Chapter 45
Evan
It’s been two weeks since Anais walked out of my life.
Fourteen days of unanswered texts and ignored calls.
Of showing up at her apartment, only to be sent away by security before I could even press the elevator call button.
Being banned from her building had Harrison written all over it.
Asshole is being petty, wielding his power like a dictator and he isn’t afraid to show it.
The phone calls and messages however, that is all Anais.
It is clear she doesn’t want to speak to me, but I’ll be damned if I give up.
Now all I have left of… well, whatever we were… is a panoramic elevator and a necklace worth enough to buy prime real estate all over New York.
I’m angry. Out of control. And though I hate to admit it – hurt by the way she’s behaving.
Yeah, I fucked up. But it’s not like I cheated.
And I never lied to her. I just refused to tell her brother, my best friend, the truth about our relationship.
But what did she expect? I was afraid to lose Harrison.
He’s been a constant throughout my whole life.
The one person I could always rely on. When I started things with Anais, I stupidly never expected it to get as far as it did.
I never thought I would fall in love. And now she’s punishing me.
I understand it. To a point. But truthfully, I don’t believe the punishment fits the crime.
The silence isn’t just hers either. Its fifty percent of the Lauder family.
Harrison hasn’t spoken a word to me since I walked out of his apartment.
My best friend is giving me the silent treatment.
It’s the longest we’ve gone without speaking since we both learned to talk.
I can’t even blame him. His sister was off limits.
And I crossed the only line he ever drew in the sand.
But Harrison doesn’t get it. Maybe things with Anais started off causally, but that’s not what it is anymore.
The woman managed to achieve the impossible.
Somehow, she broke through my defenses, crawled her way into my chest and carved a place for herself inside me.
Like a determined little thief, she stole my heart and made it hers.
With a hint of alarm and resignation, I realize I don’t want it back.
It belongs to her now. She can keep the beating organ in my chest. Every single beat belongs to her and always will.
The door swinging open drags me from my turmoil. I don’t need to look up to know it’s my father. He’s the only person in this building that would walk in without knocking.
“Son,” he greets, confirming what I already knew.
Sighing, I drag a hand across my jaw, the usual need to berate him for barging in here nowhere to be seen.
“Dad.” When I finally meet his gaze, I pause at the stern expression on his face.
He lowers himself into one of my visitor chairs, his brow arched in silent question.
“What?” I snap, suddenly feeling like all the air is being sucked out of the room.
“You know damn well what,” he shoots back, his voice is laced with irritation.
“What the hell happened between you and Anais?” he demands, and from his tone I know he expects answers.
“And don’t you dare give me that, ‘she’s sick’ excuse.
Because I’ve seen her and I know it’s bullshit. You look like crap. And so does she.”
I perk up at that information. “You’ve seen her?”
He nods curtly. “Yes. Now tell me what happened.”
Groaning, I lean back in my chair, reaching up and running a hand through my hair.
It’s better to get this over with. My father won’t leave this office until he has the answers he’s looking for.
I have always been open and honest with my dad, so I’m not sure why it’s so difficult to talk about this.
Maybe because of their familial relationship?
“We had a…thing,” I start, but he cuts me off.
“You were sleeping with Anais,” he says flatly, getting straight to the point. He glares at me, running a hand through his own hair. “Jesus.”
Irritated, I glower. My father has always been blunt. And honestly, I wouldn’t want him any other way. I’m the same. Everything I’ve learned, all that I am, is because of this man.
“Yeah,” I admit quietly.
“For someone who was so insistent on the company’s no-fraternization policy, you sure didn’t follow it,” he deadpans, shooting me a sardonic look.
“Don’t I fucking know it,” I grumble, blowing out a breath.
He motions for me to continue. “So, what happened?”
“Harrison happened.” His brows furrow in confusion, so I clarify. “I guess you could say we had a pact. No touching each other’s sisters. I broke that. And to make it worse, I didn’t tell him until he’d worked it out himself.” I groan, feeling like an idiot.
Dad sighs, eyeing me carefully. “The elevator, that was for her?” I nod, confirming what he already knows.
“And the necklace, you bought it for Anais, correct?” My jaw flexes but once again, I nod.
He exhales, nodding. “You’re in love with her,” he states.
His expression is neutral and free of judgment.
Swallowing down the emotion in my throat, I rasp. “Yeah. Yes, I am.” Dad chuckles and I glare, not finding any amusement in the situation. “What’s so fucking funny?” I grit out through clenched teeth.
He smirks. “Because all I’ve ever wanted for my children is for them to find the kind of love I have with your mother.
Both your sisters found it, albeit with men they probably shouldn’t have.
” His sigh is loud. “But how can I deny them true love? It would make me a hypocrite.” His eyes drill into mine.
“And now my son, the one who, only a couple months ago, swore he’d never fall in love…
has fallen in love. With my goddaughter no less.
” He chuckles, before his expression sobers.
“Son, that girl has been in love with you for years. Anyone with eyes could see it.” I listen intently, suddenly aware that Anais has never been subtle about her feelings for me.
“Harrison will come around eventually. He has to. But I’m telling you now,” his gaze hardens.
“You fight for her. You fight for that girl every day for the rest of your life if you have to. Once in a lifetime love only comes around once and when it does, you take it in your hands, and you hold onto it with all you are. You hear me?”
Mulling over his words, I let them sink in. He’s right, but there’s one problem… “She won’t talk to me,” I admit.
Dad chuckles, shaking his head. “Come on, Evan. I taught you better than that. You fight for her. Show her she’s worth it.”
