Page 26 of His Jewel

“I don’t, not really,” she said in a small voice. “It seems that whatever she was doing, she was doing for her parents. They own Allan Group, and they are moving to New York soon. I take it that it has something to do with what you’ve found out.”

So now you do your research...

“She was trying to get dirt on me, trying to plant dirt,” he spat.

Allan Group. The owners, Jim and Mary Allan, had poached a client from him a while back. He’d decided to let it go. He shouldn’t have. He should have taken it to court.

Drew whistled. “She was messing with your business. Heavy.”

“Yes, heavy,” he said bluntly.

“But you love this girl, right?”

Alana’s eyes widened.

Wonderful. Thanks Drew.

“Loved,” he corrected, knowing with every ounce of his being that it was a lie.

“Please, you can’t turn it on and off. Did you talk to her? Let her explain?”

“Sorry, are you actually trying to give me advice right now?”

“Answer the question,” Drew fired back.

“Why should I?”

“Is that an answer to my first question or my second?”

“Smart-ass. You sure do ask a lot of them.” He ran his fingers through his hair, slumping into a seat.

Alana sat behind her desk, and Drew joined him in one of the chairs.

“She’s broken my trust. It’s done.”

“You know you sound like a grumpy man-child right now.”

He had to resist the urge to chuck a drink over his friend.

Alana sighed in Drew’s direction, like she was disappointed in a puppy. “No, he sounds like a man who is used to being disappointed by people and I’ve facilitated that. And for that, I’m sorry. But I do know, and maybe I shouldn’t as it’s not my place, just how much she likes you. And is it really worth throwing away what you had for a mistake, without even allowing her to explain, to defend herself?”

He considered her words. Talking things out had actually helped a little, not that he’d ever have admitted that. He rose from his chair.

All of their gazes seemed to dip on his discarded card, but no one mentioned it. He was done with this place, he’d made that clear. In a shit way. He made a mental note to send Alana a dozen purple roses tomorrow with an apology note. He’d been an ass, and the thought didn’t sit well with him.

Drew rose with him. “You’re not in a good way. I’ll take you back home.”

He snorted. “Drew, I don’t need a chaperone. Stay here with...” he trailed off, not having the first clue what was going on between them, but from their shy glances between one another, maybe they didn’t either. If it was fragile, he wasn’t going to pry. Things had a way of working themselves out on their own ... until they didn’t.

His mind took him back in time before he could school it, to first seeing her photo. Ruby. His Ruby. His jewel. Gone.No. He wouldn’t think of her name again.

He cleared his throat. “Seriously, stay.”

It seemed as if Drew didn’t need much persuading, and Alana’s shoulders sagged in relief.

“Let me know if you need anything. Just a phone call away, mate,” said Drew, smacking him on the shoulder.

“I really am sorry, Josh,” said Alana, sadness lacing her tone. He believed she was sorry.

---