Page 66 of Set In Stone

“I wanted your submission, yes. You’ve given it where it matters most, but it’s more than that. You can be so goddamn unpredictable that you drive me crazy, yet you haven’t been pushing me like you normally do. You simply seemed to know what I needed and you gave it to me. Because of that, I was able tothink.”

“Think aboutwhat?”

“I feel like I’ve been out of my fucking mind lately. Except, then I see you. And then I touch you. When that happens, I can somehow forget everything. I’ve come to realize that nothing else in the world matters as long as I have you, angel. I might lose it all – my business, my cars, my penthouse. But I don’t care. I am nothing unless you’re withme.”

My heart began to pound. I didn’t like his tone. Not one bit. There was a certain amount of finality to his words and it was scaring the living hell out of me. My eyes began to burn and I had to blink back the tears thatthreatened.

“Alex…” I trailed off, unable to complete the sentence that would bring my fears tolife.

“I’m going to talk to ThomasGreen.”

I knew what he was planning without him even saying it. He wasn’t going to talk to the DA about Charlie’s trial, but about the interview. And thepast.

I immediately shook my head back and forth indenial.

“No. Youcan’t!”

“I need to get this out in the open. I can’t keep living like this. And now, with Justine missing, staying silent won’t help matters if there is acase.”

“Wait, just don’t. Not yet. There has to be anothersolution.”

“Not one that would satisfy me. I need to get this story out on my terms. The only reason Mac Owens hasn’t gone public is because Hale reminded him that he needs another source to corroborate Charlie’s story. As of right now, he doesn’t have one. It’s only a matter of time before hedoes.”

I thought about the many times the reporter called me over the past few days. It was my fault, but I wondered if he would have called regardless. I began to wonder if there were others he tried to contact, when I remembered SuzanneJacobs.

“Justine’s friend, Suzanne. Do you think she’ll talk tohim?”

“I don’t know if he’s made that connection yet. In any case, Hale has put a tail on Suzanne just incase.”

“So there’s still hope. Maybe if you or Justine, wherever she is, can talk to Suzanne firstthen–.”

“My mind is made up,” Alexander cut me off firmly. “I’m going to call him on Monday and set up a time when Stephen and I can meet with him. Stephen doesn’t seem to think there’s a case, but I’m tired of being on edge, not knowing when Owens will publish. He eventually will, and I’m prepared for a PR nightmare. I’m just hoping that, if it happens, it occurs after the ribbon cutting ceremony for Stone Arena. However, no matter when it’s released, if cops are sniffing around it will look worse for me. It’s better if I come forwardfirst.”

“Are you sure aboutthis?”

“I’ve been hiding my past for too long. I’ve told you countless number of times to stop living in the past. Well, now it’s time for me to take my own advice. You know me –allof me. You know what I am inside. No one’s ever seen me the way you do, Krystina. So please, no matter what happens, I need your assurance that you’ll stick byme.”

“Of course, I would! I don’t know how you could think otherwise,but–.”

“Shhh,” he said and held his finger up to my lips. “I don’t know what Monday is going to bring, so I just want to enjoy the weekend with you. No more talking about any of this. Don’t worry, angel. For all we know, nothing will even happen. But, if it does, I’d like to have a few days of normalcy. Can you do that forme?”

My throat tightened painfully as I stared into the depths of his sapphire eyes. So many emotions swirled within them. Love. Fear. Pain. He had been through somuch.

How could I not give himthis?

I didn’t speak, but simply nodded my agreement and slipped my arms around his waist. Before Alexander went to the DA, I would have to tell him about my meeting with Thomas Green. However, as I clung tightly to Alexander, that was the least of my concerns. I was too busy worrying about how I was going to get through the next couple of days of pretending like everything wasalright.

* * *

The work daywas drawing to a close. My office door was open and I could hear my staff buzzing about meeting for happy hour after they punched out for the day. They deserved it. Together, we managed to nail the pitch to Sheldon Tremaine and land a three-year contract with Beaumont Jewelers. It was the largest commission Turning Stone Advertising has had to date. It was almost hard tobelieve.

Even now, as I stared at the half million-dollar wire transfer on my computer screen, I couldn’t wrap my head around what this meant for me or for Turning Stone. The commission put us on the map, making us a major player in the New York marketing scene. It was a dream come true and I almost wanted someone to pinch me just to make sure it was real. Nonetheless, as exciting as this moment should be, I was having a hard time feeling it. Alexander’s words from the morning loomed over me, making it hard to be excited about much ofanything.

I pushed back from my desk, stood, and walked over to the large floor to ceiling windows in my office. Normally I loved taking in the view that Alexander had gone through great measures to give to me. However, today the picturesque view of the city’s skyline was blurred with low lying clouds. The sky was gray and bleak, a reminder of my current mood. I would be heading up to Alexander’s office soon and knew I had to shake it off. He didn’t want me to worry and, while I promised him that I wouldn’t, it was going to be difficult to keep up the façade. My only hope was that the evenings plans of music and dancing would distract me enough to keep up theact.

I tore my gaze from the sky when I felt my cell phone buzz through the pocket of my navy striped blazer. I fished it out and looked at the screen. It was my mother. We had been playing phone tag all week. A part of me wanted to just ignore the call, as I wasn’t feeling up to the wedding conversation I wanted to have with her. Yet, at the same time, it had the potential to be exactly what I needed to perk up my spirits. Talking about wedding plans with my mother could go one of two ways. Either she would piss me off by trying to talk me out of it –again. Or she could be excited to start planning. I hoped for the latter as I swiped the screen to answer thecall.

“Tag, you’re it,” I said upon answering. Shelaughed.

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