Chapter Thirty-Five

 

Konrad held the Renee Lalique brooch. He’d not sold it back to Space City Pawn and didn’t want to. He knew, however, that he couldn’t keep it. How would he get it back to Scottie? He didn’t think he could see her again. It was too painful.

It was Monday, and his new temp had started his second week with him. It was a guy just out of college. Fine with him. Konrad decided he was off women for a while. A long while. He still tasted Scottie on his lips. No one could replace the flavor. If this was love, it was truly the worst thing that could happen to a man.

Konrad set the box back in the drawer he’d kept it in since his birthday disaster. Actually, “disaster” was too mild a word for what had happened. He was sure his friends were keeping an eye on him, just in case he was contemplating jumping off the Korr Corp building.

They were too dramatic. Why hadn’t any of those wankers coddled Fabian when he thought he’d lost Antonia to Stephan? This would not make Konrad weak. This would make him strong—stronger for the next time.

Whenever that would be.

A knock on his door took him from his reverie. Good. He needed to think about something else for a while. He looked up from his desk. Groaning, he saw Jeff on the other side of the door, looking in like a lost puppy. What the hell did he want?

Konrad waved him in, watching as he eased in with that feigned casualness he always had around Konrad. “Jeff. Fancy seeing you here on the twenty-fifth floor.”

He walked with caution to Konrad’s colossal desk. “I thought I’d ask about getting a temp for the software team while I interview candidates. We are totally back-logged with data entry and debugging.”

Konrad steepled his fingers, pressing the point into his chin. “You know I don’t get involved with human resource affairs for Properties or Solutions.”

Jeff looked uncomfortable.

“Sit down. You look like something’s on your mind. And it’s not about a new temp, is it?” Konrad watched him. He might know what was on his mind.

“Scottie left the job so quickly, I didn’t know if something was wrong with her.”

There it was. Konrad did his best not to move a muscle or make a sound. He didn’t want to show how much he missed her. How much her absence affected him.

“She moved on. It’s not unusual for temps to leave, Jeff.” His voice shook a bit, but no one would notice. He hoped.

Jeff shook his head. “Right.”

He was silent for too long, long enough for it to get awkward. Konrad released his hands to the desk, done with the conversation. “Is there anything else?”

“I saw you.” Jeff’s eyes caught Konrad’s. They were defiant, filled with loathing.

“Pardon?” Konrad’s body sparked with energy. This might end badly. He needed to be careful.

“At H Bar. I saw you and Scottie in the hall by the bathrooms.” His stare grew more intense, more knowing, and Konrad got it. Jeff obviously thought Konrad had crossed a line. Used her and made her leave.

“I don’t know what you’re suggesting, Jeff—”

“You sexually harassed her, didn’t you? And that’s why she left.” He spat out the words in disgust.

Rage filled Konrad. If he wasn’t at risk of losing everything, he’d reach over the desk and take Jeff by the throat. He’d already been emotionally charged, and this was a slap in the face. His own employee thought this about him? That he was capable of sexually harassing another employee? That was the one line he’d never cross. Ever. Scottie was different. Scottie was a woman he wanted to keep and not just have a dalliance with. And she wasn’t his employee.

Konrad turned to his phone. “Perhaps we need to get legal and human resources in here so they can hear your accusation? Because there has never once been such a claim made since I began Korr Corporation.”

The glass door burst open hard enough that Konrad thought the whole damn wall would come down in shards. He jumped up from his chair, as did Jeff.

Scottie.

She stood, her chest heaving, her eyes wild as she stood in the doorway. Dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, she looked as if she’d just rolled out of bed. Konrad didn’t know what to say. What to think. There were too many thoughts and too many feelings churning inside him.

“You said you loved me in that text,” she began in a surprisingly steady voice, considering the condition she was in. One step in front of the other, she made her way across his office, completely ignoring the fact that Jeff had been there too. “Did you mean it?”

