Alex’s belly somersaulted, although Tyler couldn’t really know that. He hadn’t given himself away.
“I’m trying to be what you want, sir,” he said softly. “If I’ve failed, please let me know how I can improve.”
“Oh, you’re doing everything perfectly. Too fucking perfectly. I refuse to believe you’ve changed so much,” Tyler ranted. “As for looking like your mother – you don’t. You’re nothing like her. She was perfect, and you’re nothing but Lytton scum.”
“You’re right.” Alex nodded. “I am. I’ve always been worthless. Mum tried her best with me, but I was selfish and self-absorbed, a bad apple. I’m trying to be better, though, sir. I really am.”
“You killed her,” Tyler accused, although the jibe lacked any bite as Alex had already admitted it.
“I know. And for that alone I deserve everything that’s happened to me since. I want to be useful to you, sir. I want to make up for what I’ve done in some small way. Please believe me, because it’s true.”
“Is it? It’s so hard to tell.” Tyler glared at him moodily. “And what abouther?” he asked in a different voice.
Alex froze.Her?
“You know who I mean,” Tyler snapped. “Solange.”
Alex took a moment to compose himself. Then he spoke softly and earnestly. “I think about her, of course, but what happened to her wasn’t your fault. I provoked you. You were at the end of your tether because of me. You didn’t mean to hurt her. It was an accident, caused by my wilfulness. Please don’t blame yourself.”
Up until that moment he hadn’t been aware that Tylerdidblame himself, but now he could see that truth staring starkly out of the other man’s troubled eyes.
“I’m not a killer. I was fond of her.”
“I know. We all were. It wasn’t your fault.” Alex wondered if he should go over to the man and comfort him. It stuck in his craw, but this wasn’t about him. Everything he did always had to be about Solange, and if absolving Tyler helped his cause, he’d do it.
“Oh, just get out.Go!” Tyler roared, sparing him that dilemma at least. “I can’t stand the sight of you.”
Tiptoeing out of the room, he glanced back to see Tyler turning the hologram back on and gazing at it obsessively.
He was relieved to reach the peace and quiet of the suite. There had been a lot to process tonight, and the strain of allowing nothing to show on his face or in his body language had taken its toll.
He showered, changed into a pair of sweatpants and a tee-shirt, and took himself off to the gym. An hour of very slow yoga and listening to his song on repeat was a help. His mind was racing but his face betrayed nothing as he went through the familiar, anchoring movements.
This was all so much more complicated than he’d imagined. He’d built Tyler up in his head as a bogeyman, a black-and-white villain, and he hadn’t been prepared for these shades of grey. Should he forgive the man? Release himself from his vow to Solange in light of Tyler’s obvious remorse? No. His gut clenched. Yes, it would be easier, but Tyler’s guilty conscience was no reason to absolve him of responsibility. If Tyler really felt guilty, he could give himself up to the authorities. This changed nothing; he still had a mission to complete.
After Tyler’s outburst, he expected to be left alone for a while, but two days later, Andrew dressed him in a smart business suit and took him to the helipad on the top of the building, where Tyler was waiting for him.
“It’s Take Your Favourite IS To Work Day,” Tyler joked, and Alex couldn’t help laughing. There’d always been this side to Tyler that was funny, smart, and strong. Knowing he was also a vile human being didn’t change that.
“I’m very happy about that, sir,” he said as they climbed into the helicopter. The last time Tyler had taken him to his office had been one of the worst days of his life, so he tried to prepare himself mentally for another bad day.
Much to his surprise, Tyler allowed him to sit in on meetings that he would have thought were highly confidential. After each one, Tyler turned to him and asked what he thought of the issues discussed. He gave his honest opinion, and Tyler nodded thoughtfully, as if he was genuinely interested.
“I’m building a new house,” Tyler announced suddenly, out of the blue.
As if you don’t have enough houses, Alex thought, and then he was angry with himself, because he had to do better than let snarky stray thoughts have room in his head, in case he blurted them out loud by mistake.
“It’s in Spain. I have business interests there and fly out regularly, so I thought it was time to establish a base there. I’ve found a lovely location – not easy these days with so little land available, but if you have the money, anything is possible. I’ve appointed an architect and interior design team, and I’m meeting them next. I want you to come, too; I’d like to hear your opinion.”
Alex was under no illusion that Tyler actually valued anything he had to say, but he followed him to one of Tyler Tech’s meeting rooms. There, he was introduced to a large, florid-faced man called Hugo Purvis and his small team. They’d produced a fancy hologram walk-through of the proposed house, which was very impressive.
Alex knew he had to concentrate whenever he was in a room with Tyler, so he watched the presentation intently. No doubt Tyler had a reason for including him in this, although it was almost certainly a twisted one. When it was over, Purvis leaned back confidently. “I hope this is what you wanted, Mr Tyler,” he said, the smug look on his face betraying that he was pretty sure it was.
“It’s fantastic.” Tyler beamed. “But I’m no expert in design. That’s why I appointed you. I just want the whole thing taken care of without being bothered by swatches of fabric and opinions on door handles. Which is why I brought this young man along; he has a flair for this kind of thing. Thoughts, Alexander?”
He could echo Tyler’s sentiments or be truthful. Tyler found it irritating when he was too vapid, so he decided to venture a mild opinion if pressed.
“It’s beautiful,” he murmured.
