Chapter 68
Chapter Sixty-Eight
Audrey
Alexei didn’t believe I would ever be safe again. He was paranoid as we left the hospital a few short days later and even more paranoid as we moved into our new home. I couldn’t believe I said yes to him, but I knew I loved him and even though I was afraid, I understood after finding the information out myself in Ace’s office. It helped even more that he’d left Vina to her own devices. But the icing on the cake, was the big fat zero in his account from his parents. I was horrified while he laughed in my hospital room about how he knew it was coming. It didn’t matter to him, he insisted because he had everything he needed right in front of him. I also knew about all of his investments so he wouldn’t be broke by any means.
My parents went home once we got information on my discharge and knew I was in safe hands with Alexei. Emeline visited us the first day of our move-in. Very gently, she wrapped her arms around me and held me for a few beats before she pulled away and looked into my eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“There is nothing for you to apologize about. You are not your husband.”
“And yet, I’m still married to him.”
I understood more than anyone else would. “If you left, you would have nothing.”
She winked. “Not nothing. I’ve been making moves to take care of myself for a long time.”
“Your life, Mother.” Alexei said as he brought in another box from Carina and Ace’s penthouse. They would be a little shocked when they got home. Mrs. Phipps was when she returned from all the festivities to find me in the hospital, instead of home and ready to greet her. Georgie was taking good care of her and I was sure I was hardly missed. She promised she wouldn’t call her daughter but that we would all be having a serious conversation when they got home.
“Well, yes,” she sighed as if she’d gone over this a hundred times. She probably had. “One day I will be free. Don’t worry about me. I’ve been putting up with this for thirty years. I will survive.” She looked at her second oldest with pride shining in her gaze. “Give me a tour of your new home and tell me how you can afford all of this on your own dime.”
Alexei winked at me over his mother’s head as he looped his arm through hers.
My phone rang and I winced as I looked down at the Caller ID. I’d given Lu very vague details but it was time to pay the piper.
“Hey, Lu.”
“You’ve been in the hospital and you won’t answer FaceTime. You can’t come to work next week. What’s going on?”
“There was an attempted break-in that happened at Ace’s penthouse. I was supposed to be in upstate New York and I guess whoever broke in knew we would all be gone for the wedding. I returned just as they were leaving. Got a few good wounds to show off, but I’ll be back in working order next week.”
“Yeah right, I’m coming over. You can only avoid me for so long.”
“Carina’s mom isn’t very good company I’m afraid.”
“Where are you?” Her voice squealed out of the speaker.
“Maybe it is a good idea if you come over.”
I closed my eyes. I didn’t know how I was going to convince her that this was all an attempted break-in when I was all of a sudden back with Alexei and going to move in with him. My parents chalked it up to him realizing his real feelings and not wanting to waste another minute. I was sure they were slightly suspicious but all they wanted was for me to be happy and they knew how much I cared for Alexei.
“Where are you?”
“I’ll send you the address.”
Lu banged on the door twenty minutes later. I could hear her through the front door at the bodyguard posted there. “Who are you?”
“She’s good, Vance!” I shouted. Alexei still didn’t want me anywhere near answering the door. He had hired several guys from Axel’s gym who rotated watching the house and vetting people at the front door. Vance pushed the door open and let my friend inside. She gasped when her eyes landed on my face.
“Hot damn to all of this. Who’s house is this again?”
“Alexei’s.”
“Audrey’s,” Alexei said at the same time from the stairway. His mother still on his arm.
Lu whistled low. “Got somewhere we could talk privately?”
“She has an office on the second floor,” Alexei said for me. I hadn’t mapped out the house. I’d hardly had any time to really consider what all the spaces would be. I didn’t know how I was supposed to even live with this man.
Lu walked up the stairs behind me. I pushed the door open and the back window had a direct view of Central Park.
“Do you love him?” Lu sat down on the floor right up against the window.
“Yes.”
“Have you told him?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I feel like this is moving really fast.”
“If all of this happened months ago before everything was broken off, would you have believed it was too fast?”
I shook my head.
“If you love him and the engagement is off with the heiress then that’s all that matters. Nothing else does. All I want, and I’m sure everyone else, is for you to be happy.”
I nodded. My head still seemed to be spinning. “Don’t wait to tell him.” She pressed her lips together. “This new office space is kind of swanky. You should tell my dad you want to work from home from now on.”
“We could always work in the park.” I didn’t care where I got to work as long as I got to do it.
“I’m sure he would love to know that you have a better office at home than at the actual office. He’s been feeling so guilty over giving you a broom closet.”
“Lu,” I laughed. “I’ll need to hear this from him.”
She shrugged. “I hate to see you like this but I’m glad you two are working out your differences. He looked lifeless with those bimbos. He looks like he’s alive again. I figured all of that was fake with those girls. It was, wasn’t it?”
I nodded. What else was there to say? She was right. I just didn’t allow myself to see it. I didn’t watch the tabloids and when she sent me screenshots I would barely glance at them. Now that I knew the truth, it was easier to see.