“And who are you?”
“I’m the general manager of the hotel. And I’d like you to leave.” Evie was poised and calm and Alexandra felt a flicker of surprise and also admiration. She’d seen gentle when she first arrived but now she saw steel. And she was grateful for it. Another layer stepping between her and the past. Another barrier. She’d gladly take them all.
“That’s not your decision. This isn’t professional, it’s personal.” He turned back to Alexandra. “I’m your dad. You at least owe me a conversation.”
“I owe you nothing.” She was dimly aware of Evie moving to her desk and making a call, her voice a quiet murmur in the background.
“Maybe you don’t want anything to do with me, but I have a right to get to know my granddaughter.”
Something sparked inside her.
“You have no rights. And why would you want to? It’s a little late for emotional reunions, don’t you think?”
“That isn’t your decision to make, is it, Lexy? She’s an adult. She can decide.” He turned to Abby. “I bet your mother hasn’t told you much about me, has she? We’ll have to remedy that. You’ve got your grandmother’s eyes.”
That was the comment that broke her. Hearing him talk so casually about her beloved mother was too much for her selfcontrol.
She didn’t want to feel this way.
She didn’t want him to be able to affect her like this.
He was nothing, and yet she was responding as if he was something.
Was it because for the first few years she’d dreamed of this exact scenario? Dreamed of him walking through the door he’d walked out of without a backward glance and saying he was sorry. Making it up to them. Reforming the family he’d leftshattered and bent out of shape. Even when she’d long decided she would never forgive him even if he did show up, she’d kept up the pretence for her mother. Night after night her mother had sobbed,he’s going to come back. One day he’ll come back, and Alexandra had held her and soothed and saidyes of course he will, because that was what her mother had needed to hear. When she’d died, a part of Alexandra had died, too. She’d hoped he would attend the funeral because there were things she wanted to say to him, but of course he hadn’t. He’d been no more present in death than he’d been in life.
And yet here he was.
She felt something falter inside her. She had no doubts about her own feelings, but it was true that technically he was Abby’s family. Also true that Alexandra had never discussed him with her daughter apart from delivering the bare facts of his betrayal. He’d demonstrated clearly that she had no place in his life so she’d been careful not to allow him a place in hers.
But Abby was an adult now. Lately she’d been asking a great number of questions about her past. There was a chance she would welcome the opportunity to learn more now that she knew she had a grandfather living.
Horror sank its claws into her. Was that what would happen? If so, she’d be forced to support Abby’s choice because there was nothing she wouldn’t do for her daughter, even when the idea of it half killed her.
But if Abby was feeling even a flicker of sentiment, it didn’t show.
Instead she crossed the room and stood next to her mother.
“You’re wrong if you think I don’t know about you.” Her voice was steady. “I know you left my mother when she was eleven years old and never got in touch again. I know you’ve been hanging around this place and lying to the staff aboutwho you are. I don’t need to know more than that. You’re not someone I want, or need, in my life.”
Alexandra felt a rush of emotion and knew she needed him gone. She couldn’t hold it together for much longer.
“What do you want, really? Why are you here?”
He paused and then gave a little shrug. “I’m having a bit of a downturn in business as it happens. The economy isn’t what it was. You seem to be doing brilliantly. You have an eye for a deal. Thought we could have a chat.”
She almost laughed.
Money. Of course. He was here because he wanted money. That should have been the first thing that came to mind when she’d been searching for a reason for his persistence.
“I see. So this emotional reunion isn’t about sentiment, it’s about finance.”
It was a relief. That unsettling moment where she’d been afraid she might break down passed. This was business, and she was comfortable with business.
“I do have an eye for a deal. And I won’t be doing a deal with you.”
The door opened and Alexandra glanced across the room, desperately hoping that it was security.
Edward stood there and her heart gave an extra bump.
