“Leave him to me.I heard he built a magnificent house in Vegas, and I just happen to know who can get him to talk to me.What do you want me to do?Get his number or close the deal?”
Lex grinned.He’d known she would bite.“Close the deal.”
“Send over the contract and everything you have on the property,” she said, Estelle Fitzgerald businesswoman taking over.She gave him a few more directions, reminding him of the days he’d worked under her.“I still have that sharing software your people installed on my laptop.It’s full of folders of pictures of my grandchildren now, but I’m sure I’ll recognize a new folder when I see it.”Silence followed, but Lex knew what was coming.She was about to slip back into Mom-mode.“It would be nice to have a folder with your name on it too, Lex.I hate to push, but I’m not getting any younger and I don’t want to miss out on knowing your children.”
Lex imagined little girls who looked like Jillian.Pretty.Stubborn.Opinionated.After seeing Jillian with her niece, he was convinced she’d make a wonderful mother.“Soon, Mom,” I promised.
“I hope so, dear.Okay, send the files.Calaveras will not know what hit him.”
Lex chuckled at the excitement in her voice.“Give me a second.And thanks for helping with this.”He hung up, grabbed his tablet from the drawer, and started to stand up when it dinged.He swiped a finger across the screen and went through the files.
“They are all there,” Paula said, entering his office.For the next half hour, she pointed out a few things various departments had sent her, but Lex was impatient to leave.If she said the file was complete, it was.Until he knew what had happened at Jillian’s house, he was uneasy leaving her alone for too long.
“Send a copy of the Calaveras Estate file to my mother.In fact, give her everything you have on the project.She’s taking it over.I’m officially on vacation starting now.”She didn’t seem surprised that he was taking work with him.He always did while she ran his office in his absence and acted as the liaison between him and his employees.
“I’ll be back on Monday.”
“Going anywhere special?”she asked, following him out of his office.
“Yeah, upstairs.”This time, he got her.Her eyebrows rose in question, but he didn’t explain.He’d never worked from home before, but there was a first time for everything.He was sure the entire executive floor already knew Jillian had picked him up from the airport last night.Paula was just too discreet to openly bring up Jillian’s name.“I don’t want to be disturbed unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
He headed for the elevator.The house was quiet when he entered.Too quiet.He expected Jillian to still be in the tub, but as he started across the bedroom, he noticed the bump under the blanket.He changed directions.
It wasn’t even five and she was fast asleep, curled up with her arms tucked under her chin.He couldn’t help thinking she was warding off blows.Fury built up inside him.Life could be cruel, but a loving family made it bearable.Hers was hurting her instead.Why?
He leaned down and pressed a kiss on her forehead.She sighed and shifted, and that was when he noticed the tears slipping under her eyelids.
His hands fisted, the urge to punch something blindsiding him.What the hell had her family done to her to make her cry?Lex pulled up a chair from the reading area, sat by the bed, and gently stroked her face until she calmed down.Something else registered as he covered her.She’d borrowed one of his T-shirts.His favorite.He’d bought it the first time he skied K2.
Reluctantly, Lex left her side and peeked into the bathroom, but she’d drained the water and tidied up.Even her clothes were nicely folded and placed on the lounge.Her cell phone was now in the garbage.
Whatever her family had done must have hurt her deeply to make her not want to talk to them.But how did the thugs who’d paid her father a visit and hundreds of thousands of dollars fit into it?
For the rest of the evening, Lex stayed on the deck and worked on the new Valley Towers project.He checked on Jillian periodically.The tears didn’t restart, but she still didn’t wake up.
He called Eddie later in the evening and spoke briefly with his wife before Eddie came on the line.Lex listened to his cousin and grinned.Jillian’s assessment of Low Rider had impressed him.
“I want to meet her, Lex,” Eddie said.“Maybe she could consult for Leeds.”
“You can meet her next weekend at the family dinner.Whether she agrees to consult for Leeds is up to her.”Actually, he had a feeling Jillian might enjoy that.He could talk to her, but she might be more receptive if the offer came from Eddie.Jillian didn’t trust easily and he didn’t want her questioning his motives, especially after his reaction to her present job.“Ask her when you two meet.”
“Why can’t you do it?”
Eddie wasn’t a people person, which was why he needed Lex.“Because Leeds is yours, Eddie.As soon as you say the word, I’ll step down and remain in advisory capacity only.Consider my shares a gift to your daughter and son.”
There was silence, then, “Are you serious?You’re talking about millions of dollars, Lex.”
Lex chuckled.“I never joke about money.Besides, if you offer Jillian a job and she accepts, I wouldn’t want her working for me.”The hypocrisy of his statement didn’t escape him.As long as they had the fake-wife contract, she was working for him.“You can drop the name Leeds and go back to FMC if you like.”FMC stood for Fitz Motorbike Company.
Eddie laughed.“Damn, man.That’s generous, but Leeds is catchier.”
“No, it’s not.I’m hoping you’d make a one-of-a-kind bike for Jillian as a wedding presentandagree to stand by my side with Chase and Baron.”
This time, Eddie whistled.“Wedding?You found the one?”
Lex grinned.“I did.Now I just have to convince her.”Amy had a tough time convincing Eddie that she loved him because his cousin had some fucked up pre-conceived notions about love.Lex hoped that wasn’t the case with Jillian.
“I’m sure you’ll prevail,” Eddie said.“I’ve seen you in action.”He paused before adding, “How come I haven’t heard about her?Do the others know?”
