Page 68 of Alex

He showered and trimmed his beard. Sniffing the air, I smell his expensive, heady cologne. He’s definitely up to something.

“Yeah. I’m meeting a friend for drinks.”

“A friend?” I raise my eyebrow in a suggestive manner that causes Dad to chuckle.

“Yeah, a friend.”

I should tell him what happened tonight. I should confess to everything that’s happened since I met Adam, but the only words that come out of my mouth are, “Have fun.”

There’s no reason for him to worry when clearlyhe has a date tonight. He hasn’t dated anyone since Mom, so she must be pretty special.

“You, too.” He presses the call button for the elevator and gets in when the doors open.

As soon as I’m sure he’s gone and not coming back, I down my drink and pour yet another. The only person I want to hang out with tonight is Elise, and she’s ignoring me right now.

I carry my drink and the bottle with me down the hallway to my bedroom. It might not be the ending I was hoping for, but at least I’ll sleep all night thanks to the abundance of alcohol.

As I get closer to Elise’s room, I stop walking and listen for any noise coming from inside. It’s quiet. Almost too quiet.

I wonder if she already fell asleep or if she’s taking a bath as she goes over everything that has happened tonight.

I fight the urge to barge in, or at the minimum, knock on her door, and beg for her to talk to me.

Walking back to my room, I kick the door closed behind me and turn off the bedroom lights.

Using the lights from the city to guide my way over to my bed, I put the bottle of whiskey and my glass on the end table before climbing between the sheets.

I sip on my drink as I stare at the outside world.

So much has changed over the past several years. I’m not the same person as I was back then.

At the least, I deserve to beg for her forgivenessand for her to give me a chance to answer any questions she has.

I just hope Elise can see me for the man I am now and not the careless jokester I used to be. I’m more responsible and mature. Sure, I still have a way to go, but I’m getting there.

Hell, even since she started working for Dad, I’ve changed.

And if she doesn’t give me another second of her time, I’ll be more hurt now than I would have been back then.

Not hurt, devastated. I’ll be devastated if she walks away for good.

Chapter Nineteen

ELISE

Mr. Strickland’sprivate driver parks the limousine next to the helicopter.

Alex gets out first and reaches his hand out for me to grab it. Not wanting to make a scene in front of his father, I take his hand.

“Thank you.”

His smile is large and genuine as he helps me out of the vehicle. “Percy will get our bags. We can take our seats and get strapped in. If you want.”

I nod my head. The sooner we leave, the sooner we can get home. I’m ready to lie down on my couch and watch a movie while I drink a glass of wine.

Or two.

I follow him to the helicopter where he, once again, holds his hand out for me to take, and like last time, I take his hand and let him help me into the helicopter.

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