“How?” I arch a brow.
He rises out of his chair, smoothing a hand down his tie and pinning me with a look.
“We all know that girl is stubborn, and honestly, you could do with both humbling and the challenge, so I hope she doesn’t make it easy for you.
” He smirks, and I shoot him a glare. “You have to work for it son. Show her what she means to you.”
“And if it doesn’t work?” I murmur, my chest tightening to the point of pain.
“Well, then you storm her apartment, throw her over your shoulder and lock her away until she forgives you.” He winks. Actually fucking winks.
My eyes widen as my jaw hits the floor. “What the fuck, Dad?”
He barks out a laugh. “I’m just kidding.
Mostly.” He clears his throat, pinning me with a serious look.
“All jokes aside, Anais loves you, and you love her. If she means that much to you, you’ll do whatever it takes.
Beg if you have to. Love humbles you, Evan.
Let it.” His eyes soften. “Show her you can be the man she needs.”
After the conversation with my father, I spend the afternoon ignoring calls, emails and meetings, and focus on one thing.
A plan to get Anais back. Knowing the brat, it’s not going to be easy.
She’s stubborn as hell, but so am I. I will get her back.
There is no other way. If it takes me a lifetime, then that’s what it takes. Because she’s worth it.
By the time I leave my office, I’m feeling more hopeful about everything and eager to put my plans in motion. That’s until I get home, to find a Lauder waiting in my lobby. Unfortunately, it’s the wrong Lauder.
“Harrison,” I greet, sliding my hands into my pants pockets.
His jaw clenches, and he eyes me like I’m no more than shit on his shoe. “Maxwell.” He spits my name like it’s poison.
I sigh, and head to the private elevator, throwing over my shoulder. “If that’s all… I have somewhere to be.”
“Wait,” he grates out, catching up to me. “We need to talk.”
Arching I brow, I stare at him. “About?”
“You know damn fucking well what this is about,” he barks out, eyes narrowing.
My jaw tightens, nostrils flaring. I exhale, trying to tamp down my rising anger. Sweeping my arm toward the now open elevator, I drawl, “After you.”
My best friend rolls his eyes, but steps inside. I climb in after him, hitting the button for my penthouse. The silence is deafening, the tension suffocating as we ascend. And when the doors finally open to my entryway, it’s a relief.
“Beer? Scotch?” I ask, placing my keys down on the entry table.
“Beer’s fine,” he grunts.
Harrison glances around my apartment as if he’s seeing it for the first time, his jaw clenching when his eyes go to my bedroom door. I can only imagine the thoughts playing in his head.
In the kitchen, I grab and open our drinks, handing him a cold beer.
We both take a seat at the breakfast counter.
Silence stretches as I wait for him to talk.
And then he finally speaks. “I hate you for putting your dick anywhere near my little sister.” Grimacing at his crude words, I take a sip of my beer.
He sighs, scrubbing a hand down his face.
“Out of every woman in this city, begging for a piece of the Evan Maxwell, why Anais?”
It’s an honest question, and truthfully, I owe him an explanation.
“If it’s any consolation, I never meant for it to happen.
” I exhale. “Resisting Anais became second nature to me. But then something switched.” Meeting his eyes, I tell him truthfully.
“At first it was just… casual,” I say, not wanting to use the word fucking.
His lips twist up in disgust, his jaw clenching as he takes a pull of his beer.
“Then somewhere along the line, it became more. You might not believe me, given my history, but this wasn’t just a fling.
I love her, man.” I sigh, preparing myself to show the extent of that love.
“And I know we’ve been friends since we were babies, but don’t make me choose between you, because I’ll choose her.
I should’ve chosen her from the moment things changed. ”
Harrison sighs, studying my face and searching for any hint of a lie.
He won’t find one. “Jesus Fucking Christ,” he groans, rubbing his jaw.
“I’m not going to sit here and tell you I’m okay with it, because I’m not.
Honestly, the thought of you with your filthy hands anywhere near my sister makes me sick.
” He shudders as if to prove a point. “But she’s back on campus and miserable.
” I swallow, as an ache radiates through my chest at the mention of her being unhappy.
I never want that. “So, I need you to fix it.”
“I will.” I vow.
He pins me with a serious look, and I know whatever he says next will be non-negotiable. “I just want you to promise me one thing.” I nod, silently asking him to continue. “Please don’t take her to Elite. I can’t stand the thought of my little sister in that place with you, doing God knows what.”
I bark out a laugh, lifting my beer to clink his. “You have my word.” Christ, the thought of sharing Anais, of some other man’s eyes on her makes my vision turn red.
His face twists up in a scowl. “I know all about your proclivities, and what you’re into. I’ve seen it.” He pales. “You even think of bringing Anais there, I’ll fucking kill you, Maxwell. I mean it.”
Chuckling, I shake my head. “I promise; you have nothing to worry about. The only time I have been to Elite in the past couple of months was the night you were with that blonde. And I only had a drink.”
He nods, taking a sip of his beer. No more words are said, but a silent understanding passes between us.
A truce of sorts. Something settles inside me, and I realize that as much as I love Anais, my friendship with Harrison is also important.
I exhale some of the tension from the last couple of weeks, letting go of the uncertainty.
Despite the slight friction lingering, I know everything will be okay between us.
“I’m getting married,” he says casually, as if he is talking about the weather and not a life changing event.
I choke on my beer. “What?”
Harrison’s lips twitch in amusement, as he claps a hand down on my shoulder. “Oh, Maxwell. You’ve missed a whole lot these last couple of weeks.”