Chapter 4
JAX
April grips Caleb’s arm, her eyes sparkling.
“Jax, I don’t know what to say. These plans are amazing.”
Caleb pulls April back into his chest before wrapping his arms around her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder. “You really have outdone yourself this time.”
A warmth spreads through my body at their response.
“If there’s anything you want to change, let me know. I’ve printed off the plans so you can take them with you this weekend. Walk them through. It’s a big project, you need to be one hundred per cent happy with everything I’ve proposed.”
My role as their architect has meant extensive conversations with both of them. I’ve even lived at Lofton for a time. As such, I have a good understanding of their vision, but there still may be something I’ve overlooked.
This project has taken me back to where my career began, and I’ve relished every moment of it.
April leans forward and clasps my forearm.
“Thank you, I mean it, Jax. Everything we talked about. It’s all here and more,” April says.
She turns to Caleb with a grin. “Our home.”
He drops a kiss on her lips. “Our home.”
I smile. Seeing these two together and happy after all they’ve been through gives me faith that love is possible. At least if you are in one place for long enough.
“You’re welcome,” I say. “The house is beautiful.”
Caleb grunts, his face twisting, and I laugh. “It’s dated, but its potential is endless. As you can see, I’ve tried wherever possible to retain the features you both loved, or repurpose where it was an impossibility.”
“I can’t wait to show Pen when she gets here,” April says, grinning. “Speaking of which, I need to check on dinner.”
“Your genius is showing again, old man,” Caleb says, squeezing my shoulder after April leaves. “You never cease to amaze me. This design is a whole other level, even for you. The old house was functional at best. This is an amazing wedding present, thank you.”
Caleb’s eyes wander to the kitchen, where April is. His love for her shines bright. I never thought I’d see Caleb Frazer lower his walls and fall so hard, but April knocked him on his arse the moment he met her.
His eyes return to the plans, scanning them as he does with every property we work on together.
He told me about his desire to purchase the old property when he and April got married.
What do you give the billionaire and his bride who have everything as a wedding gift?
I offered to redesign their house.
I also needed to take a step back from the day-to-day running of my firm. Delegation not being my strong point.
As if sensing my thoughts, Caleb turns his head to look at me.
“How’s it going? Have you broken out in hives yet?” Caleb asks.
I chuckle. “Not quite, and it’s been harder than I anticipated,” I admit. “Letting go of the reins after twelve years has not been easy, but with the latest expansion, I don’t have a choice. Something had to give.”
“You’re a workaholic, my friend. I’m just glad you’ve finally realised jetting backwards and forwards from the US every month is not sustainable.”
“You can talk.”
I tut. Until April, Caleb was completely driven by work and growing his company. It’s why Frazer Developments has expanded at the rate it has.
“Maybe once, but now I have other priorities.” He smiles, his eyes darting back to the kitchen. “I’m starting to realise I want to slow down and enjoy life. It’s why this house is so important. It’s our escape.”
I nod. I understand probably more than most.
They say, Be careful what you wish for.
Twelve years ago, when I first went out on my own, I wished for success. After specialising in sustainable architectural design, my business took off, making me a very wealthy man.
My reputation and designs have won me and my company more awards than we can physically display. When we moved into our new offices last year, the marketing department dusted them off and set up a room dedicated to past projects and the awards we have received.
Until recently, I have remained involved in every project that passes through our books, but that is no longer feasible.
My partnership with Frazer Developments has meant I’m spending more and more time this side of the pond.
And I’m getting too old for all the late-night conference calls and early morning meetings.
But I’m the first to admit that taking a step back has not been easy, but I’m starting to see the benefits. I’m more buoyant, energised. I’m no longer waiting for the phone to ring or having heart palpitations when it does.
“What time are Elijah and Pen arriving?”
Caleb checks his watch. “Another couple of hours.”
“I may head downstairs for a swim.”
“My pool not good enough?” Caleb laughs.
“Your pool is not a swimming pool,” I say, rolling my eyes. “It’s a plunge pool.”
It’s twenty metres, but for an ex-swimmer, I like to extend, get lost in my strokes before turning.
Caleb tuts.
“Ignore him, Jax,” April says, coming back into the room. She wraps her arm around Caleb’s waist, placing a hand on his chest. She grins up at him before returning her attention to me. “He knows that. Elijah tells him all the time. When you get back, we can celebrate. The champagne is on ice.”
