Bailout

by Kimbra Swain

  The red and black dress she wore hugged her in all the right places. It blew me away every time I looked at her. Then I noticed that she caught me staring at her through the reflection in the window. A smile spread across her face. The bruise on her face had finally faded. Our wounds from that day were healed, but the ordeal still woke her up at night.

  “Miss Malone, Senor Abrego is waiting in the conference room,” Alexa’s new assistant said at the door.

  “Thank you, Tory. Are Damien and Sebastian here?” she asked.

  “Yes, ma’am. They are just outside the conference room waiting for you,” Tory said.

  “Ready?” Alexa asked me.

  I nodded. Standing up, I straightened my jacket. She walked to me, and I offered her my hand. She took it, then we walked behind Tory to the conference room.

  Sebastian and Damien waited at the door. She smiled at them both before walking into the room.

  Abrego sat at one end of the table with two goons. We’d watched them enter the building and go through a security check which was now standard procedure for the building. The aftermath of the confrontation had forced Alexa to make changes in security for the building so that her employees felt safe.

  Most of them were off today. It was a Saturday, but she’d agreed to meet with Abrego on her own terms. The Atlanta Police hadn’t made a move on Abrego yet. Shepherd had discovered that the information that Alexa provided opened the door to actually try to save some innocent people mixed up in his business. Shepherd worked on that behind the scenes, so Alexa agreed to negotiate with Abrego to give him a false sense of security even though his time ruling this city was coming quickly to an end.

  Abrego stood as she entered the room.

  “Good afternoon, Mr. Abrego,” she said. The last time they met, she impressed him with her Spanish, but this time she didn’t give him the courtesy. There were days in this office that I was glad she wasn’t my enemy. To think I almost made her one.

  “Miss Malone, it is good to see you again,” he said.

  “Please have a seat. We have much to discuss, and I have plans this evening that I’d rather not miss,” she said. We were going out. I couldn’t wait.

  “Of course, it is unusual to discuss business on a Saturday, but I understand considering the situation that you faced a couple of weeks ago,” Abrego said, reminding us of the confrontation with Ryland LeBlanc.

  “Right. Mr. Abrego, I have no desire to interfere with your business. You have to understand, I acquired Bright Tech with the best of intentions. Mr. Elliot did not reveal his relationship with you until after the fact. That wasn’t his fault. I can be rather tenacious when I decide that I want something,” she said.

  “That is understandable, Miss Malone. However, I cannot overlook the damage that you’ve done to my businesses,” he said.

  “We’ve done no damage to you. Your associate, Mr. LeBlanc caused much of this problem. Since he is no longer in the picture, I believe that we can reach an agreement.”

  “If you have a proposal, I’m willing to listen,” Abrego said.

  “I offer full payment for the shell companies that I bought out from under you. In fact, in an effort to assure you of my sincerity, I offer double payment. I also promise to stay out of your business dealings. However, no more goods will be funneled through Bright. Malone has finalized the acquisition of Bright. It will become a new wing of my expanding business. Mr. Elliot will be heading up the new technology that we will produce and market. Do you have any other requests?” she asked.

  “I believe something was taken from me the day we met previously,” he smirked.

  I stood up, walking to his end of the table. His two goons stiffened. I sat the black velvet box down on the table. When I turned to walk away, he said, “You know, Elliot, you’ve got balls.”

  “Thanks,” I said, returning to sit next to Alexa.

  “Anything else?” she asked.

  “I think if we worked together we would be a formidable team. I won’t patronize you with a proposal, but I wish we could find some common ground,” he said with admiration in his voice.

  “Unfortunately, Mr. Abrego, I don’t deal in drugs and prostitution,” Alexa said flatly.

  His eyes widened at her boldness. I smirked. Then he chuckled, “Miss Malone, you are a remarkable woman. Forgive me for my involvement with Ryland LeBlanc. It wasn’t until a few days before he died that I was made aware of his former involvement with you. Had I known it was personal, I would have sent him packing. I accept your payment for the shell companies and agree to all your terms. I hope that we can consider this a cease-fire between us. I won’t interfere with you if you agree not to interfere with my operations.”

