The Morning After: Starting from Zero Box Set

by Dallen, Maggie

  Two extraordinarily nerve-wracking hours later, it was over. The election was over, and he had won by a landslide. He hurried out of the conference room, absently shaking hands and accepting congratulations on his way.

  The speech itself had been a bit of a blur. After the countless hours of practicing with Lacey, the words had come out of his mouth of their own volition, and his body and tone oozed warmth and confidence like a well-oiled machine.

  All their work had paid off. When Marcus stood to make his bid for the position, he’d ended up looking like a whiny schoolboy pleading for a spot on the varsity team.

  He’d never stood a chance. Even Arthur, who’d been prepared to stand up and speak on Alex’s behalf, had remained quiet. His support hadn’t been necessary. Alex had won the election all on his own—and by a landslide.

  His friends were waiting in his office, and he was soon surrounded by well-wishers patting him on the back and cheering for his success. He smiled and laughed, but he was only half listening. He was too busy looking around for Lacey and checking his phone and emails for some message from her.

  Dawn finally clued him in. “Lacey called to wish you good luck,” she said. “She said to say she’s sorry she has to miss your victory celebration.”

  Alex’s brows drew together in confusion as he accepted the envelope she handed him. Lacey wasn’t here? The thought didn’t seem to register in his brain.

  Why wasn’t she here? This was just as much her success as it was his.

  He waited until his friends left before opening the envelope. He hadn’t made it halfway through the letter before the ground dropped out from beneath him. The voices around him faded to an echo as he read the words that broke his heart.

  He wanted to crumple the letter into a ball and toss it into the garbage can. He wanted to scream and shout and get on the next plane to San Francisco. He wanted to kiss her more than anything in the world.

  How was it that he had won everything he’d set his sight on and lost the only thing that mattered? Every bit of joy he’d felt at winning the election drained from his body. It meant nothing if he couldn’t share it with Lacey—the woman who had helped him become the man this company deserved. The woman who saw the best in him and who believed in him when no one else had.

  Or had she?

  Had all of her faith and confidence just been part of her job? Had she been faking it all along?

  He saw her clear blue eyes and heard her infectious laugh. No. He could never believe she could be so manipulative.

  But then … what did he know? There was so much they never discussed. So many topics they’d agreed to talk about after the election. Like Sam.

  “Are you all right, man?” Raj asked. He and the others were passing around glasses of champagne, and he was holding one out to Alex with a look of concern. “You look like you’re going to kill somebody.”

  Now Dawn and Heather were staring at him with concern as well. “Dude, your face is purple,” Heather said.

  Alex forced himself to inhale and push away the murderous thoughts he was harboring toward Sam. He took the glass from Raj and lifted it in the air. “To a new day,” he said. If anyone noticed how fake his smile was, they were too polite to comment on it as they clinked glasses.

  When his office line rang, he nearly shoved Raj aside to lunge for it. It was Lacey, it had to be. She was calling to tell him it was all a mistake.

  That fleeting hope was extinguished in a heartbeat as he heard his grandfather’s personal nurse on the other end. There was no confusing that heavy German accent for anyone other than Helga.

  “Your grandfather wishes to see you,” she said. Her thick accent and low voice issuing a command rather than passing along a request.

  “Of course. I’ll be there at once.”

  Dawn offered to give him a ride to his grandfather’s penthouse so he could get there quickly. The only other person in the world who cared as much as Alex did about the election’s outcome deserved to hear the good news in person.

  “Well, of course, you won,” the old man grumbled when Alex burst into the apartment announcing the results. But his grandfather’s rare smile softened the words.

  “I’m proud of you, Alex.”

  For a moment, Alex thought he’d heard wrong. Then, as if that rare and heartfelt moment had never happened, his grandfather resumed the role of the grouchy patient that he’d been perfecting since his doctor had ordered him to bedrest.

