Chapter 13
Max
I never intended tospend the rest of the day fishing, but once I got out on the water, time seemed to stand still as I was transported back to my fishing trips with Dad as a kid. My older brothers were always too busy with girlfriends, and my little sister was too young, so Dad would take me out to the lake where we’d rent a canoe and sit in the middle of the water under the hot California sun for hours. We didn’t often catch a single fish. We didn’t even talk all that much. Dad said you had to be quiet to not scare away the fish. But because it was just him and me, that made it special. I used it as a time to think. As I got older,astime to reflect. Sometimes on the stupid shit I had done, sometimes on the grand plans I had to become a giant in the tech industry.
Today, I spent the time thinking about the beautiful woman I’ve fallen in love with, of all the things I need to tell her, of all the plans I’m excited for us to make. When the sun started its leisurely dip toward the horizon, I quickly paddled back to shore, ready to beg Emilee’s forgiveness for leaving her alone all afternoon, eager to spend the night making it up to her.
I tie off the boat, the gentle lapping of water against the hull calming in its consistency. With each knot, my mind replays the afternoon’s triumphs—the tug on the line, the flash of a fish’s scales in the sunlight. The joy of watching it wiggle and splash when I tossed it back into the water. A perfect day only made better by being on the receiving end of one of Emilee’s smiles. My thoughts are filled with her when I hear the footsteps behind me.
“Maxwell.”A voice, smooth as silk but with an edge that could cut glass, slices through my reverie.
I straighten and spin around to find Audrey, her face screwed up in disgust, standing at the start of the dock, statuesque in a silk blouse and linen pants that probably cost more than most people’s rent, her flawless hair untouched by the wind coming off the water. She’s as out of place here as I’d be at a nail salon.
“Audrey, what are you doing here?”I say, my voice measured, my gut not. “Are you stalking me now?”
She steps closer, casting her gaze down to ensure she doesn’t get one of those costly heels caught between the boards. “Hardly. I came to see the man I love, who is obviously having a mental breakdown.”
How many times do I have to break up with this woman?
I clench my hands at my sides, my skin hot despite the gusts. “How did you find me?”
“Your secretary.”
“Assistant.”
She waves my comment away like it’s an insect dive-bombing her. “Whatever.”
“I know she wouldn’t give out my information.”
“Fine. I peeked at her calendar when she went to the lady’s room. Is that what you want to hear? I confess, I wanted to find you. I went to your apartment, and they refused to let me in.”
Closing my eyes, dropping my chin to my chest, I take a deep breath and count to ten. I make it to five. “Let’s not do this again, Audrey. I’m sick of telling you the same things—it’s over. O.V.E.R. We are done. So, why the hell are you really here?”
“Maxwell, we belong together. You know that.”Her nostrils flare with each emphasized word, her eyes narrow slits.
“Over,”I say again as I move past her and stalk up the dock. Every moment of tranquility I’d experienced out on that water is gone. I’m so tight I feel like a fishing line about to snap. “You need to leave. Right now,”I call over my shoulder as I walk away.
“You’ll regret this.”Her words echo off the water, hinting at desperation and anger.
I stop in my tracks, my shoulders tensing. “Regret what, Audrey? Wasting years of my life in a toxic relationship? I don’t think so.”
She steps closer, and I can sense her behind me. “You’re making a mistake, Max. You’ll see.”Her reference to my name in a form she hasn’t used in years is not lost on me. I’m sorry that she’s hurting, but I know her. The anger that I ended things first, that she won’t bear my name, surpasses any sadness she might feel.
I’m more than ready to find Emilee.
“Maxwell Beaumont, look at me!”Audrey demands, even stomping her foot, though the sound doesn’t carry well out here, so it loses the emphasis. But I stop and slowly turn around, ready to finish this once and for all.
My voice is low and heavy with a warning. “You’re going to leave this island, Audrey. I don’t care if you have to sit in the airport all night waiting until the first flight tomorrow. But before you go, let me make this crystal clear.”
She glares at me, huffing through her nose, her lips pursed like she’s just sucked on a lemon.
“I don’t want to do this but you’re forcing my hand. I’m with someone else, Audrey, and I’m happy, for the first time in a very long time. And nothing you say or do will change that.”
“Oh please. You’ve had a summer fling, and she’s changed your world?”
Yes.
Audrey’s laugh is scornful, bitter. “If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t be where you are today.”
“If that’s what you think, you’re more delusional than I gave you credit for.”
“What does she have that I don’t?”
“My love,”I say, each word a hammer driving nails into the coffin of whatever Audrey believes we still have.
Her lip curls. “Love? Or is she just another one of your little projects?”
