Page 47 of Mending Our Chance

26 Felicity

On Monday morning, I stood in front of the bank of elevators in a particular sky scraper. My father owned a lot of prime real estate, including floors of office suites in posh buildings. Those were some of his more legitimate ventures. And here I was, at my own mediocre business address, about to get into business bed with my family.

I decided I didn’t regret this part in the slightest. I knew I could hold my own. After all, before falling out with my father over my mistake of a marriage, I had planned on working for the family.

It had been a good weekend—a homecoming of sorts. Letting go of all the troubles of my day-to-day, I had the time of my life with my brothers. The only thing that had been missing was the broad shouldered Southern boy who I caught myself missing at unguarded moments. I did not want the drama of my relationship, but I wanted the man inside it—the one who made me laugh and I could lean into for comfort or for pleasure. And while playing with my brothers had been fun, I had caught myself looking over my shoulder every now and then, wishing Marcus had been there with us.

I told myself this morning while getting dressed and primped, that I would not think of his betrayal and our current situation until I got to work. That philosophy had worked right up to this point. Now, I was standing before the bank of elevators and it was time to make some snap decisions. I had opened up to Marcus about the past and buried that hatchet. Could I forgive him for the present and move on into the future?

An elevator at the end of the row chimed. I headed for the open doors, ready to go up, when someone tickled my side. I swirled around and saw no one.

“Gotcha,” said one twin from behind me. I whirled again to find his partner stood behind him, both of them grinning down at me from their barely five inch advantage.

“What are you two doing here?” I demanded as a twin entered the elevator, holding the door open for us to enter and apparently ride up together.

“Going to work.”

“You’re going to walk us through our investment.”

I couldn’t believe it. Now I would see them at work? Trying to process my reaction to that was going to take more willpower than my caffeine shortage-filled brain could take. “We need to lay some ground rules,” I growled as we rode the elevator up.

“Speak, sister,” smiled Matteo.

“We shall heed and take to heart all that you say,” agreed Alonzo smartly.

Resisting the urge to smack them for their sass, I nearly sprinted out of the elevator to hide my grin. Trying to be serious around those two was damn near impossible. Although, they did help to take the edge off and make it possible to walk into my company without hesitation.

Alonzo stopped to wish the receptionist a good morning and ask her about her weekend. I rolled my eyes and went to unlock my private office. Although my back was turned, I knew the moment he was there. I felt his presence and smelled his unique scent—dark musk and rich spices.

“Hi there,” Marcus whispered. I whirled to find him clean shaven, wearing a beautiful shirt and a sky blue tie—one that we had picked out together after we signed our first client under Bowers & Saccone LLC. The significance of that tie was not lost on me. He crossed his arms and leaned nonchalantly against the wall space between our offices. It was my move.

Matteo, who had followed me, laid a hand on my shoulder from behind. In the old language, he whispered, “Easy, little sister. The bastard has been a wreck all weekend. He wouldn’t stop texting us.”

My brother’s words forced me to stop ignoring the signs. Although Marcus was groomed and decadent in the morning light, I could now see the haunted air around him. The circles under his eyes were dark purple and there was a slouch to his shoulders. Is he feeling defeated? I couldn’t stand that thought. I might be royally pissed at him, but breaking the man was not part of the plan, not that I had a plan.

“Morning huddle in five minutes,” I remarked sharply. Then the snarky comment came unbidden. “Our new money train is here to check up on us.”

Marcus stepped inside my office and said to my brother, “Give me a second, man?”

“No,” Matteo dryly commented.

“Man, I’m gonna slap you to sleep, then slap you for sleeping if you don’t move.” Marcus was bristling, but I could see the strain in his shoulders. His fuse was short, but his strength probably wasn’t there to take on my robust brother—let alone both of the twins, because undoubtedly, Alonzo would rush to his brother’s aid.

I laid a hand on Matteo and nodded to him. “It’s all right. Conference room in five minutes. Get your brother off the receptionist before I have a sexual harassment suit on my hands.”

At my command, the little Pit Bull backed down to the Great Dane. Without looking at said beast of a man, I rustled some papers on my desk in preparation for the morning huddle.

Marcus closed the door behind Matteo and faced me. But he was met with my raised palm.

“It’s clear that we don’t make a good couple,” I began smoothly, desperately doing my best to hide my churning emotions. “So I want to stay business partners, but I’m stopping the romance.”

My gut clenched. My logical side might have agreed that this was the correct choice, but the human part, well, it cried out for the man in front of me. His face had crumpled. Sorrow was etched into every crevice of his gorgeous face. It made me want him more. My arms ached to hold him and my chest heaved with longing. But I stayed firm to my damned resolve. I can’t let myself fall for him again.

But haven’t you already fallen? A second voice chirped in my head. I shut it down. That was the one thought that I would never think about. No matter how true, I couldn’t stand it.

“It’s time to get to work.” My voice was firm and I waved him along.

Marcus seemed to come unstuck. He stumbled forward. “Felicity, I can’t lose you again!”

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