Konrad’s heart pounded in his chest, and he was back at his fateful party. He was back at the place where he was on his knees for her, and she had rejected him callously. Yes, he loved her, dammit, but he didn’t love this. He didn’t love her intrusion on him when he was trying to get on. In his office. His bread and butter. She had no right to come in and make him beg for her again.

“Jeff, please leave now.” Konrad didn’t want another scene. He was tired of them. Exhausted of them.

“Now you want some privacy?” Her eyes blazed, challenging him.

“Jeff,” Konrad said again, stronger. He wasn’t asking. He was demanding. Jeff didn’t move though. “Get out, Jeff!”

With that final demand, Jeff leaped to the door, getting out of their way. The door snapped shut, and Konrad could see from his periphery that Susan and other employees were standing outside. Another crowd.

“You can’t come into my office demanding me, Scottie,” he said coolly, but his heart was melting. She had tears in her eyes.

“I know you sold the EaDo property to Bayou Sling.”

“So?” How much he wanted to go to her, to take her in his arms. Kiss her again. It had been too long since his lips had touched hers, but he could practically feel them as she stood there, watching her mouth.

“Why?” Her voice quivered, as did her lips.

He shrugged. “I had a change of heart.” Did you? He wanted to ask her but couldn’t. He didn’t want to know.

“So easy?” She choked on her question.

He choked on his answer. “No.”

“Then why?” She wasn’t going to let it go, and he just wanted her to leave. Her presence affected him too much. He couldn’t be rejected by her again.

He scrubbed his face. “I don’t see why this is important for you to know.”

“I see why. Tell me. Why did you sell the EaDo property to Bayou Sling?”

He lifted his clenched fists in exasperation. “Because you were right. Because it wasn’t about profit. It was about community, about building something long-term. About doing the right thing. Okay? Is that what you want me to admit?”

He couldn’t look at her anymore.

He dropped his gaze to the floor. “Why are you here, Scottie? It’s over, remember?”

The air grew thick, tense. He thought he’d suffocate if the silence lasted any longer.

“

“Scottie,” Konrad said on a sigh, his heart so full it weighed him down. “Stop this.”

Her tears fell then. “I love you, Konrad. And I came to see if you still love me. And I’m not afraid of your answer.”

“Jesus, Scottie,” he said, his voice gaining more strength.

“Just say it. Just tell me once and for all, so I can put this behind me.”

“Fuck.”

“Can’t you tell me?”

“Yes! I fucking love you, Scottine!” he yelled, his voice booming through his office. “You are the only woman I’ve ever felt love for. The only woman I’ve ever wanted to change for. But you can’t come here after everything and demand my heart. You can’t!”

“You mean the way you demanded mine?” Tears gushed from her eyes, wetting her t-shirt.

Slowly, and with more control than he had to give, he said, “Leave.”

She gasped, obviously stunned, as was he, by that word.

Scottie wiped her face, nodding. “Okay. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I disappointed you.” She turned toward the door, her steps slow.

Fuck. His heart burst inside him. He closed his eyes, every moment they shared coming in flashes. No, this wasn’t right. He opened his eyes, his whole body sparking with energy. With urgency, he moved to the door just before she pulled the door handle and spun her around. She gasped.

“Don’t you fucking doubt me again.” With those words, he put his hands on her face and crashed his mouth on hers in a hungry kiss. He was starved for her, and she matched his intensity.

When they parted, he wiped her tears. She wiped his.

He pressed his forehead against hers. “You have to trust me. Trust that you have my loyalty. My heart.”

She hugged him tight, her heart thumping so hard he felt it. “I trust you, Konrad, with everything. With my everything.”

“Good. Because I want to wake up with you, and I want you to bring an overnight bag. And I want you in my future.” Words he’d never thought he’d utter to another person.

He pulled back to get a good look at his woman and smiled, taking in every curve of her face. He knew, without a doubt, he was in love.

 

The End