“She’s not a project. In fact, she’s everything you’re not. And because of her, I’ve found myself again. But more than that, I like the person I am when I’m with her.”
“Touching,”she spits, her composure cracking like thin ice. “But she doesn’t know you, not like I do.”
“Enough. Go home. I don’t ever want to see you again. Not at my office. Not at my apartment. And if I do, I’m calling my lawyer and filing a restraining order.”
This time, there’s no turning back. I refuse to let her get under my skin. I leave her alone, standing by the boat rental shack, a solitary figure amidst a backdrop she will never truly appreciate.
Returning to the cabin feels like crossing into a different world where the walls hold laughter, and the air vibrates with warmth and affection. However, as I open the door, I’m met with Emilee’s steely gaze and her packed bags.
I swallow hard, my gaze directed at the luggage. “Emilee, what’s going on?”
“I had hoped to be gone by now but unfortunately there’s no flight until later tomorrow.”
“Gone? Gone where?”
“Home.”
““But—”
“There’s also nowhere I can spend the night, so I’m stuck here.”
The crossed arms, flared nose, and steam coming out of her ears tell me she’s not very happy with that plan.
“So, I decided since I’m stuck here, we might as well clear the air, once and for all.”
My heart is pounding hard in my chest. “Is everything okay?”
“There have been so many ‘not okays’today. I want the truth, Max. All of it.”
I’m still not sure where this is going.
“Where’s your fiancé?”
“My what?” Damn, Audrey. What the hell did she say to Emilee? How did she even find her?
“The beautiful blonde looking for you earlier?”
“Audrey is not my fiancé.”
“Really, well she sure thought so.”
“I ended things with her well over a month ago.” In truth the relationship ended long before that. We hadn’t been intimate in months, and we spent little time together.
“Guess she didn’t get the memo.”
“She’s got it now. Loud and clear. Including a restraining order if she comes near me again.”
There’s a momentary flash of relief on her face before it hardens again.
“I overheard a conversation between Shaun and Marika today,”she continues, clasping her forearms, her elbows pressed tight to her sides. Her gaze is pained. “They were talking about how you invested in the resort and that you are wealthy—extremely wealthy.”
“Ah.”I exhale, the single syllable carrying the weight of a confession.
“Is it true?”Her green eyes search mine, looking for confirmation.
“Emilee, I...”The words tangle on my tongue as I grapple with the right way to explain. Finally, I scrub a hand over my face, weary to the bone. “Yes, it’s true. But it’s not who I am. I didn’t mean to keep the truth from you.”
I wince as hurt flickers across her features, and she takes a step back, bumping into the low table. “Why lie to me?”
My throat tightens as if the words are fighting their way out. “It’s complicated.”
“Complicated or convenient?”Her tone is sharp, the sting of betrayal etched into her tone.
Through the windows, the setting sun casts long shadows across the room.
“I wanted you to see me, not my bank account.”
“I would never do that.”
“Other women only saw dollar signs when they met me. I needed a break from my life. From people in my life who have certain expectations. Expectations I don’t want to live up to anymore. I miss the old me. That’s why I came here. To find the man my parents raised. Not the billionaire tech giant. But the millionaire who liked to walk on the beach and go fishing.
“So, you thought I would judge you based on your wealth?”
The weight of my insecurities is a burden on my shoulders. “It’s happened before. People change their attitudes when they realize you have money. They treat you differently. They want more from you, maybe more than you’re willing to give. And I’m not talking about people who need it. I’m talking about greedy people who have more than enough already.”
A silence settles between us, filled only by the fading light, which darkens the cabin and creates shadows in the corners, pulling the sparkle from Emilee that enamored me from the beginning.
Her voice is softer when she speaks, and the hurt comes through loudly. “I wish you had trusted me enough to be honest from the start.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.”Stepping closer, I reach out to take her hand. “I never intended to hurt you, Emilee. The way you make me feel, it’s like the old me. Not the tech guy, but the just the man who was born into a family with money. And parents who raised their kids to know the value of dollar and to work hard to earn it. I worked my ass off to get where I am, no doubt about it. But I also lost sight of the values my parents instilled. Material possessions and recognition became the goals, instead of making a difference.”
Her fingers finally intertwine with mine, a tentative gesture of forgiveness.
“What can I do? What do you need?”I ask.
“Truth. Honesty.”
“Then let’s start now,”I offer.
“Start how?”
“By me promising that from now on, there will be no more secrets.”
“Promises... are they enough?”
“Give me a chance, please.”
“I want to trust you,”she whispers.
I realize then she’s been hurt before, and I don’t want to be the cause of any more pain.
