “He does?”
“Yes.” She held out her hand. “Come on.” Roman grabbed her hand, allowing her to lead him out on the terrace where you could view the city skyline the restaurant was known for. It was one of the main reasons they loved the place. They could relax and enjoy the view and each other’s company long after they finished eating.