  “I will avoid you like the plague,” she quipped.

  He laughed again, putting the velvet box in his pocket. He never looked to see if the ring was still there. He knew that we wouldn’t cross him at this point. “Very well. Thank you, Miss Malone.” He stood with his goons, and we stood as he exited the room.

  Just as he got to the door, he turned to look at me, “You are one lucky son of a bitch.”

  I didn’t respond. But he was right.

  “That went better than expected,” Sebastian said. His arm was still in a sling from where they removed the bullet. The doctors told him that he could take the sling off in just a few more days. He was anxious to get back into the gym. I’d gotten back into going as well. It felt good to work out my aggression on the bags.

  “I believe you owe me a date,” Alexa said.

  “Indeed, I do. Good day gentlemen,” I said to the twins.

  Alexa wrapped her arm through mine. We went back to the townhouse which Sebastian deemed safe for us to stay at during the week. Most of the weekends we spent at the house in Smoke Rise. It was a little way out of town, but we liked the privacy it provided. Tomorrow she was taking me to see her parent's old house in Lenox.

  I waited anxiously for her to emerge from changing clothes. There wasn’t a day that she didn’t take my breath away. As much as I tried to fight it. I wanted to put a ring on her finger. I wanted her to be mine. Alexandra wasn’t traditional like that, but at some point, it would drive me mad if I didn’t try.

  “Sorry that it took so long,” she said as she rounded the corner. I didn’t know who made the dress or what you called it, but it knocked me off my feet. I sank back into the couch admiring her. “You okay?”

  “Damn. You look unbelievably beautiful,” I said.

  She giggled. “Thank you, Jamey. Come on. I’m hungry.”

  “I am, too,” I said watching her. She quirked an eyebrow at me.

  “We have time for that later,” she smiled.

  I sighed. She was right. I owed her dinner.

  We arrived at Bones just before our reservation. Mr. Lewis waited to greet us.

  “Jamey, it is good to see you again. Miss Malone, you look beautiful,” he said as he kissed her hand. The blush ran over her cheeks and down her neck. It was almost the same color as the dress she wore. A rose color with a subtle golden sheen.

  “Okay, you, suave devil. Hands off,” I protested.

  “Right this way,” he smiled. We followed him through the restaurant back to one of the private tables attached to the kitchen. It wasn’t the exact one we had sat in before, but close enough.

  This dinner went much better than the first we had here. She was relaxed. Thankfully, she hadn’t had an attack since the one she almost had on the roof at Malone. She still had anxieties about things, but we talked them out. I remembered how much that first date meant to me. It was when I decided that I wanted her. She left herself vulnerable around me. Everyone else saw the hard exterior of a brilliant businesswoman. I got to see that part too, but the candid and accessible way she allowed me to see her heart meant more to me than any heated sex romp. There were plenty of those, too.

  I loved her. I was going to ask her to marry me.

  Forty-Four

  ALEXA

&
nbsp; “I can’t believe you just asked me that,” I said over my plate of lobster pasta.

  We were having lunch at Serafina when Jamey asked me who made the dress I wore to Bones a couple of nights ago. He’d convinced me to try the lobster pasta which he indulged in every time we came to eat here.

  “Why? It was a beautiful dress. I loved it,” Jamey admitted.

  “It was a Herve Ledger,” I said.

  “I’m writing him a thank you note,” he said. “We are going to your parents’ house?”

  “Yes, right after lunch. If you still want to see it,” she said.

  “Of course. I’m sure it will put the house in Smoke Rise to shame,” he said.

  “I like the house in Smoke Rise,” she replied. “Some of our best nights have been spent there.”

  “It was a haven we needed, but I think it’s time to sell it,” he said. I was surprised. I just assumed it would be a second home for us.

  “Why?”

