Chapter Fifteen
I need time to think….
In the whole of human existence, that phrase was often the death knell to a relationship.
I need time to think….
As the day progressed in heavy silence, from early morning to late afternoon, he waited, his mind spinning, trying to figure out what she’d say, what she’d demand of him, and how he would give her every damn thing she asked for.
His cell pinged from his pocket, startling him. For the first time ever, he’d set it to silent before he’d gotten on the helicopter, but Logan had added a program that allowed a “ping” to notify him of any critical information. If investors or his assistant wanted to get a hold of him, they were shit out of luck, but his brothers would always be a priority.
Knowing he had to see what was so critical when he was fighting for his life and marriage, he sighed and pulled the cell from his pocket.
It was a text from Adrian—with a ridiculous screen name only Logan could give, most definitely playing off their brother’s penchant for being a Wall Street shark.
BabyShark: The Mancinis are restless. Big Mancini is on the warpath looking for you. I was able to calm him by telling him you’d be at the Winter Gala.
Shit. Fucking shit.
The Winter Gala was the biggest, most opulent, most envied event of the year. It was the holiday event of the season, paid for by Maddox Corp, and getting a ticket was like finding a heart transplant match—nearly impossible unless you had connections.
Gideon had been signing invoices and fielding calls from big names for the last four months, because it was important to retaining the power of the Maddoxes; the show of wealth, power, and prestige above any other in the fucking country.
And the moment his wife walked out of this life, he’d forgotten all about it. Because it wasn’t as important as she was.
BabyShark: If you can get Kendra to come with you, it would kill two birds with one stone.
Gideon didn’t need to ask Adrian what he meant. If Gideon could get Kendra to the gala, it would continue the public image of the happily married man, a man of loyalty and family, something a majority of their investors salivated over. Also, if he could get his wife to the gala, he could put Mancini in his place, once and for all.
Then…there was the third reason he needed to get Kendra to that gala—and idea that had just struck him so hard his heart stumbled.
Yes….
Yes, he had the perfect idea, the most dramatic and dangerous to his already terminal ego way to prove to his wifethat he truly loved her and wanted the chance to rebuild their marriage.
Quickly, he texted back.
BigMad: I will do what I can to get her there. Have Logan and Lucian keep an eye on Mancini and his rabid pup.
BabyShark: Will do. Hope to see you there.
Gideon read the text, stuffed his cell back into his pocket, and let his gaze drift to the woman sitting outside in the heated, glass enclosed veranda. She was tucked under a blanket, gaze fixed on the snow softly falling on the back garden, the light of the fading sun kissing her delicate features.
God, she was beautiful—the most beautiful woman he’d ever known, inside and out. And he was losing her.
No!
No, he refused to admit defeat, not when giving in meant death. Kendra, his heart and soul, would kill him dead if she left him, for she was the blood in his veins, the breath in his lungs, and the only thing keeping his soul tethered to this world. Without her, he would have no reason, no purpose.
In the face of losing his wife, money, power, legacy—it meant nothing.
It was too bad it had taken him three years and his wife leaving him to realize that.
Determined to start as he meant to go on, he headed into the kitchen to make a late lunch, something he hadn’t done since his brothers were little. As a grown man of means, he had chefs, Michelin-star restaurants on speed dial, and a wife who loved to feed him, and so he hadn’t turned on a burner in decades.
He’d do that today, though, because simply cooking for Kendra would mean more to her than if he slipped a 40-carat diamond bracelet on her wrist.
Checking the refrigerator and the cupboards, he decided on a simple salad, pan-seared chicken thighs, with a side of roasted Brussels sprouts.
