Page 67 of Jonathon, After All

“I can,” Jonathon announced, raising the folder. “I might not agree with her methods, but I understand why Sabine did it and I might have done the same thing in her place. I don’t want you to fire her.”

“What?” everyone except Jonathon and the butler said loudly.

Jonathon smiled at Sabine. “You need her, Leo. I can’t let you cut off your right arm over this, no matter how I feel about her. And I think she should have a front row seat to our happily ever after, if we decide to be together after this week.” Jonathon was bluffing his boxers off because he had already made up his mind. The kiss had made up Jonathon’s mind, actually, but he was keeping his cards closer to the vest this time around where Sabine was concerned.

Leo bowed his head, taking Jonathon’s hand and pressing a reverent kiss to his knuckles. “If that is what you wish.”

“Can you live with that?” Jonathon asked Sabine.

“Yes!” She nodded, her hands shaking as she wiped her eyes. “I will never betray your trust again,” she said to Jonathon.

Leo’s lips were still pressed to Jonathon’s knuckles, a menacing smile curving them as he watched Sabine. “You see, Sabine? He is as graceful on the inside as he is on the outside,” he said and raised a brow at her expectantly.

“He is! Thank you, Mr. Hawthorne,” she replied quickly, but watched Leo warily as he let Jonathon’s hand go and advanced on her.

Leo held up a finger, “But I am a von Hessen,” he reminded her. “As much as it pains me to admit it, I am my grandfather’s rightful heir. In the truest sense because I am more like him than my uncle or Max. My mother saw that I was like him and she warned me. Sabine remembers and has seen it.”

“You could never be as cruel,” Sabine whispered. “Severe, at times, but never cruel, Leo.”

“I could be,” he threatened her with a furious glare. He regarded Sabine for a moment, then swung around to Jonathon with an apologetic smile. “I’m afraid I have a few amendments. I do not feel like that is enough to make up for what she’s done to you. If we should decide to stay together after this week,” he stipulated with a wink for Jonathon. “Sabine will have to prove herself before she can be my right hand again, and return to our inner circle.” He paused and raised a brow at Jonathon.

“I think that’s reasonable.”

Leo bowed his head at him. “Probation for Sabine if she goes back to Vienna and smooths things over with the Foundation and explains that she was the cause of the scene at the gala. She will ensure that the Foundation welcomes us back to Austria with open arms. And when you are ready, Sabine will give you the wedding of your dreams,” Leo promised Jonathon and took the folder from him and held it up. “If that is not acceptable to you or we do not stay together, Sabine will go her own way.”

“I can sell this in Vienna!” Sabine told Leo and nodded quickly at Jonathon. “I will explain that I was the one who kept you two apart because I panicked. I’ll tell them that Mr. Hawthorne is a brilliant artist who has been performing for several years, but is ready to settle down and focus on his true passion again: painting. I will be your champion and your shield,” she said to Jonathon. “I won’t rest until I’ve fixed the damage I’ve done.”

There was a long pause as Leo considered. He glanced at Jonathon and then at Markus and nodded. “If you can do all of that without giving any of us another reason to distrust you, I will be satisfied,” he stated and signaled that he was done with Sabine.

“Thank you, Leo, and thank you for being so gracious,” she said to Jonathon, curtsying and smiling at Markus. “Thank you for…” She flailed vaguely, earning a bemused look from Markus.

“For telling the truth? You know, you had other options, Sabine, you were just too fixated on Leo to notice.” With that, Markus offered the group a terse nod and left them.

A long silence followed Markus’s exit, everyone was so stunned. Eventually, Sabine cleared her throat. “I don’t know what to say,” she whispered to Leo, looking shocked but not necessarily bothered by the idea.

Leo’s cheeks puffed out as he shrugged. “I’ve never really given it much thought, but you could do a lot worse. I might try asking him to get a drink,” he suggested.

“Me?” She laughed, a nervous trill as she covered her cheeks. They were bright pink and Sabine was trembling. Jonathon couldn’t recall her ever looking so flustered. “I never imagined he’d be interested in me. He’s so…” She fidgeted with her collar. “He’s so large and…physical.”

Jonathon hummed in agreement, begrudgingly happy for Sabine. “You should go after him,” he said and she nodded.

“I think I will. To apologize and clear the air, at least. Thank you. I’ll check in with you later,” she said, then hurried after Markus.

“Are you absolutely sure you’re alright with this?” Leo asked, gathering Jonathon in his arms. He leaned back so he could watch Jonathon’s face. “I would understand if you never want to set eyes on her again. I don’t.”

“I would have done the same thing if I were in her shoes,” Jonathon repeated, without a single doubt. “She didn’t know how far I was willing to go for you and she had no way of knowing how serious we were. Even Muriel agrees that I would have looked like a threat and a terrible risk to everything you had worked for. Sabine did what she thought was best. She did her job,” he stated simply.

“She defied me. She knew what my wishes were,” Leo argued, but Jonathon shushed him softly.

“You wished to be Margrave and Sabine made sure that wish came true, regardless of the obstacles,” he said as he pulled Leo’s lips to his. He savored Leo’s strained groan, kissing it from his lips. “It’s just too bad that I was one of those obstacles. But I think we’ve all learned our lesson. We know better than to underestimate Sabine and she will never come between us again.” Jonathon had no doubt that Leo would put them first from now on and that she would prove to be a powerful ally.

“Never.” Leo stopped Jonathon when he reached for his tie. “Not yet, mein Süßer.” This time, he shushed when Jonathon started to protest. “Not until you’re sure. I would not do that to both of our hearts and there is no way I could leave New York alone, once I have had you again.”

“What if I promise—?” Jonathon’s suggestion was muffled and defeated by a deep, bone-melting kiss.

“Let me make the promises from now on,” Leo requested tenderly. “And allow me this week to earn that privilege back.”

“Earn it?” Jonathon’s lip pushed out petulantly. “Sounds like we’re punishing ourselves and that seems a little unreasonable.”

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