  “So why didn’t your girlfriend come with you? Is she still mad at me for meddling in your personal business? Well too bad. It’s my job to meddle; that’s what grandfathers do.”

  Alex tried to force a smile and change the subject. He didn’t want to talk about Lacey at that moment. He was too afraid of what he might say or do if he let himself dwell on the fact that he would never see her again. That she was no longer a part of his life. The thought was unbearable. “I thought you didn’t approve of Lacey and me.” He moved to sit on the side of his grandfather’s bed. “I thought you wanted me to get back with Jess.”

  His response was almost inaudible, but Alex caught it. “Well, maybe I was wrong.”

  “Excuse me?” His grandfather made a show of rolling his eyes, but Alex continued. “My ears must be deceiving me because I know you didn’t just admit to being wrong about something.”

  His grandfather had the good grace to chuckle at that. “Well, maybe I was. I’m not proud to admit it, but even the best of us can be challenged by our fears from time to time.”

  “And you were afraid that I couldn’t win this election on my own.” The words were out there and Alex wished that his grandfather would refute them, but they both know it was the truth. But how could Alex fault his grandfather for not having faith in him when he hadn’t had faith in himself?

  “You’re right. For a little while all I could see was the boy who loved to race up and down the stairwell while your father and I conducted meetings. I was so caught up in my own fears about the company’s future and….well, dying…that I couldn’t see the man standing right in front of me. A man who more than deserves to be a leader in our company. A man whose father would be so very proud if he could be here today.”

  The tightness in his throat made it nearly impossible to speak. “Thank you, Grandfather. That means the world to me.”

  Looking uncomfortable at his outpouring of emotion, his grandfather waved away the thanks and reached for his water glass. “So where is the lively young woman who knocked some much-needed sense into me?”

  Alex raised a brow at that. What had Lacey said to his grandfather? But the old man was waiting for an answer. He cleared his throat a bit and started rearranging the blankets at the end of the bed.

  “It seems we were both mistaken on that one, I’m afraid. She’s gone home. We’re over.” He let out a short, humorless laugh. “We’re over before we’d even begun.”

  There was a long silence before he looked up to see his grandfather staring at him in horror. “Are you telling me you just let that young woman walk out of your life? Forever?”

  Alex blinked at the old man stupidly. He suddenly went from feeling like an accomplished grown man to a wayward child. “It’s not like I had a choice, Grandfather. She doesn’t want to be with me. She told me so.”

  The old man’s face was growing so red with anger, Alex started to fear for his blood pressure. “I don’t believe it. I don’t believe it for a second that the passionate young lady who stood up to me—to me—on your behalf doesn’t have those feelings. If Lacey isn’t in love with you, I don’t know what love is.”

  Alex’s mouth was hanging open by the end of the tirade. “Grandfather, I—”

  “If you let her walk out of your life, you’re an idiot. A good-looking, intelligent moron, if you ask me.”

  “But she said—”

  “That woman sees you more clearly than you see yourself. She believes in you and trusts you and would give up everything for you.” His grandfather
was shaking his head in disbelief. “And you just let her walk away?”

  “I didn’t ‘let her’ do anything,” Alex shot back. “She went all on her own. I didn’t even know she’d gone until this afternoon.”

  The old man’s eyes narrowed. “So she didn’t tell you why she was leaving to your face?”

  “No, she left me a letter.”

  His grandfather threw back his head with a bark of laughter. “Lawrence, my boy, if you let her walk away without at least trying to fight for her, you are no grandson of mine.”

  Alex’s mind was racing as he tucked and untucked the blanket at his grandfather’s feet. “You think I can win her back?”

  “I think any woman who had the guts to stand up to me would have the nerve to tell you she didn’t love you to your face.” He paused and gave his grandson a knowing look. “If she truly meant it.”

