“No. This is your trial. If I’d one-hundred percent believed in your guilt, you’d be on the way back to Texas.”
She nods, looking just as tired as I feel. “You’re supposed to talk to me about these things.”
I hit play on the clip again. “I’ve heard your voice enough tonight. Paulo is waiting.”
With that, I go to the kitchen to make sure everything is turned off. I can’t watch her leave because I’ll beg her to stay.
Axel
This is supposed to be one the happiest days of my life, but it’s empty without Heaven. After tossing and turning all night, I finally gave up around four in the morning. I did laps in my pool until I was too exhausted to continue. The situation followed me like a bad taste through my shower and around six, my body shut down on its own. Now, I’m at the office in time for the 11:00 AM announcement. I rub my stress ball between my fingers as I contemplate the situation. It doesn’t sit right with me.
Not because I’m so in love that I want to believe in a liar. That’s not it in the least. I’m in love with her because she’s not a liar. My faith in my instincts was shaken unnecessarily. Allie is mentally unstable. She was able to hide it because we weren’t a thing. I didn’t sit in her face studying everything about her like I did with Heaven. Janet is a fucking train wreck. That’s enough explanation. Even when things were ‘good’ I still never let her in. Hell, Heaven knew more of me in one meeting than Janet cared to know in years.
Motive? Yes, Heaven is a social media influencer, but she’s not the typical attention seeker. If she were, there were plenty of times to capitalize on our relationship. She’s not motivated by money or fame like Janet. She’s not trying to make me love her like Allie. Heaven already has me.
I tap my fingers on my desk as the cogs start spinning. Allie would benefit from Heaven and my break up, but Heaven would never say anything like that to Allie. Worse, Heaven would knock Allie’s ass out on sight. Why would Heaven say those things? That’s the part that is bothering me.
Mr. Pafuti knocks then enters my office.
“Looks like the press is ready. You can get out of my office.” He’s joking, but I can tell his eyes are searching for something in my demeanor. He takes another step inside and closes the door. “I saw the headline…”
“I can explain.”
Sione shakes his head to stop me. “No need. It’s easy for some tabloid reporter to quote people out of context and create scandal. I just had dinner with you two, and you can’t fake the way you look at each other. ” He folds himself in the seat across from me and unbuttons his expensive jacket. Leaning he places his elbows on his knees and laces his fingers. “You may have noticed that I am a very rich man as well. I know what it’s like to be on the other end of a lie. The only reason I cared before was because I needed to know who you are as a person. She loves you, and you love her. It doesn’t matter how it started.”
“Is this your version of the go-get-your-girl speech?”
Sione chuckles and leans back in his chair. “Pretty much but after this announcement though.”
“Yeah. That I knew. I just don’t know how they got her to talk about any of it.”
“And you two can figure it out together. She’s a solid mate.”
His observation conjured a memory of something she’d said.Rock Solid.
“If it were just an article, we would have solved it last night. I admit hearing her say it had me shook. But I couldn’t bring myself to believe either possibility one-hundred percent.”
Sione rises, and I do as well. He pats me on the back once I move around the desk. “Follow your gut. Luckily you know the best way to figure that out.”
I chuckle despite feeling like part of me is missing. “Yes. I get it. With her.”
“Quick learner. That’s why you’re successful. Now, you get to learn how to be in a partnership.”
“Thanks to you, I have plenty of time to get it right.”
He smiles but doesn’t respond because we’re now surrounded by my employees and the media.
* * *
During the formalannouncement and the following Q&A, my head swiveled so much looking to see if Heaven came that I’m surprised my neck isn’t sore. Sione is right. My gut and my heart tell me to go get my girl. A quick drop by at the hotel yields no results. She’s not in my suite. I don’t want to discuss it over the phone. I want to see her, talk to her, and hold her.
Paulo heads back to the house while I attempt to call her. My heart sinks when she doesn’t answer. I know we left things weird, but I also told her I just needed time to work it out. In hindsight, I should have worked it out with her, but the hurt of the possible betrayal made me feel scared to dig deeper in case she was being foul. I didn’t want to believe it. While I’m glad I wasn’t irrational and said things I could never take back, I’m still sad for her. I remember seeing how much my indecision hurt her.
My phone dances in my hand, and I feel hope and relief when I realize Heaven is calling me back.
“Hey. I was at the spa.”
Part of me smiles because I have a strong feeling I’m a ‘victim’ of retail revenge. Good. I hope she got all the spa, food, and items she wanted on my dime.
