“Yeah.” I started in the direction of the same hallway they’d disappeared into. “This place has many, many sitting rooms. I’m sure we can find one to duck into.”
Aaron reappeared when we were halfway down the hall, his gaze sweeping across the two of us walking together just once before he reached for a door I’d been convinced led to another storage closet. “In here, if you’d please.”
“How do you do that?” I asked, not even for the first time today. “It’s like you can read my mind.”
“That’s my job, Mr. Westwood.”
“Will.”
“Of course,sir.” He pushed the door open, smiling a little. I sighed but walked in anyway.
Behind me, Jesse chuckled and shut the door once we were inside. He looked around the small study Aaron had led us to, his gaze dragging across the old fireplace, the stone walls, and the thick rugs on the floor. He shook his head. “You know, I still don’t really understand the appeal of this place.”
I rolled my eyes. “You always have hated history.”
“I don’t hate it. I just prefer the present.” He lowered himself into one of the armchairs and pulled out his phone. “Alright, I need to get Alex on the line. Are you ready?”
“No. Why do you need to call him?” I asked, watching Aaron pour scotch like it was a sacred ritual.
He handed me the glass just as Alex’s voice came through Jesse’s speaker, my question apparently having fallen on deaf ears. “Hey, Jess. You got him?”
“I got him.” Jesse turned the screen toward me. “Say hi to Alex, Will.”
My eyes narrowed, but my oldest brother was already staring back at me from the video call. From what I could make out of the background, he was on his couch at home, also sipping scotch. “I’m sorry Jane and I couldn’t make the trip. Unfortunately, her doctor told us in no uncertain terms that she’s way past the point where it’s safe to fly at all, let alone that far.”
I inclined my chin in a nod. “Sure. Yeah. That makes sense. I’m still not sure why Jesse dragged me away from the others and insisted on calling you, though.”
Alex raked a palm along his jaw, his mouth pressing into a firm line. He swallowed, making a face like he was tasting something bitter. “You quit on me.”
“Yes, and I’m not changing my mind.” I folded my arms across my chest. “So if that’s what this is about, then no thank you?—”
“I owe you an apology,” he said, cutting me off. “That’swhat this is about.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You’reapologizing tome?”
“Yes, I am. What I was about to say was that you quit on me, but I understand why you did it and I don’t expect you to come back, but I am sorry that I drove you to it.”
I frowned. “You never apologize.”
“I do when I’m in the wrong, and I was in the wrong. I mishandled things with you and Eliza. I didn’t listen to you. I jumped to conclusions. I was a tool and I’m sorry.”
Jesse finally handed his phone off to me, then leaned against the wall with his glass in one hand, the other casually hooked into the pocket of his jeans. “You’re going to have to do a lot better than that, Alex. You weren’t just a tool. You were an asshole, at the very least.”
“Fine. I was an asshole. A jerk. Whatever you want to call me, I was that.” Alex exhaled. “You were right, Will. I let the pressure get to me and I wasn’t thinking straight.”
I almost choked on my drink. “Can you repeat that? I’d like it recorded for future use.”
“Don’t push me.” He sighed as he leaned back on the couch. “I just wanted you to know that I’m not going to interfere. Whatever happens tomorrow, it’s your decision. Jesse told me about the contract, so legally, we’re all good for you to marry her, but if you don’t want to, I’ll work something out with James.”
“Thank you,” I said, all the humor vanishing as I stared back at him and realized that he really meant all of this. “I appreciate that.”
Jesse pushed off the wall. “I’ve got something to say too.”
I glanced at him, frowning. “This should be good.”
“I’m stepping in as COO.”
I frowned. “What?”
