Page 117 of Free to Fall

Just like I can’t let go of her.

Desperate, I begin typing.

Liam:

I was wrong. All of this is entirely my fault. There aren’t words to convey how sorry I am, Laura. But this isn’t how I want to apologize. I want you to read the remorse on my face, knowing I’ll never hurt you like this again.

I hit Send and there’s no response.

Hours later, nothing. Not that I can blame her. I shut her out first. I just didn’t realize it would be so damn painful to be on the receiving end of it.

Chapter

Sixty-Five

It’s been three weeks since the hostage situation and I’ve done little more than take care of Bailey and mope around my house trying to figure out a way to reach Laura. But the time for penance—at least where it pertains to work—is up. I’m only mildly surprised it’s Caleb, not Keene, who orders me into the office. “With or without Bailey. There’s information you need that can’t leave the office.”

Subdued, I reply, “It will have to be with. School doesn’t start for a few more weeks.” I don’t have to remind him I no longer have a nanny.

I can barely think about the reasons myself.

Laura hasn’t replied to a single one of my messages or voice mails despite the fact that I’ve been leaving them daily. “We’ll be there in the morning.”

“Fine. See you then.”

Liam:

Laura, please. Let me tell you how sorry I am. You didn’t deserve what I said to you. Let me apologize.

Within minutes of wheeling Bailey onto the executive floor of Hudson Investigations, she’s whisked away by Caleb and Keene’s wives to go shopping around Rockefeller Center. I was about to protest when I find myself blindsided by Laura’s eyes reflecting back at me in her mother’s face. My words disappear, and shame washes over me when fury crackles behind them. It’s a catalyst for me, causing me to recall Laura’s eyes flashing in much the same manner any time she mentioned her odious chief of staff.

I lift my hand, rubbing my chest as the snatch of memory causes it to ache. Wearily, I thank both women.

“You’re welcome,” Cassidy carefully modulates her voice around Bailey.

It isn’t until after the women leave that I’m herded into Keene’s office. Even as I settle at a small conference table, Keene uses his iPad to engage the room’s soundproofing. “Did something happen?”

Caleb shoots a file across the table in front of me. “Read those, then sign them.”

Lifting the first one, I realize it’s a specialized NDA on Hudson letterhead. I frown. “Are we under some kind of special audit? What the hell’s happening?”

Keene’s eyes crinkle in the corner malevolently. “They say I can murder you in cold blood if you speak of anything we’re about to share with you without explicit authorization.”

I scan the document quickly. “Authorization only comes from one of the senior partners—you two and Colby?”

Caleb’s chin jerks up. He doesn’t look much better than I feel.

I continue signing document after document, a total of twenty, all of which Caleb countersigns and Keene witnesses. Finally, Keene glances at his desk before meeting Caleb’s eyes, and he walks out the door. “I’ll be in your office.”

Caleb walks over to Keene’s desk and lifts a hefty file from it. “You’ll have to forgive the dramatics, Liam. There’s only been one other man who was read in without approval.”

“Read into what?”

“What we’re about to share with you.” He drops the folder onto the table, resting his hands on it. “None of what you signed means dick until the talking starts. So, I’m going to ask you one last time, did you mean what you said? Are you in love with my daughter?”

“Don’t you think that’s between me and Laura?”

“No. Not if you want a half a chance of fixing it.” His jaw tightens. “What you said that night...”

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