A Tragic Wreck

by T. K. Leigh

  “When?” Alexander asked nervously.

  “In my dream. Before I overheard the two men. I heard the little boy speak, begging me to wake up. I tried so hard to open my eyes, but I just couldn’t.”

  A tear escaped Alexander’s eye. He knew the exact moment she was referring to. The last time that he saw her. The day after the accident. He remembered his father allowing him to go see Olivia in her hospital room, and he begged and begged her to wake up. But she didn’t. And that was the last time he ever saw her. A few hours later, his father told him that she didn’t make it. That was the day his life changed, too.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  STRAWBERRIES AND CHAMPAGNE

  “LOVE, I’M SENDING FOUR agents to the spa with you today,” Alexander said the following morning as they sat eating breakfast. “Marshall is the only female. She is not to leave your side, do you understand?”

  Alexander looked serious. It wasn’t worth arguing with him that day, not after her restless night. She had trouble falling back to sleep after her dream. She couldn’t shake the feeling that had started to form in the pit of her stomach.

  At ten o’clock, Marshall appeared in the foyer. Olivia watched as Alexander greeted her, her tall, fit frame slightly intimidating, even standing next to someone like Alexander. She was clearly in shape and Olivia had no desire to mess with her. “Pleasure to see you again, Miss Adler.”

  “Agent Marshall, I’ve told you to call me Olivia or Libby.” She had grown tired of all of Alexander’s employees using her last name. Her name was Olivia. She didn’t want to only be known as Miss Adler. That wasn’t who she was.

  Marshall looked at Alexander with a questioning look.

  This man is ridiculous, Olivia thought. “Fine. Call me Miss Adler.” Was she starting to lose her entire identity to the man standing next to her?

  “Just give us a moment, please, Marshall.”

  “Yes, sir.” She stepped into the foyer, giving Alexander and Olivia some privacy.

  “Olivia, love,” he said, brushing a lock of her hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry about the extra security but, after the other day…well, it’s just necessary until I can get some answers.”

  “Fine,” Olivia exhaled, reluctantly agreeing to his demands. He was all business that morning. She wanted the playful Alexander back from the night before.

  He pulled her into a tight embrace, stroking her back as he planted gentle kisses on her forehead, her nose, her cheek, her other cheek. He gently brushed his lips against hers. Sparks flew through Olivia’s body at the innocent contact of his lips on hers. She immediately forgot that she was irritated with him and his absurd protection details.

  Alexander pulled back, his eyes aflame, before leaning in for a more passionate kiss. Their tongues intertwined as Olivia ran her hands through his hair, pulling his head closer to hers, not wanting to break the contact. She needed him desperately after the previous night. Alexander had become the one thing in life that she needed in order to get past the nightmares. He had become her own personal nepenthe. She smiled at the thought.

  “Have a good day, gorgeous,” Alexander murmured softly into her ear, trailing kisses across her face and down her neck.

  Olivia moaned in response.

  She felt him smile against her body. “Keep making those sounds and I’ll make you late for your first spa treatment.”

  Her breathing increased. “Good. I want you to make me late.”