  For the first time in hours, Alex felt a flicker of hope. He was filled with a new resolve. He could talk to her, convince her that she was making a mistake. He could prove to her that Sam would never love her like he could. He could never make her as happy as Alex because that was what Alex wanted more than anything in the world. Her happiness.

  Maybe she’s happier with Sam. The wayward thought was almost enough to weaken his resolve but he shoved it out of his mind. That possibility wasn’t even worth considering. He loved her more than anyone or anything in the world. They belonged together.

  And he would make her realize that. If she still refused to give them a chance, at least he’d know that he’d tried.

  “Grandfather, I’ve got to go. I’m sorry, I’ll—“ The old man was already shooing him out the door.

  “Go, go. And for the love of God, don’t screw it up.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  ALEX WAS EXHAUSTED by the time he arrived at Lacey’s apartment building. He hadn’t told her he was coming. At the time, he’d told himself he didn’t want to give her a chance to turn him away before he spoke. But now, standing there poised in her doorway, he was having second thoughts.

  What would she think when he showed up on her doorstep without so much as a word of warning?

  That he was a stalker. Who wouldn’t? This was the worst plan he’d ever had. He was still staring at the knocker, debating whether or not he should walk away when the door opened.

  He drew in a deep breath, a mixture of nerves and excitement at war in his chest as he prepared to see the woman he loved.

  He found himself staring into the red-rimmed eyes of a sniffling brunette who was at least a foot taller than Lacey and with far less curves. “Who are you?” he asked. Not exactly his most gracious moment.

  The girl’s teary eyes widened. “Who am I? Who are you?” She looked at her door pointedly. Oh right, he was the stranger here.

  Before he could answer, a light seemed to go off in her eyes. “No way. No. Way! You’re the Greek god.”

  “Excuse me?” He could have sworn he heard her say Greek god. “I’m the…what?”

  She shook her head and he had the distinct impression she was smothering a smile. “Never mind. What are you doing here?”

  He shifted uncomfortably under the woman’s watchful stare. “Uh, does Lacey Ames live here?”

  “She’s my roommate.”

  Ah. “You’re Morgan.”

  “The one and only.” She struck a funny pose in the doorway.

  “And you’re Alex,” she said. Something about the way she said his name made the heat rise to his cheeks. It was slightly sing-songy as though at any moment she would start chanting “K-I-S-S-I-N-G.”

  How much did she know about him? What had Lacey told her? He tried to look past her into the apartment, but she was completely blocking his view.

  “Is she here?”

  Morgan looked like she was debating how to answer that question. Oh God, she totally thought he was a stalker.

  “Look, I’m not here to cause any trouble. She told me about Sam and I just wanted a chance to—”

  She cut him off with a gasp and he was a little relieved. He wasn’t sure how he was going to finish that sentence. He wanted a chance to…what? Win her back? Plead his case? Inform her she was making the biggest mistake of her life by returning to a man she might or might not love?

  Morgan was still staring at him in surprise. “She told you about Sam?”

  Alex ran a hand through his hair. He hated that name with a passion. That one syllable word was like a drill going through his brain. Sam.

  “Yeah, she told me. That’s why I’m here. Look, Morgan, I just need to talk to her…” His voice trailed off when she stepped to the side and gestured for him to come in.

  Her eyes starting tearing up as she led him along a long, narrow hallway cluttered with bookcases and errant shoes. “It’s sweet of you to come,” she said is a wobbly voice.

  He cleared his throat. “Yeah, sure. I mean, of course.”

  What was he missing here?

  “Uh, so is Lacey here or…?”

  Morgan gestured for him to sit on an overstuffed couch that barely fit in the teeny-tiny living room. From where he sat he could see into the open kitchen—even tinier than the living room—and into the open doorways of two large closets that were apparently being used as bedrooms.

  If Lacey was here, she was very clever at hiding.

  “Lacey’s with Sam right now,” she said. She blew her nose before continuing. “She’s picking up his ashes from the crematorium.”

