TWENTY-SIX
DYLAN
I attended Avel Petrova’s funeral out of respect for him and his daughter, and since I knew seeing my face would only upset Gwyn more, I lingered behind the crowd, finding a tree to lean against in case the rain picked up.
It had been five days since I’d last seen Gwyn. Five days since she had gotten the phone call about her father—since she discovered her fiancé was cheating on her—since she found out I was being paid to sleep with her.
I had kept my distance all that time, but seeing her, even from afar, left my heart hurting for her and because of her.
She seemed alone even though her friends and employees of Petrova Technologies stood all around her. I could sense her loneliness from where I stood. She felt like she had no one to help her through this, and it killed me that I couldn’t be there to hold her.
She looked numb, her hair wet and flat from the light rain shower and her dress loose as if she had lost weight since the last time she wore it.
I was sure she hadn’t slept much, and I could only hope she was eating even though I doubted she had an appetite. Her face was blank as she accepted handshakes and condolences for her father’s passing. She was obviously in pain, and nothing anyone could do would take that pain away from her.
I only wanted to hold her up and tell her everything would be okay, but I stayed in my spot far away from her because I knew it was what she wanted.
Gwyn took her seat under the green tent above Avel’s casket as the service started. I watched with anger and jealousy as Mitchell took the seat next to her. The bastard smiled at the older lady on his other side and moved closer to Gwyn when there was plenty of room for him.
I wasn’t sure if Gwyn had made their break-up official yet, but I knew she had other things to worry about. Not a single part of me was concerned she would stay with him after everything had come to light. She didn’t know it yet, but she was too strong for that and definitely too good for him … or me.
The minister took his spot and opened the service with his sincere apologies to Gwyn and family. Was there no one who could tell him that Gwyn was the only one left?
As he went on about Avel Petrova’s contributions to the hospital and his accomplishments, my mind wandered back to the last time I saw or spoke to him.
After the merger party…
I was positive I’d never been so nervous in my life, but as I rode the elevator up to Avel Petrova’s office, my palms felt sweaty, and I was pretty sure I was close to being sick.
When the doors opened, I buttoned my suit jacket and walked off the elevator with more confidence than I felt. I knew where I was going. I’d been there before on the night of the merger party with Gwyn; it was then that everything had changed for me, and the reason I was there now.
His secretary let him know I was there, and then she signaled for me to go in. My hand hovered above the doorknob; I took a deep breath and then twisted it. I stepped into his office, and Avel immediately stood to shake my hand.
“It’s nice to see you again, Mr. Russell. Please, have a seat.”
“You too, sir, and please, call me Dylan.”
“Okay.” We both sat. “I’m sorry, Dylan, but my secretary didn’t tell me what it was you wanted to see me about.”
“That’s my fault, sir. I didn’t give her one … it’s kind of personal.”
That seemed to pique his interest, and he folded his hands together, leaning on his desk and giving me all his attention. Not that I expected Avel Petrova to do anything less. Avel was not like most rich men; while he did seem very intimidating, if you treated him with respect, he gave you the same. He didn’t expect it. He earned it.
“You have me on the edge of my seat, Dylan.”
“I’m in love with your daughter, sir.” I threw my cards down on the table. I didn’t see any reason to bullshit him.
“I see.” He leaned back. I was certain there were very few occasions when Avel found himself surprised, but I was sure this would be one of them. “My daughter’s engaged, Mr. Russell.”
Well, shit.
“I understand that, Mr. Petrova, and I have no intention of interfering with that.” That wasn’t a complete lie. I no longer considered Gwyn a mark. “But I know that Mitchell isn’t the right man for Gwyn, and when she figures that out, I’ll be there waiting.”
He chuckled, obviously entertained by me.
“What makes you so certain that Mitchell isn’t the right man for my daughter?”
“Because I am. I’ll take care of her. I’ll love her.”
“Is there anything else?”
“When she chooses me—” I started, but he cut me off.
“You’re very confident that my daughter will choose you.”
“I am, sir. I know she loves me, but she’s afraid …”
“Afraid of what?”
“She’s afraid you’ll look at her and see her mother.”
Gwyn hadn’t come right out and said those words, but I knew it was true. She cherished her relationship with her father, and what he thought of her meant everything to him.
His face went hard at the mention of his ex-wife. “Gwyneth could never be like her mother.”
“I know that, Mr. Petrova, and I’ve told her that. But I don’t think it means as much coming from me.”
