15. Jake
Three Months Later
Scrubbing my hands over my face, I try and force some of the exhaustion from my body. The last few months have been grueling, partly because this deal with China is so important to Lungo, but also the intricacies involved. At least I’d managed to get it done in under three months, working my team to the bone to get it done. Hunter should have been there, but his priority is his very pregnant girlfriend. I understand it, and I know the part I’d played in making things harder for them.
I’m not a man who regrets much in my life, but the way I’d treated Lexi was one of them. It seems like I’m doomed to fuck up with the women who mean something to me. My sister, my mom, Lexi, and most importantly, at least to me, Cherry.
I’ve never forgotten her, never gotten over her, and always assumed I’d spend my life living the Playboy lifestyle because I knew there was no replacing her. She’d been it for me, and it had gone so badly wrong, I hadn’t known what to do at first. Now, though, I knew. I have to make her see what I did was for the best for both of us. The only issue with that is I’ll have to lay myself bare for her and pray like hell she can forgive me.
Pulling up outside Hunter’s penthouse, I look up with a feeling of doubt I’ve never experienced around my best friend. We’ve had countless calls in the last few months and I’ve apologized for what happened with Lexi, but some things need to be handled in person and this is one of them.
If I’m going to get back on track with Cherry, I need to fix things between me and Hunter first. I nod to the doorman as I stride toward the elevator, but I’m stopped when my card doesn’t work.
Nausea rolls through me at the thought he doesn’t trust me like he used to. Turning to the concierge, I wave my keycard and raise my brows in question.
“Sorry, Mr. Marshall, all visitors have to be announced, without exception.”
“Well, announce me then.” I wave my hand in irritation, trying desperately not to take my rising temper out on him.
Nodding, he makes the call and gestures at me as the doors open and I’m admitted into the private elevator.
The ride up feels interminable and makes me angsty. This family means everything to me and knowing that I’ve hurt them makes me sick. The doors finally open admitting me into the lavish entryway, where Hunter is waiting for me.
Usually, I’m greeted with a slap on the back and a smile but all I get is a cordial head nod.
“Welcome back, Jake.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
As he turns and heads into the kitchen, I follow him, suddenly unsure of my place here. Lexi has taken over, and her stuff is strewn around everywhere. Her influence in every corner I can see. I’m the outsider looking in and it’s not a good feeling.
Hunter holds up a beer. “Drink?”
I nod, taking it from him.
Popping the lid on his, he takes a sip and leans back on the island. “So, what do you need, Ja ke?”
“We need to clear the air.”
He waves the bottle at me. “Floor’s yours.”
I can tell he’s still fuming about what I did. Sighing, I run my fingers through my hair. “I’m sorry, okay? I was a dick. I never should’ve said what I did to Lexi. I had no right, and it was out of order.”
“Did you even look at her before you spouted your bullshit at her? Did you see the state she was in from the bastard’s hands before you kicked her when she was already down?”
“Honestly?”
“No, Jake, lie to me! Of course, fucking honestly.”
“I didn’t even notice until I saw her start to go down. I was so angry with what she’d done, I didn’t see past that. I just wanted to lash out.”
I can see the anguish on his face as I paint the picture for him, which I’m sure his father has already done. Hank was furious with me too, but at least he’d understood why I’d done it.
“He strangled her, Jake. He beat and kicked her on the ground and when I was on the other side of the fucking door. He strangled her until she passed out and left her for dead. She could have died. My son could have died.”
I’ve never seen Hunter so distraught, but I can see now his anger isn’t just toward me, it’s toward himself, too. “But she didn’t. Lexi is strong and so is your son.”
“She is but nobody is unbreakable, Jake. She came looking for me when she was desperate. When she was on the edge of the cliff with nothing left to give I wasn’t there. And, worse, she was met with open hostility from my best friend. The man I would’ve trusted with my life.”
“You can still trust me, Hunter.”
Hunter shrugs and sets his bottle down. “Can I? Because I know I can in business. I can sign over every share I hold and know you’d never let me down, but with her, with Lexi, I don’t know if I can. ”
Moving closer, I fight the need to beg, the loss of his trust is like a gut punch. Gripping his shoulder, I force him to look at me. “Mac, you know me. You know I’d never hurt someone you love. I was trying to protect you and it backfired. I was out of line but it won’t happen again.”
