Page 308 of One More Kiss

Chapter12

CORA

The ringingof my phone in the other room sent another wave of nausea through me.

I dragged myself off the couch and stumbled toward the downstairs bathroom.

Anxiety puke number five for the week: Check.

As I wiped off my face and braced myself to pick up my phone, another wave of dread washed through me. It had been one of few constants these days, along with utter confusion and profound loss.

Not to mention deep, penetrating sadness.

The decision I’d made to follow the path Chris—and my father—wanted for me came at a steep cost. Not only forsaking the man I loved, but uprooting my entire life as I knew it and starting anew.

DAD: The movers will be arriving within ten minutes. Be ready.

I drew a shaky breath. Packers had been in and out of my condo for the past week, prepping everything to be moved. I had barely paid attention except to instruct them to leave the personal things under my bed alone. I’d collected every vestige of Axel there, evidence of the love that my father could never touch, would never erase.

That love would continue for the rest of my life, whether or not I was with Axel.

Because I wasn’t just accepting what Chris wanted for me. I was also doing what was best for Axel. How could honoring two men I loved so much feel so absolutely wretched?

I had no hope that this feeling would go away either. My hands were tied. I couldn’t tell Axel the whole truth. If I did, he’d fly off the handle. He’d jeopardize his own future. He’d ruin everything he and his brothers had fought for.

Axel would demolish his own existence to rail against my father. And that wouldn’t help anyone.

If nothing else, I wanted Axel and his brothers to achieve their dreams. That much, I could give him.

I tried to improve my appearance in the bathroom mirror, but it was mostly pointless. There was no real way to hide the puffiness from crying daily for the past three weeks. Makeup helped my skin look less pallid, but nourishing myself had taken a backseat while I grieved the loss of Axel and struggled to rationalize how I could do this to him. Even my personal chef was getting concerned at how little I ate. I knew they were all reporting back to my parents, but so far, my mother and father hadn’t said a word to me about my concerning behavior.

They probably didn’t care. Their only concern was that Axel disappear from my life.

And technically, I hadn’t quite achieved that. I’d managed to ask for a break two nights ago on the phone, tucked into the closet of a classmate’s apartment. Extreme measures were all I had left in my toolbox. My father monitored my phone usage like a hawk, all the way down to who I sent emails to and how long any call with a New York number lasted, lest I be communicating with Axel on the sly.

After my housekeeper had ratted on me using her phone to call Axel, my options had dwindled to social media and telepathy. Two weeks ago, my father had told me that no further communication was permitted. I’d assured him things were over.

Except they weren’t. And now Axel was coming to LA.

Highlighting his entire plan via text messages that my father was probably lapping up like honey.

DAD: The driver isn’t far behind.

I stumbled into the white-tiled entrance hall of my condo, looking around at the stripped-bare surroundings. All the splashes of color I’d added—from the exciting gold sprays of decorative branches to the black swirl pedestals I’d chosen for my favorite candles—were absent. Packed up. Awaiting a new home, in a new neighborhood. I’d loved this place and had no desire to move.

My father had insisted on new surroundings for me. A home that better fits the future CEO, he’d said. But really, it better fit the current CEO. My condo had been on the smaller side, with only two spare bedrooms, neither of which were to my father’s standards for visiting overnight. Not that he ever needed to use the condo to stay in, though I think this aspect figured into the decision to upgrade my living space.

This new house cost a cool three million and had double master suites. I suspected my parents planned to claim one for their own – probably so they could keep a better eye on me during their random and frequent visits to the west coast. Located a couple of miles outside of town, the house was tucked into its own private Stanford oasis. Stunning views of the mountains from afar coupled with an in-ground infinity pool that begged me to have a housewarming party.

Except my favorite guest couldn’t attend. And by my father’s design, that same guest didn’t even know where this new home was.

Another wave of sadness gripped me, but I swallowed it when a knock sounded. The movers had arrived. I forced a smile the only way I knew how and shoved aside the emotions that had been holding me hostage for weeks now.

“Ms. Margulis,” the man at the door said after consulting his work order. “We’re ready when you are.”

I would never be ready. Not in my heart. My entire world had brought me to this point, but everything inside me wanted to bolt the other direction.

The only thing keeping me on the path was the fact that I felt like it was the right thing to do. Giving Axel and his brothers the chance to flourish. Choosing the family business. Becoming the CEO my father and my late brother wanted me to be. Following this carefully laid path that had been built, painstakingly, over the years specifically for me. Even if I didn’t love it, it was right.

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