Page 22 of Undefeated Love
“Thanks.” Alex stood. “Most of all, thanks for believing me.”
Griffin stood and gathered his papers. “I never said I believed you. I said that you were fucked. I’d like to see that proof. I love Katlin like a combat sister. She was so torn up that she took a solo mission to China. You’ve cut her so deep that wound is going to take a long time to heal. When you came into this office, I wanted to punch the fuck out of you. Grace has told me lot about Ty. That man gutted Katlin. I can’t imagine what shape she’s in.”
“Why didn’t you hit me?” Alex deserved it. A physical blow couldn’t hurt anywhere near as much as his heart did at the mere thought he’d lost Kat.
“You’re my boss.” Griffin picked up the piles and stopped when he was a few feet from the door. “We’ve been friends a long time and you came in here looking like you needed a friend. You deserved a few minutes of my time. We all deserve proof.”
Griffin left the door open as he exited.
Top Cooper stormed in, slamming it so hard the wall shook.
“You fucking sonofabitch.” Top gave him an upper cut to the chin immediately followed by a left punch to the gut.
“How could you?” Top screamed.
Alex bent over, grabbing his stomach as Top brought his knee to Alex’s face.
The door flew open, and Griffin rushed in followed by several other men. It took four strong former SpecOps men to restrain Top Cooper.
“I quit. I can’t work for someone who would treat my girl like that.” Top jerked loose. “I don’t need this fucking job anyway.” He stomped off to his office.
Griffin put his arm around Alex and helped him to his chair behind the desk. “How bad are you hurt?”
“I deserved that.” Alex’s jaw, stomach, and head ached as he sat up. He carefully ran his tongue around the inside of his mouth checking for chipped or broken teeth.
Alex glanced up at Griffin. “Go remind Top that Katlin owns half this company and she’d be upset if he quit.”
Someone handed Alex a bottle of water that he cautiously sipped through a split lip. He’d deserved that punch, and the next two. Although his body was in pain, nothing hurt as bad as his heart.
Ten minutes later, Top Cooper walked back into his office, shut the door behind him, and paced in front of his desk. “I want to believe what you told Griffin. I want to believe that you’re not the fucking asshole that I think you are.”
“You know I love Kat. I’ve loved her for years.” Alex pleaded with his eyes. “Top, you’re like a father to her. Help me get her back, with me, where she belongs.”
The old Marine crossed his powerful arms over his broad chest. “I know what I saw on television with my own two eyes. Gina watched all the talk shows the next morning where JJ flashed that big ring. She was pretty coy about never saying your name but that didn’t stop the interviewers. She also didn’t deny it.” Top glared at Alex. “By the way, Gina fucking hates your guts right now. When she was taking care of Katlin at the safe house, I think she was half in love with you because of the way you cared for our little girl. Today, she’d carve out your heart with a dull spoon.”
Great, another woman who hated him. Alex looked up to the man who had known Katlin nearly her entire life. “What am I going to do?”
“Prove to me that the whole JJ engagement is nothing but the publicity stunt you claim. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll help you.”
“How the hell am I supposed to do that?” Alex dabbed at his lip that started bleeding again. “If I get JJ on the phone, will you believe her?”
“Fuck, no. She’ll lie for you.” Top stared at him as though he was an idiot. “She’s an actress. She pretends and makes people believe it for a living.”
“What would make you believe me?” Alex was getting desperate. If he couldn’t prove it to Top Cooper and Griffin, how the hell was he ever going to make Katlin believe him?
“Are you telling me that with all the video cameras rolling and photographers clicking pictures that no one has footage of the supposed ring magically flying from her purse?”
I’ve been an idiot. Of course there has to be video.He had no idea where to find it, but he knew someone who did. Alex popped out of the chair and headed to the computer center.
“Brett, I need you to hunt down all the video of my supposed engagement to JJ.” Alex went on to tell him the exact footage he was looking for.
“That night, several professional photographers and videographers were trying to sell the pictures and footage.” Brett’s fingers flew over the keys. “Maybe now that it’s old news, we can pick it up for free.”
“Free is excellent, but I’ll gladly pay for it.” Katlin’s trust didn’t have a price.
Alex’s phone buzzed. When he withdrew it from his cargo pocket, he saw that Katlin was on the move.
Griffin stuck his head into the room. “Alex, sir, Grace is on her way home…I mean my hotel room. I’m leaving.” He turned as though to go then stopped. “I’ll call you later if I find out anything,” his friend said over his shoulder.