  “I never really liked the house. The best moments I’ve spent in it have been with you. It’s too far out of town. You have the townhouse, your parents’ house, and the house on the lake which I have yet to see, and we don’t need another house,” he explained.

  “I thought you would want to keep it because it belonged to you,” I said.

  “Oh. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t assume that I’m always welcome at your place. It’s not like we have formally moved in together. I still own the condo,” he rambled.

  “Jamey, I want you to be wherever I am. Stop talking out of your ass,” I scolded. “If you want to sell it, then sell it.”

  “Phew,” he said. “That’s good because I already listed it.”

  I laughed. “You are ridiculous.”

  “No, just madly in love with you,” he said. It didn’t matter how many times I’d heard him say it, it made my heart flutter every time.

  “Love you, too.”

  After lunch, we visited my parents’ pricey home in Lenox Park. When we entered the front doors, I stood in awe of the house. It had been a couple of years since I stepped inside. Like Jamey, I employed a housekeeper to take care of it. I even rented it out a couple of times to visiting celebrities. Occasionally someone would come to town to film a movie or television show, and I offered it up as a place to stay with the luxury that celebrities were used to having back home.

  “Wow! You can’t sell this,” Jamey said walking through the house into the great room. “Oh! Wow! I’ve never seen anything like this.”

  The house was beautiful. I would make a few changes to it if it were mine, but I couldn’t bring myself to change the things that belonged to mom and dad. It had five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a huge stone terrace and pool, wine cellar, an enormous kitchen with marble countertops. The woods in the house were lighter than I liked, but still all real wood cabinets and floors.

  “A pool!” Jamey exclaimed. He waggled his eyebrows at me. “Wanna swim?”

  “Sure,” I said. He looked surprised. “But not today. It’s a little cold for that. I came here to say goodbye to it. At least, that’s what I thought. You like it?”

  “I love it. Let’s live here. Together,” he said.

  “What? Seriously? Are you sure?” I asked.

  “Yes! Damn. Don’t question me!” he teased.

  “Okay. We will keep it,” I said.

  “When do we move in?” he asked.

  “Well, I’d like to make a few changes,” I said. As we walked through the house, I showed him the changes I’d like to make. He made suggestions and brought up things I hadn’t noticed.

  “I don’t want you to make changes on my benefit though,” he said.

  “Why not? You are going to be living here, too,” I said.

  “Alexandra Malone, are you asking me to move in with you?” he teased.

  “I’ve had just about enough of you,” I teased as we stepped back into the hallway on the second floor.

  He pressed me against the wall. I pushed him away with laughter. He clamped down on my wrists pushing them back against the wall. I flinched for only a moment, then relaxed. It was just Jamey. Extremely turned on Jamey. He leaned into my ear. “Tell me to let go,” he said.

  “Never,” I replied. “Never let go.”

  “As you wish,” he said as his lips connected with mine. I wrapped my leg around him as he pressed himself against me. He ground his hips into my body.

  “Yes,” I hissed. It felt so good. The friction between us.

  “Which room?” he asked with a low gravel in his voice. It sent chills down my arms and legs.

  “Pick one,” I said. He pulled me off the wall and entered the closest door. It used to be Damien’s room but had been redecorated in a neutral pallet.

  In a fury, clothes flew off in different directions amid sloppy kisses. He turned me around and pressed into my back. I moaned feeling the hard bulge in his boxers pressing against me. He lifted one of my legs on to the bed, then shoved me forward. I clumsily fell onto it on all fours as he laughed at me.

  “You brute,” I teased. He climbed over the top of me without his boxers this time.

  “Like this?” he asked, rubbing himself on my ready slit.

  “Yes,” I murmured in anticipation.

  He slid into me slowly. He groaned the entire way sinking into me all the way. Leaning over me with his arms on each side of me. He whispered in my ear. “I’ve been waiting all day for this. You feel so damn good.”

