I sip the champagne again, looking at the beautiful twinkling garden. I was so ignorant as a child. When I met Ethan, I had been in college, working towards my career, and there he was, so handsome and aloof and interested in someone like me, someone whose own family barely acknowledged her.
I had been besotted.
I’d been so sure he was my Prince Charming, come to save me from the life I had led. In the weeks that followed, I had shared my hopes and dreams with him, my aspirations. I had loved him the way only a naïve girl could love her first love.
I doubt Ethan ever understood how deeply he broke me that night. In one sweeping moment, he finally made me believe every harsh word my mother ever told me.
‘Some people were simply not meant to be loved.’
I had been ten years old when she first told me that.
The child I had been could not understand what she meant. The woman I am now understands. It’s something about me, something broken and unlovable.
Wet laughter bubbles out of me. I tilt my head back and stare at the night sky, trying to will my tears away. I wanted to have a huge family, like I told Ethan. I wanted to have so manychildren. I wanted to love them. I wanted a house—ahome, filled with the sounds of little feet running around. I wanted everything my childhood was not.
What a foolish, little pipedream.
Closing my eyes, I lean my head against the wall, the chilled stone a welcome sensation against my heated skin.
“Maybe I should just leave. I can always sell off my jewelry. Pay him back and be free of all of this.”
I hear the voice before I sense the presence: “Whose jewelry are you selling?”
My eyes fly open, and I see a familiar face.
“Mr. Blake?”
Standing before me is Roland Blake, the man Ethan introduced to me as his biggest investor. I’m about to get to my feet when he shakes his head and sits down beside me with a small groan. “These corporate gatherings are simply not for me. All these people chattering in my ear, trying to bleed my wallet.”
He settles down, gripping his cane, his knuckles white around the intricately carved handle. “I didn’t think anybody would be sitting out here.”
Flushing, I try to stand up. “If you want to be alone, I can?—”
He stops me before I can stand up, pulling me back down quite easily. “Sit. I would appreciate the company. You’re Ethan’s Head of Human Resources, aren’t you?”
I nod. “We met in his office, and I heard you visited my office a few days ago.”
He laughs now, that same booming sound I remember. “Oh, dear. It seems I’ve been caught. I did visit your office, but you wouldn’t see me.”
“I wasn’t in the office, Mr. Blake.” I give him an apologetic smile. “I also oversee the HR management of the manufacturing plant. I was at the factory. If I had known you wanted to see me, I would have canceled my visit.”
He beams at me. “It’s no problem. I’ll come by again someday.”
I blink at him warily. “Is there something you need from me?”
He shrugs, gripping his cane with both hands. “I feel I was a little rude to you last time. Just a tad bit abrupt. I wanted to take you out to lunch to apologize.”
I gave him a horrified look. “Apologize? To me? You don’t have to do that. And you weren’t rude. I’m sorry if I gave you the impression that I thought you were?—”
He waves off my apology. “No, I felt bad. I’m an old man, Miss Thorne?—”
“You can call me Natalie,” I say quickly.
“Well, Natalie.” He gives me a warm smile. “I’m an old man, and at this age when a thought settles in your head, it doesn’t go away. I won’t be able to relax till I’ve taken you out to a nice lunch and made up for my rudeness.”
I don’t remember him being rude. I had thought his behavior had been strange, showing up and leaving so suddenly but I had certainly not been offended by it. But for him to feel so badly over it?—
“I really don’t need?—”
