Sarah didn’t look reprimanded, shoulders steeling.
“He was waiting for you for days. He prepared so many things and instructed us to make you as comfortable as possible and postpone meetings that could be postponed. As you can see, that wasn’t many because his family would have a fit.”
“Seriously, stop telling me these things,” she said, weak in the knees and quivering deep inside. She shook her head, then exhaled. “But thank you.”
“Are you out to divulge information now?”
“No.” The answer was firm. She gave Sarah the same look. “His business is his and none of mine. I appreciate you telling me, and I’m done with my task here. You don’t have to worry about opinions because I know what I think of him.”
Smart. Focused. More troubled than he let people see and not heartless if he had loyal people like Sarah and unafraid ones like Millicent. Hell, even his relationship with Isabella and Billy said a lot, compounding her guilt for always being cautious when deep in her heart, she knew the man would never hurt her.
“Where are you going?”
She smiled at the secretary. “My business is done, and I will speak to him when he’s free. Now he’s in a meeting and he really shouldn’t be disturbed.”
Alexa felt Sarah’s eyes on her back the entire time until she left the building.
Chapter 6
It was insane how a man could make his blood boil without even being present in the room, but Edmund had the comforting knowledge that at least when the call ended, he could tuck the argument in for later and could talk to someone who could effectively make him forget about it—except that someone wasn’t in the room when he hung up.
He scanned his empty office in confusion, then strode over to the painting left behind in the corner. The tools were arranged and the painting…it floored him, a visceral self-portrait that captured many emotions from him but kept his face in the dark. Except for his lips, it was as if she wanted to preserve that part for him. Wonder lit him up and tugged at his heart, calling to the artist that recognized a kindred spirit. He wandered out and peered at Sarah, who already had an answer before he could ask.
“She left. She said she was finished.”
“Oh.” He blinked, not expecting that despite it being the truth. She had finished with her first piece while he had been on a long call, so it should make sense that she would leave. Still… “That was my last call.”
“I’m sorry?”
“For the day. I have a deal to make on Sunday, but you don’t need to come in tomorrow.”
His secretary stared at him as if he had grown two heads. “What?”
“Day off,” he mused, grinning. “I know we didn’t have a lot of those lately, so take all the time you need tomorrow. And expect a big bonus next week. Goodnight.”
He was out and scouring the streets before he knew it when Alexa wouldn’t answer her calls, tracking her down through the text she eventually sent.
Heading home. Stopping by the cake shop. Thank you for letting me paint the first piece.
Oh, no, she didn’t, not when he wanted to shower her with praises—not when she deserved every one of them. Her growing confidence left him restless, wanting to do more for her…wanting to spend more time with her if only because it stroked his ego to know that he had played a part in convincing her to restart her passion.
It helped that she was easy on the eyes and easy to egg, too, but lacking the bold temper he expected. It helped that time stood still whenever he watched her immersed, a peaceful sense coating him at her presence. The noise just…stopped and he felt better. Now, to find her…
“I suggest you step out of my way, Brando, if you don’t want this to get complicated.”
Her voice was filled with quiet menace and stopped him in his tracks. His body responded at the caution there, too, as he watched her brace in front of a bulkier man, whose arms were crossed and giving her a scowl.
“You owe me, Alexa.”
“Vito owes you, not me. Just because we are related doesn’t mean that you should lump us together. I didn’t lump you with your brothers, did I?”
The look on Brando’s face made it obvious that he didn’t like to be lumped with his brothers at all. He growled. “Alexa…”
She sighed, unfazed. Behind her, she flexed her fingers to relax them. “How much does he owe you?”
“A grand.”
An expletive came, alarming both men. “That stupid, irresponsible…” There was a bigger sigh. “Fine. Here.”