Chapter 65
Genevieve
I love you.
Those three words are all I’ve been able to think about for three days. I almost repeated them back to Ford, but I didn’t. I wish I had. I couldn’t bring myself to admit it yet for some reason that I haven’t had time to analyze.
I have too much work to do to be sidetracked by thoughts of love anyway, or at least that’s how I’m choosing to occupy my mind.
Ford’s a distraction, one that I’ve been avoiding so I can focus on rifling through my records, those scars of his still nagging at me.
Plus, I have more than enough on my plate as I prepare for the meeting I have at the end of the week.
Then there’s my larger objective of revenge on Percy York taking shape using the information that Henry shared.
I’ve lost myself in late nights and early mornings of fact-checking every detail as best as I can, but that can take some time.
I’ve been sitting on the financial records Drake secured, waiting to see if York would make a play, but he’s been quiet—too quiet—and I’m done waiting.
“What are you working on?”
I glance up from my computer to find Corinne sinking into the chair across from me, her plaid skirt inching higher around her thighs.
“I’m reviewing the schedule for tonight.” I abandon my screen, though, giving her my attention.
“What are you doing for lunch?”
It’s only then that I note that it’s already half-past noon and shake my head. “I have no idea.”
“I was going to ask if you wanted me to order in.” She leans back in her seat, smirking. “But now that I’m here, I’m wondering when’s the last time you saw your husband?”
I roll my eyes. “This morning. We live together.”
She hums, her gaze sparkling. “You should go have lunch with him.”
I tilt my head. “Why?”
With a giggle, she rolls her eyes. “Because you like him and want to spend time with him.”
The look she gives me when forming the word like makes it obvious she means love.
I’ve been crawling into Ford’s bed every night since he claimed me, his arms banding around my waist as he pulls me close. In the dark, with his scent and warmth surrounding me, I consider uttering those three words, the temptation almost overwhelming.
“Corinne,” I start to push, but she holds up a hand.
“You do know that it’s okay to be in love with him, right? I was there when you fell in love with him all those years ago and I watched it happen all over again over the last several months. The two of you have always belonged together.”
She takes a deep breath and continues, “After you got arrested, it was worse than what we even prepared for. Marcus and I were swamped between fielding calls as we handled things with the other employees and tried to smooth things over with all the clients. Don’t even get me started on dealing with your attorney; she was a headache and a half. ”
I huff a laugh, but Corinne plows on. “I wanted to be pissed at Ford’s audacity when he showed up at my place, and Brett almost didn’t let him in, but the second he explained that he was your mystery man, I knew I had it wrong.
He was someone that loved you. Nothing, not time nor horrible events, could stop the two of you from being together.
You’re each what the other has been waiting for. ”
I didn’t know Ford had gone to see her, but that knowledge only serves to heighten the twisting sensation happening in my chest.
You’re each what the other has been waiting for. My pulse thrums as I process her words. I want to agree with what she’s saying—and in my soul, I know she’s correct—but I can’t seem to overcome my cowardice. Admitting the words written on my heart for fourteen years is harder than it should be.
She’s right about one thing, though, and it’s okay to give myself something I want.
“Hello, Edward,” I chime as soon as I step off the elevator on the fortieth floor, ignoring the presence of the security guard to my right. I haven’t been here since I gave Ford the blowjob that landed me behind bars, and I hadn’t given that much thought until now, standing in the foyer.
This office feels different now, the air less tense, but maybe that’s because I’m not simmering with unbridled rage. More likely, it’s simply because I want to be here, spending time with him, away from the rest of the world and responsibilities resting heavily on my shoulders.
“Ah, Miss Allison,” Ford’s assistant greets me with a professional smile, using the name I gave him last time I was here. “What can I do for you?”
For the first time since I started using that name, I don’t want to be Allison; I want to establish myself as Mrs. Crawford, and that observation is startling. “I’m here to see my husband.”
He eyes me for a moment before pressing a button on his desk and disappearing into Ford’s office. Standing here with a brown sack in my hand, I’m feeling silly. What was I thinking, showing up here with lunch?
When Edward emerges a moment later, he’s not alone.