My arms cut through the water. I touch the side and turn, kicking off the wall as I head back the way I’ve just come. I hit the opposite end and grab the side, pulling myself to standing. I pull off my goggles and lift my head. Two familiar legs, clad in jeans, stand by the pool.
“Hey, stranger,” Elijah says. “Feeling better?”
“Much,” I say, placing my palms on the side of the pool, before hauling myself out and onto my feet.
Elijah hands me my towel.
“You haven’t lost any of your form,” he says.
It was something we always critiqued when we were training, any slight deviation could mean seconds on our time.
“I still swim every day, old habits die hard,” I say. “You’re early.”
Elijah chuckles. “Or you’re late. You’ve been down here an hour and a half.”
My eyes flash to the clock on the wall. Shit. I really was lost in the moment.
“It doesn’t matter, but the ladies wanted me to check you hadn’t drowned.”
“Let me grab a quick shower, and I’ll meet you back upstairs.”
I love swimming, but the smell of chlorine is not something I enjoy.
“Not a problem. I’ll have a cold beer waiting.”
Elijah turns.
“It’s good to see you,” I say.
We only reconnected over the summer, his ex-wife, Darra, having driven a wedge between our friendship. Recent events have highlighted why she had such a major hard-on for ensuring I wasn’t part of their lives.
Elijah must read something in my expression, because he smiles and nods.
“You too. We have a lot to catch up on.”
I nod and head to the showers.
By the time I make it upstairs, everyone is sitting in the living area.
“Jaxson,” Pen says, getting up and giving me a hug.
“Hey, beautiful. How’s this old man treating you?”
“Oh, you know,” she says with a wink, earning us both an eh from Elijah.
Pen returns to his side on the sofa, his arm sliding around her shoulders, her hand resting on his thigh.
“How was your swim?” April asks, appearing next to me, holding out an ice-cold beer.
“Good. Just what the doctor ordered,” I say, raising my beer and saluting the others before taking a deep swallow.
We swap pleasantries until April tells us dinner is served.
“Have you heard anything from Zach?” Caleb asks.
Elijah scowls, and Pen places her hand over his clenched fist.
His gaze meets hers, and he sighs.
“He sent me a letter,” he says.
“And?” Caleb presses.
“And, it’s sat unopened in a drawer. I’m not sure I can deal with any of his pathetic excuses. I might have been able to forgive him if it were only me affected, but he dragged Kat into their sick and twisted game.”
My chest tightens. Thoughts of Kat screaming and punching the woodland floor, her pain and frustration palpable.
“How is Kat?” I ask.
Silence descends around the table.
“You know Kat,” Caleb says. “She tells everyone she’s fine, but all she does is work, work and more work. I called around to see her at the apartment, but there was no answer.”
“She’s not living at the apartment anymore,” Pen says quietly. “She’s moved into the family suite at the hotel.”
“What the fuck?” Caleb hisses. “Why am I only hearing about this now?”
“Take a breath, big boy,” April says, gripping his forearm tightly. “You can’t fix this. Kat has to deal with this in her way. Trying to force her is not going to help her heal any faster. All you can do is be there for her, support her.”
Caleb turns to his wife, his expression softening.
“I know—it’s just. Fuck.” He runs a hand through his hair. “She’s being all Kat like, stoic as if nothing bothers her. But she’s not invincible, and now there’s all the drama with her latest project. I don’t know how she’s still standing, a lesser person would have crumbled. She needs a break.”
“What drama?” Elijah asks, his brows furrowing.
“The architect they contracted for the new hotel project has been involved in a bribery and corruption scandal. Apparently, his company have been paying off officials. There’s a press release going out tomorrow.”
“What does that mean for the project?” Pen asks.
“It’s back to the drawing board, from what I can tell,” Caleb says, sighing.
His hand runs through his hair again, highlighting how worried he truly is about Kat. He joined the FHG board six months ago as a consultant.
“They’d only just signed a contract, from what I can gather, when Quentin gave Kat the heads up on their exposé.
From what I understand, she stonewalled the project, but the board and investors are not going to be happy with the latest turn of events.
There’s a board meeting scheduled for Wednesday. ”
I remain silent, this is a family matter.
“Isn’t the project focusing on sustainability?” April asks, her eyes flicking towards me, eyebrows raised.
I hold up my hand. “Best to keep me out of this,” I say quietly. “Kat and I, we don’t exactly see eye to eye.”