Chapter 45

Linny

I stare down at the phone in my shaking hands.

I can’t text Jeremy to explain any of this. Calling him doesn’t feel right either.

This is a conversation that I need to have with him face-to-face.

I left Mitchell alone in the conference room. I didn’t have anything to say to him. He had said it all in front of West.

I drop into my office chair and scroll through the contact list in my phone until I spot his name.

Dad.

The man who promised that he’d never tell a soul that I married a man I didn’t know.

He was the only person I called back then when I realized what I’d done. He was on the next plane to Las Vegas with a recommendation from his lawyer for a divorce attorney in Nevada.

He took care of all of the paperwork. He handled every discussion with Corbin Burnell, the man I exchanged vows with.

It was my dad who swore on his life that he wouldn’t even tell my mother.

Yet, Mitchell knows.

A knock on my open office door draws my attention back up.

It’s a man. He’s vaguely familiar to me.

He’s tall with broad shoulders, dark hair and blue eyes. He’s dressed casually in jeans and a dark blue V-neck sweater.

“Can I help you?” I try to look past him to where my assistant should be, but I don’t see anyone.

“You’re Lincoln Faye, right?” His hand is outstretched as he approaches me.

It takes every ounce of energy I have to push to my feet. “Yes, I’m Linny.”

“Linny,” he repeats my name back as he takes my hand. “I’m Rocco Jones. Jeremy Weston and I are business partners. We’re friends. He’s told me a lot about you.”

I study his face, taking in his strong jawline. I saw him at Nova with West. It was the evening I was there having dinner with Roland.

West was so close to me that night and I didn’t know it.

Now, it feels like he’s a million miles away.

“Jeremy told me about the great job you’ve done on the Rizon campaign.” He studies me. “I’d like to discuss the possibility of us working together.”

I should be overjoyed, but work is the last thing on my mind.

“I had a meeting two blocks from here, so I dropped in to see if you had a few minutes now to talk,” he goes on, “I know it’s presumptuous, but I thought it was worth a shot.”

I rub my forehead. “I’m sorry, Mr. Jones.”

“Rocco,” he corrects quickly. “It’s Rocco.”

He tugs his phone out of his pocket when it chimes, scanning the screen. “It’s Jeremy.”

My heart skips a beat.

“Is he alright?” I ask in a breathless whisper, my voice cracking.

His gaze wanders from his phone to my face. “He needs to see me. He says it’s urgent.”

I swallow back a sob.

His features soften. “You’re her, aren’t you?”

A tear streams down my face. “Who?”

“You’re the woman he met.” The corners of his lips lift into a smile. “You’re the woman who put that smile on his face and that hope in his eyes.”

I nod. Fear rushes through me that West has lost hope in us since he heard Mitchell talk about my mistake in Vegas.

“I’m going to meet him now.” He shoves his phone back into his pocket. “I don’t know what he’s told you about his life, but Jeremy’s a fighter. He’s battled some shit that no one should have to and he’s always come out on top. If he’s as crazy about you as I think he is, whatever is going on between you two isn’t going to get in his way.”

I should take comfort in his words, but I can’t.

I’m the one who didn’t tell Jeremy about my past. He should have heard it from me, not from Mitchell.

He slides a business card from the back pocket of his jeans. “Here’s my card. Give me a call when you’re ready. We’ll meet for a coffee and talk shop.”

I watch him leave my office, wishing I could follow him, but I can’t. I have to give West time with his friend, and I have to face the one man who promised he’d always protect me.

I wipe the tears from my face, pick up my phone and head straight for my dad’s office.

Sooner or later he’ll show up and I’ll be there waiting with all of the questions I need answers to.