  The air left Alex’s stomach with a whoosh. Oh, dear God. Sam was dead? The man he’d spent the past two weeks wishing was dead was truly dead?

  He was a monster.

  “Maybe I should go.” He made a move to pull himself out of the quicksand-like confines of the couch but Morgan stood in his way.

  “No, please don’t go. Lacey will be so psyched to see you.” At his questioning look, she added, “I swear.”

  Half out of his seat, Morgan gave him a gentle shove and he found himself swallowed up once again by the giant cushions. Before he could protest any further, they heard the front door slam and an extraordinarily disheveled Lacey walked into the room.

  She stopped short at the sight of him, and Alex hesitated between offering to leave and rushing to her side so he could comfort her. What role was he supposed to play here? There wasn’t exactly a Miss Manners chapter on how to comfort your lover when her fiancé dies.

  He should never have come.

  Her eyes were so wide as she took in his presence in her living room with those unblinking, tear-filled eyes that as always seemed to be looking right through him directly into his heart.

  Who was he kidding? He could never stay away.

  There was a tense silence that had Morgan backpedaling out of the room in an exaggerated tip-toe move that would have made him laugh if he wasn’t staring at the woman he loved grieving over the man she loved.

  “I’m so sorry for your loss,” he finally said.

  Lacey sniffed. “Thank you. What are you doing here?”

  Not exactly the warm welcome he’d been hoping for but then, what could he expect?

  “I-uh-I…” Somehow it seemed disrespectful to mention his real reason now. He’d never met this infamous Sam, but if Lacey cared about him, he deserved better than to have some stranger swoop in and declare his love to his fiancée while she was supposed to be grieving. Guilt over the countless names he’d called the poor dead guy was gnawing at his guts.

  He ignored the question. This was not the time. Lacey needed him more than ever and he would be there for her. He would put aside all of his desires and needs and be the man she needed.

  He took a step toward her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder in friendly camaraderie. “How are you holding up?”

  She blinked at him like he was speaking Chinese. Damn, she was probably still in shock.

  Her brows drew together in puzzlement. “Morgan told you? About Sam, I mean.”

  He nodded. “Yeah, she told
me.”

  “And…you’re not mad?”

  “Mad?” Now it was his turn to look confused. What kind of selfish bastard did she think he was? “Of course I’m not mad. I’m just sorry you have to go through this.”

  “Thanks,” she sniffled. She gave a little shrug and let out a self-deprecating laugh as she swiped a hand over her puffy eyes and blotchy nose. “Most guys would say I’m overreacting. I mean, it’s not like I didn’t see this coming.”

  “You did?” Alex’s head was spinning. How long had she known that her fiancé was dying? Is that why she’d stayed with him. Is that what this was all about?

  Or had she just been running away from her problems when she’d been with him? The thought was a punch in the gut. Maybe he had just been a distraction—something to keep her mind off the man she truly loved who would be leaving her forever.

  “How long have you known?”

  Lacey moved past him to flop onto the couch. He watched her tiny frame get swallowed whole by the cushions. “Oh, about a year. The vet said he was lucky to live this long. I mean fourteen years is pretty old for a cat.”

  The silence that filled the room was deafening as Alex felt the full force of the truth smack him across the face.

  “Sam is just a cat?” The words came sputtering out of his mouth before he could stop to think. He watched Lacey’s eyes fill with horrified anger.

  Oh yeah. He’d just said the exact wrong thing.

  * * *

  “Just a cat? Just a cat?” She was grieving here and all he could say was “just a cat?”

  Lacey heaved herself from the couch and crossed her arms in front of her chest. She clutched on to the anger—it was so much more preferable to the helpless loneliness she’d felt at the sight of him in her home.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, looking as though he might hurt himself in his attempt to remove the foot from his mouth. “I didn’t mean that. I didn’t. I’m sure your cat was very important to you, it’s just that I thought Sam was…”