  Groaning, he lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. “Okay. We’ll make it quick then.” He carried her up the stairs to the bedroom, quickly ridding her of her clothes and sliding into her.

  ~~~~~~~~~~

  Several hours later, Olivia returned to the penthouse from her spa outing with Kiera, feeling fully refreshed after a massage, manicure, and pedicure, as well as having her hair styled and make-up professionally applied. She was nervous enough about that evening as it was. She wasn’t going to leave anything to chance, and that included making sure she looked perfect.

  Alexander heard the door open as he sat at the kitchen island, enjoying a glass of scotch before changing into his tuxedo for the evening. He turned, his jaw dropping. Olivia stood in front of him, her hair and makeup done for the evening. She looked amazing even in her jeans and cardigan. She never wore a lot of makeup so this was an entirely different look altogether.

  He stared into her deep, dark eyes that had taken on a smoky quality, making them look even bigger than they normally were. She smiled, causing her cheekbones to look more pronounced and Alexander noticed a hint of blush, helping to define her high cheeks. His eyes stopped when he saw her lips. They were deep, vibrant red. The combination of her olive skin, dark hair expertly curled and pinned loosely to the side of her nape, and dark eyes made those red lips stand out even more.

  “Olivia,” he said breathlessly. “You look amazing.” Alexander blinked repeatedly, trying to calm his growing erection.

  “Just wait until you see me in my dress, darling.” Olivia winked. “I’ll be back soon.” She made her way into one of the large guest bedrooms where she had hidden her dress the day before. She walked into the closet and reached for the Victoria’s Secret bag, thankful that Kiera had convinced her that some new lingerie was in order for the special occasion. The dress was cut in such a way that she couldn’t wear a bra, but she didn’t think Alexander would mind.

  She pulled on a red lacy thong and matching garter belt before sitting on a dressing chair to put on her thigh-high stockings, clipping them to the belt. She grew excited thinking about Alexander’s expression when he took her dress off her later that evening. And he most certainly would be doing that. Olivia was sure of it.

  She unzipped her garment bag and stepped into the gown. Standing back, she looked into the mirror on the wall, hardly recognizing the woman that stood in front of her. She never had a reason to buy a formal dress before. In high school, her uncle forbid her from going to the prom. In fact, she was surprised her uncle let her participate in any extracurricular activities. Anything one-on-one seemed to be rather off-limits. Group activities were generally okay. Prom was a big fat no. She thought about all the normal high school milestones she missed out on because her uncle thought he needed to protect her.

  Olivia wished she had known him better, but she didn’t. He was more an authority figure that she had to deal with when she needed something. There was no closeness with him. Still, he was her world. After her parents died, he was the only family she had.

  Snapping out of her thoughts, she finished getting ready by putting on a pair of ruby drop earrings that matched perfectly with her multi-strand necklace of gold with ruby accents. She stepped into her champagne stilettos and gingerly walked up the stairs, holding her clutch and wrap, both the same shade of red.

  Alexander was standing at the kitchen island dressed in his tuxedo when he heard Olivia walk up the steps. His heart beat madly, anxious to see how she looked. Turning in the direction of the stairs, he beheld the vision standing in front of him. His mouth dropped, unable to form any words.

  Olivia smiled as she sauntered up to him. “The great Alexander Burnham, speechless? I’m shocked.” Olivia leaned in, breathing those words on his collar. She could tell he was incredibly aroused at that moment. His tuxedo pants did not do a good job at hiding it. He grabbed her hand and held her at arm’s length, admiring her dress before spinning her and pulling her back into his chest, holding her in an intimate embrace.

  “You look amazing, love.”

  “As do you, love,” Olivia smirked, gazing at him in his tuxedo. He always looked great in a suit, but his tuxedo took it to a whole new level. Whomever said a suit is like lingerie for men was absolutely right. Something about Alexander all dressed up turned Olivia on more than she could remember.

  “Champagne?” Alexander asked, grabbing a bottle from the wine chiller.

  “Yes, please.”

  He expertly popped the cork, the vapor flowing o
ut of the bottle.

  “I love that sound,” Olivia said, watching as he poured her a glass, handing it to her.

  “It’s a close second for me,” Alexander said, a smile on his face.

  “To what?”