She looks down at her hands, her expression conflicted. “I want to believe you, Max. But trust is fragile. I’ve been betrayed before. By somebody I loved and trusted. Someone I thought loved me. But he ruined me. He destroyed my life. That’s why I came to Summer Island—to heal. Then I met you, and you made me believe I could fall in love again.”
She loves me?Did she really just say that?
My heart soars knowing she returns my feelings. Now, I just have to get us back on the same page. “I know I don’t deserve your trust right now. But I will do everything in my power to earn it back. Just give me a chance to show you.”
Her eyes meet mine, searching for sincerity. “How can I be sure you won’t hide things from me again?”
“Because I’ve learned my lesson. Honesty is the foundation of any relationship, and I swear to always be truthful with you, no matter what. I promise you that, Emilee, because I love you, too.”
She gasps, and hope flares in her eyes before they become wary again. “That’s what Darren said.”
“Who’s Darren?”
Her lips flatten, and she laughs, the sound harsh coming from a woman only meant to smile. “He’s my ex-boyfriend. A mistake that’s ruined my career and my reputation.”
“How?”Already, I despise this man, and I’ll do whatever is required to ensure he never hurts her again. There are some advantages to having a seemingly endless supply of resources. It’s taking every ounce of composure I have to not outwardly display my anger.
She exhales, her sigh heavy. “He was someone I trusted—loved, or thought I did. He works for the same firm I did. His father owns the company, though now I’m learning that integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness did not get passed down.”
She throws up her arms and stalks over to the window. “He used me, Max. Framed me for embezzlement to cover his own thefts because, apparently, he found out I was getting promoted over him.”She looks out the window where a gentle rain has started to fall. “He’s rich. Not like you, not even close. But I trusted him, and in his greed, he decided to throw me under the bus to hide his own actions. He even created a social media frenzy about. It got so bad I couldn’t leave my apartment. That’s why I came here.”She spins around. “And he still thinks he can screw me over.”
“What do you mean?”
“He called me today. Threatened to reopen the investigation if I didn’t cover for him.”
I’m seeing red. My pulse is pounding, and my nails are digging so hard into my palms that I’m probably bleeding. “What?”
“Don’t worry, I told him to fuck off.”
“Emilee,”I say softly, crossing the room to her because I can’t stay away from her any longer. Grasping her shoulders, I bend down to look her square in the eyes. “I believe you. And whatever you need to do to set things right, I’m here, and I’ll help in whatever way I can.”
As if all the fight’s gone out of her, she pulls away from me and flops onto the sofa. Her hands tremble slightly, so she clasps them together. “You can’t fix this, Max. It’s not about money or influence. It’s about clearing my name.”
“I’d still like to help if I can.”My heart is aching with the urge to shield her from any more pain.
She hesitantly pulls her phone from her pocket, unlocking it with a thumb swipe. “The only good thing to come from Darren’s call today is that now I have evidence. I recorded the conversation, but if I use it, it feels like I’m as terrible as he is.”
She’s holding tight to her fragile truth. All I want is to protect her, to glue her broken pieces back together.
I sit down next to her. “Emilee, you’re nothing like him. Using that confession isn’t vengeance; it’s justice—something you deserve.”
She rolls her lips in, then bites the bottom one, contemplating the phone as if it were a Pandora’s box in her palm. “I just... I want to do this right. I need to know I’ve reclaimed my life on my terms, not because I played dirty or relied on somebody else to do it for me.”
Her eyes meet mine, and I see a fierce determination that impresses and moves me.
“Okay. I’ll offer my resources if you want them. But my support is unconditional. You don’t have to face this alone.”
Her fingers brush against the sofa’s fabric, tracing patterns in the weave. “I’d like to have your support.”
“I’m here for you, Emilee. Just say the word.”
“Thank you, Max.”Her gratitude is evident even as she holds the phone tightly, the weight of her decision still pressing down on her.
“But I have to say, if he embezzled from this own father’s company, and pinned it on you, Emilee, those are crimes he needs to pay for. And it won’t be his last. Hell, it’s probably not his first. And let’s not forget his attempted blackmail. His father needs to know the truth. Otherwise, he’s the one that will the price. He has a business and his own reputation to protect.”
She drops her head back onto the sofa. “God, you’re right. I’ve only been thinking about myself.”
Silence follows for a long moment before she speaks again. “Max, can we just sit for a while? No talk about the past or the future?”
“Of course,”I say. I slip my arm behind her and pull her into my embrace. We sit until full night falls, and the cabin is dark. Outside, the waves gently lap at the shoreline, setting a soothing rhythm. Her head rests on my shoulder, and I feel the tension slowly leave her body.
“Whatever you decide, Emilee, this isn’t just your battle anymore.”No matter how precarious things may seem now, I plan to be by her side every step of the way.
“Thank you, Max. That means more than you know.”