Chapter Two
Trey Kaplan sat awkwardly on the hard plastic chair in the cafeteria at Hope House. He listened to a young boy tell jokes to Mr. Randolph. Any other time, he may have been amused. He loved children, found them to be a breath of fresh air among the career-driven adults he was typically surrounded by.
But today? His thoughts were elsewhere.
He didn’t belong here. Hope House deserved better than him, and he hated how he’d come to sit on the board. The other members begrudged him for it, and he couldn’t blame them. He resented the position as well, but for reasons no one would understand.
Honestly, he didn’t understand his father’s obsession with the shelter. Thomas Kaplan embraced multiple philanthropic efforts through the Kaplan Foundation. They were always for show however, never from pure motives. Not to mention the typical recipients of benefits were the arts. Never people who were down and out on their luck.
Thomas Kaplan believed that people made their own destiny. Work hard and you’ll have a good life was his motto, which to Thomas Kaplan, a good life meant more money than one could spend in a lifetime.
He didn’t understand struggles, or family, or hardships, or faith. Business was his religion, money and prestige, his gods.
So why had his father promised an outrageous sum of money to Hope House on the condition that Trey receive a position on the board? It didn’t make sense, went against the grain of all his father stood for.
Trey didn’t believe for one second his dad’s heart was softening in his older years. Just a few months, he’d made a snide comment about a homeless man on the street. Trey had given the man money anyway, believed it was his responsibility to help when God nudged, a concept his father didn’t understand.
For whatever reason, however, Trey was here now, and there wasn’t much he could do about it. When his father said jump, Trey jumped. It was the disadvantage of working with family, although they’d come to an understanding of sorts in the last few years, which gave Trey the flexibility to perform his job with freedom. He truly did enjoy his role in the company. He loved traveling, scouting new locations for the next KapMart store. He found satisfaction working with each new store location as they prepared for opening.
The mega-chain department stores were poised to become the number one chain in America within the next five years. Despite disagreeing on many of his father’s methods, Trey had to admit, he admired much of the work his father had accomplished. Kaplan Enterprises directly employed over one-hundred thousand workers in the United States. Not only that, but the company worked directly with small businesses to bring their products into the stores and gave them shop space that expanded their reach.
Realizing he’d let his thoughts slide, Trey clenched his jaw. For whatever reason his father had ensured he was here, Trey would make the best of it. He knew little to nothing about women’s shelters, but he would learn.
He felt a tap on his shoulder, and he turned his head to see Mrs. Guillory. The lady was exceptionally kind and pleasant with everyone she came into contact with, except him, with whom she kept a cool distance.
Somewhere in his brain, it registered that someone stood behind her, but his mind was preoccupied, wondering how he was supposed to do any good at the shelter if none of the board members wanted him there.
“Yes, ma’am,” he asked.
“I’d like you to meet the newest director of Hope House.” Mrs. Guillory smiled at the lady beside her.
He stood to his feet and turned around. The face registered with him, sending frissons down his spine. This couldn’t be happening.
“Trey Kaplan, I’d like you to meet Alexis Simmons, our new director of Hope House. Alexis, Trey is the newest member of the board.” If Mrs. Guillory was aware of any sudden tension, she didn’t say anything.
For a second, he didn’t respond. He watched Alexis, gauging her reaction. Would they admit they knew each other? Couldn’t stand each other? Okay, Alexis couldn’t stand him, for good reason he supposed, but that knowledge, in return made him dislike being in her presence.
What man would want to spend time with a woman who acted like he was lower than the spit on his shoes? Even if said woman was beautiful with a headful of natural brown waves that bounced when she shook her head with emotion, and caramel skin that was smooth as a polished rock. Once upon a time, long long ago, he’d had the privilege to caress that cheek, until he’d ruined it all and her doe eyes had filled with tears at his careless dismissal.
He had some pride after all.
As did she.
And her pride would never forgive him for the past they shared.
She stared at him blankly, as though they’d never met. Perhaps that was for the best. A fresh start or new beginning. Ha. They’d never gotten along, except for that brief time in their lives. Why should he expect anything to change now?
Because they were adults. At the very least, they’d have to forge a professional relationship. Like it or not, they’d been thrown together. Did his father know that Alexis was the new director? Of course, he knew. Thomas Kaplan didn’t miss a beat, which made the situation even more confounding.
Mrs. Guillory cleared her throat, shifting her gaze from him to Alexis.
He composed himself, plastered on a smile, and extended a hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Simmons.”
Her hand slowly reluctantly reached for his. She only allowed the briefest of contact before she dropped his hand like a burning coal. “Welcome to Hope House, Mr. Kaplan.”
No,Nice to meet you, as well, orI look forward to working with you. No, Alexis would never allow that. Her walls had been difficult to break down once before, and he’d burned that trust. They’d be impossible to deconstruct now.
“I understand you’re new here, also. I look forward to learning the ropes together.” As soon as he’d said it, he wanted to kick himself. Dumb move, Kaplan.
