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"Yeah." He stared into his glass for a few seconds. "She probably thinks we’re screwing each other."
"It would serve her right. What the hell is she thinking?"
"She’s caught in a bad situation. Her old man has made his position clear." He shrugged. "She’s asked me for time and I’m giving it to her."
"For how long?"
"I don't know yet. Until I can’t bear it anymore." He took a sip of his whiskey and wondered if he should be drinking at all. He had to get through the day and he was already feeling the effects of being up most of the night.
On top of that, he was going to have to explain to Alessia that there was nothing going on between him and Annie. She should know without him having to tell her. The lack of trust was bordering on insult.
“You really love her.” Annie’s wistful tones had him staring at her. “You’re willing to bend over backwards to please her."
"Or perhaps to please myself." He murmured sardonically.
"I hope she knows what she has."
"Hopefully."
*****
She called Michael as soon as she went back to the house to come over.
"If your majesty is there, that's a no."
"He’s at the office and won't be back until supper."
"I’m nearby anyway. You sound like you need a shoulder."
"I do."
"Then I’m there."
She’d asked one of the maids to serve refreshments in the salon and had slipped out of the business suit she had worn for the meeting. She could be herself with Michael. She would have to get dressed for dinner because it was a family tradition and, for the first time, she realized that she resented how formal they had to be.
The time spent with Maxwell was so relaxing that she was yearning for that simplicity. The tiny table in the corner of the small kitchen had been comforting. Reminders of that, brought reminders of him and that woman having lunch.
He hadn’t called her. Even if he had, she would have ignored the call, but he hadn’t and she was sure he knew how upset she was.
Moving away from the window, she turned to see Michael waltzed elegantly into the room.
"That's all, Janet." She dismissed the maid with a quiet smile.
"You look relaxed." Michael commented as he greeted her with a hug.
"I just came from a meeting with the committee." Detaching herself, she went to uncover the dishes with the sandwiches and delicious looking pastries. "Help yourself, I’m not really hungry."
"Don't mind if I do." He heaped his plate before taking a seat on one of the plush chairs in front of the table. "I love this room."
"It was my mother's favorite." She looked around with a smile. "She had a hand in the design and called it her 'tea room.' She’d host her book club and meetings here whenever she didn’t feel like going out. She would have me sitting right over there-" She pointed to the window seat with its blue cushions. "I still sit there and read sometimes."
Michael eyed her over his glass of lemonade. "You sound sad."
"I miss her." Alessia said simply.
"I’m sure you do, but it's more than that."
She busied herself rearranging the cushions behind her. "Lunch was at Luce's."