  He wrapped his arm around her waist, bringing her body flush with his once more. “The sound of your laughter, of course. When we were apart, I missed that beautiful melody more than life itself.” He leaned down, kissing her neck, inhaling her scent.

  His words made Olivia’s heart race. She loved how sweet he could be at times.

  “Come.” He grabbed her hand and led her past the couch to the windows in the living room. Smiling, he opened a glass door that Olivia had never noticed before. Stepping out onto the large expansive balcony, she gasped at the amazing view. Despite it being a chilly March evening, the fire pit and heating lanterns kept them warm as they stood admiring the city down below, drinking their champagne.

  “What a view,” Olivia muttered, looking over the waterfront, the sun setting behind the building painting the sky in a pink hue as a gentle breeze blew through the air.

  “Yeah, isn’t it? I remember growing up, coming to visit my older sister. She would always take me to Kelly’s on Revere Beach where we would watch the planes landing at Logan,” Alexander said quietly, his eyes trained on the runway in the distance. “I always thought about how nice it would be to be able to fly away just like those airplanes. After that, I always loved being near airports, watching people coming and going. Whenever I was sad or upset, I always reminded myself that it was possible to get away. So when I found this place and I was able to watch the lights of the airport in the distance, I had to have it.”

  “When did you move to Boston?”

  “I went to Harvard for a semester before dropping out and joining the Navy. I didn’t come home for about two years. At that time, my dad had moved the company’s headquarters here. Originally, they were based out of Providence, which was less than an hour from my family’s house in Mystic. We had a branch of the company located here already. We have offices all over the country. As we grew bigger and bigger, he felt Boston should be the headquarters. There’s more international flights going and coming than in Providence, which is important for clients and it’s not New York. Plus, Carol was working as a cop, and it’s always good to have someone on the police force helping you out.” He looked down at the girl in front of him, knowing that the main reason his father moved to Boston was to keep an eye on Olivia while she attended Boston College. He was still floored at the thought that she was in Boston all those years and his father knew about it, but never said a word. He didn’t think he would ever forgive him for that. Not when he watched Alexander struggle nearly his entire life with losing her.

  “Your sister…she’s much older than you, isn’t she?” Olivia asked, bringing him back from his thoughts.

  “Yeah. Well, Carol was a mistake,” he smiled. “She’s forty-six. I’m thirty and Tyler is twenty-one. Mom was eighteen when she found out that she was pregnant with Carol. Dad was going to marry her anyway, but that made them marry a little earlier. Then Dad was sent overseas right after she was born. Vietnam and all that. He was lucky to make it out alive. He went to Harvard after that and, eventually, got in with the CIA.” He paused briefly, wondering what Olivia knew about the man she referred to as her uncle. He couldn’t remember the last time he spoke to someone about his father, apart from his siblings. It actually felt good. Maybe he needed to talk about him so that he could begin to overcome his anger toward his father for abandoning and lying to him all those years. But forgiveness wasn’t in the cards.

  “He worked clandestine services,” Alexander continued. “He spoke a bunch of different languages. As you can imagine, he was never around. It wasn’t until my mom threatened to walk out on him when my sis was a teenager that he decided to leave the CIA and start his own private security firm. He surrounded himself with the best and the brightest, and built the company up. His thought was that if you paid people enough, they couldn’t be bought, making us one of the most successful security firms. And we still adhere to the same principle.”

  Alexander stared out in the distance while he continued talking, Olivia listening intently. For someone she felt so comfortable with, she was surprised at how little she really knew about him and his past. He never opened up to her about his father before so now that he was talking, she didn’t want to interrupt. She wanted to learn more.

  “It wasn’t until after the company was started that I was born. I remember hanging out with Dad when I was little. I think I was the only one who was ever close to him. He was gone when Carol was growing up. He didn’t start the security company until she was almost out of high school. And by the time my little brother was born, he was gone again. He was only truly around the first nine years of my life.”

