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He moved out the door with a heavy heart. All the while, he felt as though there were still things left unsaid. But when he paused and turned back, the door swung shut with a resounding thud. She obviously didn’t feel the same way.
On the elevator ride downstairs, he told himself it was all for the best. He knew that marriage and business didn’t mix. He’d witnessed enough arguments between his parents.
They might have remained married but he wasn’t sure it was for the best. Neither of them seemed happy. And he didn’t want to make Alina as miserable as his mother had been. Alina would be better off without him.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
IT WAS OVER.
It was all over.
And Alina had never been more miserable in her life. She was about to lose her home and she had no idea where to move. And with this being Christmas week, there were no real estate agents to help her.
Graham said his company had already contacted some people and would be forwarding information about available units by the new year. But she didn’t want to wait that long. If she had to move, she just wanted to get it over with—the sooner, the better.
She was never one to just sit around and wait for things to happen, she liked to take the lead, but for the moment, she had to work. Even though some people were able to take off for the holiday, she was previously scheduled to work up to and including Christmas Eve.
It was the day before Christmas Eve that Alina stopped by Merryweather’s apartment. She’d realized that she’d forgotten to give him the shawl that went with the beautiful gown she’d worn to the Snow Ball.
“I’m really sorry for not returning this sooner,” she said as she handed it over. “I... I don’t have a good excuse. I forgot.” The truth was she’d been so upset with Graham and the fact she’d let herself fall for him that she hadn’t thought of much else.
“It’s all right, my dear.” Merryweather studied her. “You haven’t been sleeping well, have you?”
Was it that obvious? She’d have to start using more makeup to hide the shadows beneath her eyes. She didn’t want anyone else questioning the reason behind her restless nights.
“I’m okay.” Liar. Liar.
“I’ve noticed that Graham hasn’t been around since the party.”
She swallowed hard. This was why she’d been avoiding people, but she’d have to explain to them sooner or later. “Our arrangement is over.” The breath hitched in her throat as she prepared to tell her friend the worst of it. “And...and Graham has decided to go ahead with the demolition of this building.”
For a moment Merryweather didn’t say a word. His face didn’t give away his thoughts, but she knew he had to be as devastated as she felt. After all, this was his home, too. She wasn’t quite sure how long he’d lived here, but he’d been here her entire life and then some.
“I’m sorry.” She felt like she’d let down everyone in the building—the people she cared about, the people she thought of as family.
“Are you sure about this? He seemed like he really liked it around here.”
“I’m sure. I overheard him talking to my stepmother at the ball.”
Merryweather’s bushy white brows rose. “I’m surprised he’d bother with her.”
“I am, too.”
“And that’s when you heard he was going ahead with his plans to put the new tower here?” Merryweather didn’t seem to want to believe what she was telling him and she couldn’t blame him. It was a lot to take in.
“Yes.” Her gaze lowered to her laced fingers. “I just thought...” She shook her head. “Never mind.”
“You thought what? That he’d changed his mind? You thought you’d opened his eyes to just how special this place was with such friendly and caring people?”
She lifted her gaze to meet his. “That’s it exactly. And then to find out that he confided his plans to my stepmother, of all people.”
“You thought he should have talked to you first?”
She nodded. “Don’t you think so? I mean, we did have an agreement.”
“But did he promise you that he would speak to you first?”
“No. I just assumed that since it was our deal, I’d be the first to know.”