“No, Jake, it won’t.”
His cool delivery feels like the beginning of the end of our friendship. “So that’s it? Decades of friendship done? Finished over one mistake?”
“You don’t get it because you’ve never felt this way but she’s my life, Jake. Without her, nothing matters.”
“I have felt that.”
“What?” Mac looks up at my soft confession, a question in his dark gaze.
“I’ve had what you have. I felt like my entire world only turned for one person. That she was my sole reason for existing.”
“Why am I only just hearing about this?”
I spin and begin to pace, I hadn’t planned on revealing this to anyone but if he needs this to forgive me, then so be it. “When we were sophomores at Harvard. You broke your leg and were away. She was a freshman and she was…” I stop, trying to find the words for the way Cherry had bowled me over and stolen my heart. “Everything. She was funny, smart, beautiful, vivacious and she was unapologetic in who she was. I loved her from that first meeting. She was the one that got away.”
“Wow, I had no clue.”
“After it ended, I didn’t want to talk about it. I’d fucked it up so badly there was no way back and it hurt too much to dwell on so I threw myself into life.” I look up at my best friend, the man who is more brother than friend, and let him see the pain I still feel. “I get it, Hunter. You want to protect Lexi but I can promise on my life, I’ll never let you or her down again. I’ll protect her as hard as you do. You have my word. ”
Hunter blows out a breath and I can see my words have made an impact. “You apologize to Lexi. If she forgives you, then so do I.”
I dip my head, knowing that’s the best I’m going to get. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. Lexi is stubborn and she has a secret weapon in Cherry. That woman is fierce.”
My lips tip in a smile as I nod. “I’m aware.”
“So now that’s sorted, tell me about China?”
I spend the next half hour telling him the details and gossip from my trip, including a few prospects I’d heard about that might be of interest.
“What about KLM? They still sniffing around looking for an investor?”
My lip curls at the mention of the KLM. Kendrick, Lamar, and Morrison. A company I’ll gladly see sink into the pits of hell.
“Apparently they have one and a plan to build a shopping mall with a huge hotel and Casino right here in our city.”
Mac shakes his head. “Not happening. Kill it.”
“I’m already working on it.”
“Good.”
Mac walks toward the fridge, and opens it, before tilting his head at me. “You staying for dinner?”
I shake my head. “Nah, I came straight from the airport. I need a shower and about ten hours of sleep before I do anything else.”
“Okay.”
I don’t want to bring it up again as things have evened out the last hour or so, but I need to know when it’s a good time to speak to Lexi and from now on, I’m taking Mac’s lead. “When do you want me to talk to Lexi?”
“Let me speak to her. She’s at the shop but will be home soon.”
Lexi and Cherry have a design shop where they sell antique and upscaled furniture, and also offer a bespoke design service which is thriving.
The frown on his face tells me all I need to know. “You don’t want her working? ”
“Honestly, if I had my way she’d be wrapped in cotton wool but she says Cherry needs help.”
“What does Cherry say?”
“That she can handle it, but Lexi needs to feel helpful and not like she’s leaving her friend to do all the work. She feels guilty.”
“What if someone else helped Cherry out? Lexi wouldn’t have to feel guilty then.”
“No, but then we’re potentially putting someone else in Dean’s crosshairs.”
“No word on him?”
Mac shook his head. “Nope. Not a word. Hopefully, he jumped off a cliff.”
“What about me?”
Mac’s brow furrows, not understanding.
“I can spare a few hours now the China deal is done. I can help in the shop a couple of hours a day or even work from there so Cherry has some help.”
Mac regards me with his head cocked. “You sure? This doesn’t seem like your kind of gig. I’m not sure customer relations is in your wheelhouse.”
“Yeah, I can handle it.”
“Let me speak to Lexi but I’m in favor. If nothing else, it will humble you.”
His smirk loosens something in my chest and I know it’s going to be okay. “Says the boy born with a silver spoon wedged in his ass cheeks.”
“Fuck you, asshole.”
Leaving Mac’s place with a sense that something was healing after months of doubt gives me a thrill and the drive to go after what I want next and that’s my Cherry Blossom. Later, I get a text from Mac saying Lexi thinks it’s a great idea and thanking me.
I grin as I get ready for bed thinking of the look on my Blossom’s face when she meets her newest member of staff.