  Alexander looked down. He had never realized that he was the only one who really spent any time with his dad. All the memories of their summers on the beach flooded back to him. He remembered holding baby Olivia for the first time. He was only two and she was not yet a week old when his parents took him down the street to the Deluca’s house.

  “She looks funny,” Alexander remembered saying to his parents.

  “It’s because she’s brand new, Alex. All babies look funny when they first arrive.” His mother gingerly placed the little bundle into his small arms, helping him hold her. Olivia started to cry. Alexander remembered looking at his mother, wondering what to do with a crying baby.

  “Alex, darling, just tell her everything’s going to be okay, that you’re going to be friends. Go on…”

  Alexander returned his eyes to the swaddled baby and began to rock her. “Don’t cry, Olibia,” he said, unable to pronounce her name correctly. “We’re going to be best friends.”

  A tear slid down his cheek at the memory.

  Olivia reached for his face, catching his tear. “I’m sorry. I know it’s tough.” She slid into his shoulder and he put his arm around her, pulling her close. He thought how well she fit in his embrace. Just like two pieces of a tragic puzzle.

  “Excuse me, sir, ma’am,” Martin interrupted. They turned in unison to see Martin standing in the doorway.

  Alexander nodded. “Yes, Martin?”

  “The car is ready out front for you.”

  “Thank you,” he replied.

  Martin quickly exited, leaving them alone.

  “Miss Adler, are you ready?” Alexander held his arm out for Olivia.

  “Yes, I am, Mr. Burnham.” She slid her arm through his and he led her down to their waiting limousine.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  COME CLEAN

  ALEXANDER ESCORTED OLIVIA THROUGH the lobby of the Four Seasons by Boston Common, avoiding photographers as much as possible. He steered her toward one of the large banquet rooms at the hotel, flanked by both Carter and Marshall. Upon entering, servers greeted them, carrying champagne. Alexander grabbed two glasses, giving one to Olivia.

  She looked around the room, estimating that there had to be several hundred people there. Everyone milled about, socializing. They all seemed to know each other, except Olivia. Nerves coursed through her body as she tightened up, wondering why she had agreed to accompany him. She knew she was out of her element as she watched him shake hands and pose for photos, leading Olivia across the room to their assigned table.

  “Alex, darling.” Olivia watched a woman in her mid-sixties get out of her chair and move toward Alexander, pulling him into an embrace.

  “Hello, Ma.” He placed a kiss on her cheek. Olivia hated meeting the parents. She didn’t know how to act. It wasn’t something she had ever had to deal with before. Why did she agree to come? Her heart started to beat rapidly and her hands became clammy.

  “Don’t worry. They’ll love you,” Alexander whispered, leaning down and brushing his lips against her neck, having noticed her apprehension.

  “Ma, this is Miss Sarah Olivia Adler,” he
said, turning toward Olivia. “She prefers to go by Olivia.”

  “Olivia, dear. Oh, it is such a pleasure to finally meet you.” She pulled Olivia into a tight embrace, squeezing her affectionately. “I’ve heard so much about you!”

  Olivia was surprised at the warm greeting. “Mrs. Burnham,” she said pulling out of the hug. “It’s wonderful to meet you.”

  “Please. Call me Colleen, dear,” she replied before turning to her son and giving him a searching look. Alexander shook his head, as if saying ‘not now’. Olivia watched the exchange, not knowing what to make of it.

  “Olivia, you remember my sister, Carol,” Alexander said as Carol pushed out of her chair, standing up to greet her.

  Olivia hardly recognized Alexander’s sister in the elegant long black gown and diamond jewelry that she wore. “Yes. Detective Wilder, it’s wonderful to see you again,” she said as they shook hands.

  “Please, it’s Carol.”

  “Okay.” Olivia smiled nervously.

  “Olivia,” Carol said. “This is my husband, David.”

  Olivia surveyed Carol’s husband, seeing the cop in him. His strong, muscular body filled out his tuxedo quite nicely.

  “Nice to meet you, David.”

  “Likewise, Olivia.” They shook hands.

  “And you remember Tyler,” Alexander said, motioning toward his brother.

  Olivia remembered seeing Alexander’s brother very briefly that night outside of Johnny D’s, but she was never really introduced to him. Now, as she stared at him, a dumbfounded look crossed her face. He looked like an exact replica of Alexander, even if he was several years younger. Same green eyes. Same dark hair. He was slightly less muscular and a little shorter, but the facial features were alarmingly similar. There was no mistaking that they were brothers.

  “Great to see you again, Olivia,” Tyler said, wrapping his arms around her. This family likes to hug, she thought.