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I gnawed at my lip. My heart accelerated in anticipation, a feeling of hope spreading through me. He’d just said it wouldn’t be demolished, and I was so conflicted. I didn’t know if I could trust him. What if this was just another one of his manipulations?
“I don’t know, Oliver—”
“Please, angel. Just listen to me. I want to explain everything to you. Nothing else. If you still think you won’t be able to trust me in the end... Then I will understand that, but please, just give me one chance. Meet me at the hotel and let’s talk about this.”
He sounded so desperate and for a few moments I didn’t know what was right or wrong anymore. I couldn’t be sure about anything. If what he’d just said was right, then why did that contractor say those things?
A part of me—the one that wanted me to believe Oliver—was urging me to give him a chance. It was telling me that there was a possibility he wasn’t a liar. It was reminding me that I loved him.
Oh my God, I loved him, and if there was even a tiny possibility that he was speaking the truth...
I took a deep breath. “Okay, Oliver. I will meet you at the hotel.”
19
Oliver
When she’d said she would meet me, I was beyond myself with relief and joy. She was giving me a chance to prove myself to her, and I wanted to do anything do make her believe me.
I’d seen the story on the news about the hotel being torn down and figured out what had made Alexandra so angry. She’d heard about the place being demolished and she thought I was lying to her from the start.
Shit. That was so fucked up. Not only I was pissed off because of that lie, but I was also mad that I could lose Alexandra just because of some misunderstanding.
I was so furious. I didn’t know who the contractors were or why they would want to spread lies about my project. It was absurd, and I shouldn’t be surprised that it had already reached media. These things happened from time to time when our competition tried to ruin our reputation. They would spurt nonsense and try to make us look like we were on the verge of bankruptcy.
I hated that side of our business. No matter how hard we tried to build our reputation and make more contracts with clients, there were the unscrupulous sharks that lied shamelessly about things that were far from truth.
How did they know about the project, though? Maybe someone at the bank leaked that the expense was higher than the value. Yes, that could be possible.
Shit. These things happened, but this time it was different. This time I could lose Alexandra, and I couldn’t allow that. I’d promised her she could make whichever design she wanted, giving my best to find the money she would need, and I had to show her all of that was real. I didn’t really care how this happened or why—I had to prove to her I was a good guy and didn’t mislead her about the project.
Now I understood why she was angry at me, probably thinking I just wanted to use her. She couldn’t be more wrong and I wanted to give my best to prove to her what she meant to me. I got so addicted to her in this short period of time that I couldn’t imagine spending another day without her. I needed to see her. I needed her to believe me.
I went to the hotel and headed for the old bridal suite. After Alexandra told me how much this place meant to her, I remembered this room, and I’d wanted to use it once to surprise her. I’d never thought I would have to use it in this way—trying to get her to forgive me, but what was done, was done.
If anyone had told me I would be so crazy about some woman, I would laugh at them and then laugh some more. Hell, until recently I joked about Grant being so in love with Madison, not really understanding that connection they shared.
Now I wanted nothing more than to be with Alexandra and never get separated from her.
I loved her.
Shit. I loved her. I loved that woman who was so serious, but at the same time so fiesty and seductive when she wanted to be. She was smart and talented, and she was so beautiful. There was no one else like her. She was truly special and I needed her. I had to make things right with her.
After an hour, I set up the old bridal suite with roses and candles. It had already been furnished with the double bed and floor mirror, and I brought blankets and pillows. I lit the candles and stepped aside to take a look of the work I’d done.
I shoved my hands into my pockets, feeling too nervous. My heart was racing and my palms actually started sweating. Seriously, what was wrong with me? I was acting ridiculous.
I was worried she wouldn’t forgive me. What if she wasn’t the “roses and candles” type of girl? What if she didn’t trust me in the end?
“Stop this, man. You will sort it out. Come on, you act like you’re a teenager on a first date.”
I took my phone out of my pocket and texted Alexandra to let her know where she could find me.
The more time passed, the more nervous I became, and by the time I heard the knocking on the door, I was already pacing around the room in circles and imagining the negative outcome.
Shit. Okay. Here we go. I opened the door and felt my heart skip a beat when I saw her. She was wearing one of her boring business suits, but she’d never looked prettier to me. Even though her face was pale and she had dark circles under her eyes, there was no one more beautiful than her.
“Alexandra.” I approached her, my hands itching to touch her, but I noticed the way she tensed and I halted mid-step. I smiled slightly at her, trying to ease the atmosphere, but she didn’t return it. Okay. I needed to take baby steps with her. “Come in.” I let her pass, stepping backward to give her some space.