  “Quit talking and move!” I commanded. He chuckled in my ear, but only moved out a little. “You fucking tease.”

  “Damn straight,” he said, then he turned loose.

  We collapsed on the bed after we’d both had enough. My heart was pounding from the last orgasm. He pulled me to him, nibbling on my ear.

  “Thank you,” I said.

  “You are welcome. I’m happy to do that anytime. You just say the word,” he laughed.

  “No, thank you for still being here. For not running when it got crazy,” I said. My emotions and love for this man had gotten the better of me. A tear slid down my cheek.

  He reached over and kissed it. “Don’t cry. I was addicted to you from the moment I met you. I just was too stubborn to admit it. I’m here forever. Even if you kick me out, I’m stalking your ass.”

  I laughed at him. “I’m never kicking you out.”

  “I know,” he smirked. I swatted him on the arm. “Which room is next?” His green eyes twinkled.

  “There is a huge walk-in shower in the master bathroom,” I suggested.

  “Shower it is!” he grinned dragging me out of the room.

  Two days later I sat in my office planning our family Christmas when my assistant knocked on the door and peaked in. Last night was the company Christmas party, so the offices were sparse. It was a wild and fun party as always. Having Jamey with me felt amazing, and I even agreed to dance with him. I was daydreaming about him when her voice broke through.

  “Miss Rimmel is here to see you,” Tory said.

  “What? How did she get in the building?” I said, as anger dripped from my words.

  “She’s with Damien,” Tory replied. She knew how much I hated my former assistant. My former best friend. And I knew, just like last time, that Damien was still seeing her. I stayed out of it, but to bring her into my building, I don’t think I could handle it.

  “You tell Damien to get that traitor out of my building,” I hissed.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Tory said spinning on her heel.

  Pressing a button on my phone, I heard his voice which immediately calmed me, “Hey sexy.”

  “Can you come to my office?” I asked, knowing Jamey was on the other end of the building in the middle of an informal meeting with Humphrey.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked immediately.

  “Damien brought her in this building,” I growled.

  “I’m on the way,” he said.

  Forty-Five

  JAMEY

  I passed Damie
n and Charity in the hallway.

  “Hey, Elliot, think you could help me out with this?” Damien asked, but I didn’t stop.

  “No, I don’t think I can. What the hell were you thinking bringing her into this building? She’s going to disown you. Is that what you want?” I spouted at him.

  “You do love her,” Charity said.

  “You shut your mouth. I have nothing to say to you. We all could have died with your little stunt. For what? To avenge your father? Do you even know what kind of man he was?” I realized I’d said too much. “I’m going to her. She hasn’t had an attack since it happened. If she has one now, I’m taking it out of your ass.” I pointed at Damien who flinched.

  I heard his voice coming down the hallway. “Please, Jamey. It’s important.”

  When I swung the door open, she sat at her desk rubbing her temples. “I just saw them.”

  “Where are they?” she asked.

  “In the lobby,” I replied. “I told him to get her out of here.”

  “I think I should talk to her,” she said as her eyes met mine.

  “No.”

  “I think I have to. Closure,” she said, as Sebastian came in the door.

  “He’s refusing to leave,” Bastian said.

  “Let them come,” she said. Bastian’s eyes widened, then flicked to me. I shrugged. I knew that once Alexandra decided to do something, there was no stopping her.

  Sebastian left the room with a grumble, and I turned to face her. “Where do you want me?” I asked.

  “Just close,” she said.

  I walked around the desk. Cupping her face in my hands, I said, “I’m always here.” I kissed her lightly as I heard the footsteps drawing nearer. I backed away to lean on the wall near the door to her side room that she never slept in anymore because she was always with me. I felt good knowing I was the reason she wanted to come home at night. The reason she could let go of business and enjoy us.

  Charity entered with Damien while Sebastian followed.

  “Please. Have a seat,” Alexa motioned to the couch. I didn’t watch them. I fixed my eyes on her. Sebastian closed the door and sat in his normal chair across the room.