He nodded. “So if Gwyn chooses you, you want my blessing?”
“Yes, sir.”
“If Gwyn chooses you, and if you can prove to me everything you’ve said here today, then I’ll give you my blessing.”
“Fair enough, sir.” I stood and stuck out my hand toward him again. He stood, taking it. I gave it a firm shake.
I made promises that day I intended to keep. It didn’t matter if she would have me or not; I would take care of her. I’d make sure she was okay. And I’d love her until it was my time beneath the green tent.
When the minister finished his sermon, Gwyn stood and carried a white rose over to her father’s casket. She kissed the petals, pressing her fingers to the casket, and then placed the rose on top. Tears slipped from her eyes as they began lowering her father into the ground.
The urge to go to her was overwhelming, but it wasn’t the time, and I wasn’t going to be the selfish asshole who caused a scene at her father’s funeral. Other guests lined up to drop roses into the grave before giving one last condolence to Gwyn.
I planned to wait around until she was gone before I got any closer. I stood there watching her every movement, hoping she knew that even though she hated me, she wasn’t alone.
As if she could feel me watching her, she looked up, and our eyes clashed. I didn’t move a muscle, wanting to hold her gaze as long as I could. It didn’t last but a few seconds before the next person in line required her attention.
I waited until the last person in line was gone. And when a man I recognized as Avel’s driver led her toward the limo parked alongside the road, Mitchell wasted no time following behind her yet keeping his distance.
It was then he spotted me.
His face twisted with anger before he turned, coming straight in my direction.
Fuck. The last thing I wanted to do was cause a scene, even if I wasn’t the one starting it.
“You! What the hell are you doing here? You’re not wanted here,” he roared, causing everyone, including Gwyn, to stop and look in our direction horrified. “Do you hear me? Get the hell out here before I kick your ass.”
“Listen, Mitchell, I’m not here to cause problems. I just wanted to pay my respects to Avel.”
“Don’t you dare say his name! You have no business here. Don’t you think you’ve caused enough trouble? Gwyn doesn’t want to see you!”
“Mitchell,” Gwyn called, her voice emotionless. It shocked me. “Enough.”
“He shouldn’t be here, Gwyn.”
“I’m not here to bother Gwyn or start anything with you, Mitchell. I just want to do what I came to do. So why don’t you just leave with Gwyn, and I’ll go on my way.”
“You son of a bitch! You don’t tell me what to do.”
I closed the distance between us, causing him to flinch when I brought my face within inches from his. I dropped my voice to a deadly whisper. “You listen to me, you slimy son of a bitch. You have two choices. You can walk away on the two legs you were born with and shut your fucking mouth before you embarrass Gwyn any more than you already have, or we can go somewhere else and have this out like real men. Your call.”
I leaned away from him, and he adjusted his jacket and tie while looking around at the lingering guests who had stopped to watch his meltdown. Clearing his throat, he didn’t dare look me in the eye as he turned away from me and started toward Gwyn.
He stopped next to her, but when she looked at him, her eyes were without any emotion. He didn’t say anything else to her. Instead, he nodded as if understanding her without her even speaking and started toward his car.
Gwyn’s eyes found mine, and I wished like hell I knew what she was thinking, but she stared back at me with that same hollow look. My legs moved, taking me closer to her. Once I was close enough, I could see the black smudges beneath her eyes and the stiffness of her spine.
She was barely hanging on.
“I’m sorry about your father, Gwyn. I know how much he meant to you.”
She swallowed, and her head bobbed slightly. “Thank you, Mr. Russell, and thank you for coming.” Her response was generic; it was what she’d been saying to everyone.
Before I could respond, her driver took her arm and escorted her toward the car.
I watched her walk away and disappear into the back of the limo. The car took off from the curb, and my heart ached from her distance.
As I stood there alone, I had a gut-wrenching feeling that it was probably the last time I was ever going to see Gwyn again. The feeling was enough to bring a tear to my eye. I swallowed hard and swiped it away.
Once the limo was gone, I started toward Avel’s grave. I shoved my hands into my pockets and watched as men with shovels slowly covered his casket with dirt.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Petrova. I know I promised I’d take care of Gwyn, but I screwed up. I made a huge mess of things, and she’s never going to forgive me.”
I stood there for what seemed like forever, staring down into his grave as it filled with dirt, and once everyone was gone and I found myself there alone in the rain, I decided it was time I let go and move along, as well.