Heat gathered behind her eyes while the familiar taste of rejection clawed up her throat. Damn him for making her think he actually understood her. And damn her foreverentertaining such a stupid idea.
“Because I couldn’t have possibly been the one to end things, is that it? After all, a woman like me would be lucky to have an offer from a man like him,” she practically growled.
“Alex. No,” he protested weakly, but his crimson cheeks gave him away. Then he let out a sigh and dragged a hand down his face. “I’m sorry. I did believe his story, but I never thought for even a moment that you would have beenluckyto have him.”
She softened a little at the incredulousness in his voice, but she crossed her arms against the urge to accept his apology. Alex didn’t owe him her forgiveness. Not yet. “All right, then.”
He began to rub his palm in slow circles over her shoulder and her eyes fluttered shut. His touch felt so warm and comforting that she was sorely tempted to lean against him. To let someone take care of her for just a moment. “Why did it end?”
She opened her eyes and mulled over the question before answering. “I expected to work for my father after I left Oxford,” she began. “Benjamin did not agree. He wanted me to support his career at the cost of my own. And use my connections to help him, of course.” Her jaw tightened as she spoke, but she pushed on. “We argued about it. Frequently. When it finally became clear to himthat I would not give in, he threatened to go to my father to force my hand.”
Lucien dropped his hand and looked properly shocked. “That fiend.”
Alex shrugged. “He was hardly unique. Very few men are willing to cast their own dreams aside to support their wives. But I was too young and naive to realize that at the time.”
“Did your father ever find out?”
Alex shook her head. “Only Will knows the truth. He took care of Benjamin.”
“By offering him a ticket to America,” Lucien supplied.
Alex flashed him a grim smile. “Along with a few other things to help him find his feet. My allowance at the time couldn’t cover the entire cost.” Then she turned away. “After that I promised myself I would never rely on anyone else ever again.”
“But there are some things we all need that can’t be bought, Alex,” he murmured.
Her shoulders tightened and she neatly stepped away from Lucien. She had indulged in enough self-pity for one evening. “Not me.” Then she looked back at him. “I’ve made sure of that.”
Lucien looked dubious but did not press her on this. “Why do you think he’s returned to London?”
Alex relaxed a little, grateful for the subject change. “Marguerite said his father is ill, but I doubt that is the whole truth.”
“Don’t you think it’s odd that he wants to invest in my business?”
“No, because it’s a good idea.”
“Alex,” Lucien began, shaking his head. “You can’t expect me to ignore your past with him. The man had barely said hello before he started telling me all about you.”
“And as I told you before,” Alex insisted. “You shouldn’t let personal feelings interfere with—”
“Not if I don’ttrusthim,” Lucien countered. “Believe me, if there is one thing I’ve learned from running the supper club it is that a person’s character matters.”
Alex pressed her lips together. She didn’t know what else to say. If Benjamin did end up making Lucien the best offer, she wanted him to take it. She wouldn’t be an obstacle to his success.
“You’ll only be hurting yourself if you reject him simply because of me. And I don’t need your pity.”
“I donotpity you, Alex.”
“But you… you feelsomething.”
“Yes, I do,” he said plainly. “And that matters.”
The admission should have sparked joy in her, but Alex only felt miserable. “Not in business.”
He stared at her for a moment before letting out a scoff. “Right,” he said as he pulled on his jacket. “My mistake, then.”
As he gathered his things, every part of her cried out in protest.
Wait.