Ford grins, holding the door open for me. The moment we’re shut inside, he’s pushing me up against the door, his mouth finding mine as his palms cradle my cheeks, kissing me stupid until excited chills break out across my skin.
“This is a welcome surprise,” Ford remarks against my lips before kissing me again. “Very welcome.”
I smile, breathless as I explain, “I brought you lunch.”
I hold up the brown paper sack and cringe internally. “I didn’t cook it myself, I promise.”
He chuckles, his dimples emerging. “I would’ve eaten it anyway.”
Blushing, I capture my bottom lip between my teeth. Why does he always say the dreamiest fucking things?
“Bold thing to claim, considering I turned eggs into ash like it was some kind of magic trick.”
He grins, reaching into the paper sack and removing the containers of Thai food I picked up. “You could win a game show with that kind of talent. Remember me when you’re famous.”
I toss my head back and laugh, joy seizing my brain. “Haven’t you heard? I’m already famous.”
“Ah, yes, the famous Madam, and wife of the famous billionaire bachelor.”
Smiling, I bust open the packet of chopsticks and take the seat across from him, his desk between us. My attention lingers on his left hand where his wedding ring catches the light as he shovels a bite of chicken into his mouth. “You’re not a bachelor anymore.”
“I went from single and G-rated to married and X-rated practically overnight.”
“Something tells me you’ve always been X-rated; you just needed someone to hand you the keys to unlock that.” I wink at him.
“I’m not sure it was the keys so much as the teacher.”
I smile but remain silent because I didn’t really teach Ford as much as I guided him.
“So, what prompted this visit?” he asks, changing the subject before taking another bite.
“What if I told you I missed you?”
He arches an eyebrow, a knowing smirk creeping over his face. “Did you?”
I shrug, aiming for nonchalance. “Maybe.”
“Doll, you should never lie to your husband.”
One side of my mouth lifts. “A lady never lies.”
He laughs, and it strikes me then how…normal this interaction is and how much I want this to be our life.
I want to be the one he cooks for, the one who makes his dimples come out to play, the one who brings him lunch and laughs with him about mundane things.
There’s an ache inside me to be his wife in every sense of the word and that’s something I never thought I’d experience.
After everything that happened with Grady, I was sure that marriage wasn’t in the cards for me. Ford was the only person who could’ve changed that.
“I did miss you, though,” I admit. Giving him this truth feels good, liberating. “After all, I’ve got lost time to make up for.”
“I know what you mean.” His answering smile is warm. “Good thing we’ve got a lifetime to make up for it.”
My stomach flips, and I smile into my carton of noodles.
Glancing around his office, I note that nothing about his space has changed.
Behind his desk are a handful of photos of Ford and his grandfather.
My husband is a child in a couple and wearing Dress Blues in another.
In the last framed image, he’s standing with several men in front of a Humvee all wearing helmets.
My gaze lingers on that last picture, seeing the version of the man I was messaging with back then for the first time. I swallow hard as my heart rate hitches. Forcing myself to look away, I muse, “You need an updated family photo.”
He reaches over and slides a drawer open, producing a picture and sliding it across the desk with a smile on his face. “I had Edward order me a frame, but it hasn’t arrived yet.
Lifting the photograph, I find that it’s the two of us, outside the courthouse steps. My hand is on his cheek, my wedding band glittering in the sunlight with our lips locked. We look…in love.
“Where did you get this?” I ask, my words barely audible.
“Paid the tabloid photographer for it. I can print another one, if you want to take that one with you.”
I smile, slipping it into my purse without a second thought.
Once we finish our lunch and tidy up, he asks, “Are you all set for your meeting on Saturday? You know, I still think you should let me come with you.”
Standing, I round his desk, my lips curled into a salacious expression. “We’ve already discussed this.”
I hoist myself onto his desk, my legs dangling between his spread knees as I face him.
“Outing York to that man is a huge risk. They technically work together, Gen.”
“Feel free to continue to talk about this,” I purr as I spread my legs until it’s obscene, placing my heels on the armrests of his chair, shutting down his line of questioning. “But could you do it with your head between my legs?”
His pupils dilate, and I know I’ve got him where I want him. “It’s cute that you think you’re in charge.”
“You should remind me who’s boss.”
He chuckles, shaking his head, but leans forward, nonetheless.