by Frost, Sosie
The hesitance nearly drove me to my knees.
Because I felt it too. Every word of it.
Every pain in his voice, every anxious fear in confessing those beautiful words.
But I couldn’t repeat them.
Not now.
“It’s over Cameron.” My voice trembled.
He didn’t believe it. “Tell me you love me.”
I shook my head so violently it dizzied me. “I won’t.”
“Tell me you love me, Mackenza.” He lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “If you can tell me that you don’t love me, I’ll let you walk away right now. But you’ve gotta tell me the truth. You’ve got to admit those feelings for me that you try so goddamned hard to deny. You have to tell me that baby growing inside you doesn’t represent everything chaotic and imperfect and absolutely incredible about what we feel for each other. Tell me I’m wrong, and you can walk away. But you and I both know you’ll never take that first step.”
The room swirled, and I fought to catch even one deep breath. “Don’t test me, Cameron.”
“I’m in love with you, Kenza.”
I closed my eyes. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because you’re the only thing that’s ever-brought meaning to my life,” he said. “Not the money. Not the accomplishments. Not the power. You. Tell me you love me.”
I tasted the words. Sweet, perfectly crisp and luscious words that could so easily tumble from my parted lips had I only the air to whisper them.
Instead, I broke away from him, shuffling toward the door.
“I must be in love with you…” I struggled to keep my head raised, to retain some semblance of pride, dignity, and integrity as I stripped myself bare and cloaked myself and lies. The tears fell, and I turned away before he could see them. “Because right now? My heart is broken.”
The door closed behind me.
And I lost the only man I’d ever loved.
21
Mackenza
Daddy popped a celebratory bottle of champagne, and I ducked before the cork smacked me in the nose.
Mom wasn’t as quick. The cork bopped her in the forehead before plunking into her recently emptied daiquiri glass.
My parents cheered.
I might’ve managed a twitch of a smile, a motion half-between a grimace, stifled yawn, and hidden gas.
I buried my feet in the warm sand of the private beach outside of my parents’ retirement home—a modest, but luxurious, beach house made mostly of glass, wicker furniture, and fifty years of strenuous, thankless work at Maxwell Intimates.
Turquoise water lapped the pearled sand, and a sweet Hawaiian breeze tickled the palms surrounding the property.
My parents had found a slice of paradise for themselves that rivaled even Heaven. Warm waters, cool drinks, and the most time I’d spent with either of them in the same room without business emails and calls interrupting dinner every five minutes.
I should’ve been ecstatic.
Instead, I’d never been so miserable.
Daddy poured Mom a glass of champagne, and then he offered me a small tumbler of freshly squeezed pineapple juice.
He winked. “No champagne for you, I should think. Not for a while.”
I toasted him with a nod. “This is fine, Daddy.”
His proud smile warmed his face. The invasion of his gray hairs and thin lines near his eyes had slowed. He sunk deeper into the stark white chaise lounger and soaked up the sun as he inspected me head to toe.
“I can’t believe my baby is all grown up,” he said.
All grown up…only to make the worse decisions of her life.
“Yep. That’s me.” My finger chased a stray droplet of pineapple juice down the outside of the glass. “Ready to face the world.”
It was a lie.
I’d just flown halfway across the world to abandon my problems and hide in a tropical paradise. Unfortunately, I couldn’t hide much of anything in the blinding sunshine and warm water—and I could hide even less from my parents.
A weeklong vacation from Ironfield wasn’t going to eliminate the pain, but I’d hoped it’d dull it at least.
Wasn’t the first time I’d been wrong.
I still had no idea if I’d made the right decision for my future or the worst choice for my heart.
Months ago, Mom had drowned herself in champagne on the night of Daddy’s retirement party. She’d stayed liquored up ever since, lounging on the beach in a wide-brimmed straw hat that shadowed her red polka-dotted bikini. She’d lost weight since moving to Hawaii, and she had regained her carefree temperament.
For a family so dedicated to the business, Mom practically danced on her beach towel, so tickled to be finally free of the company.
“Mackenza, I am so glad you made it out here.” She sloshed her drink as she leaned over to tuck my hair behind her ear. That was fine. She had the rest of the bottle to enjoy. “Now that the business is settled, you can focus on yourself and the baby. No more meetings. No more budgets. No more fashion shows and designers and boards.”
“But I like those things,” I said.
“Did you? Or did you think that’s what you wanted?” Mom knew me better than I knew myself.
“It seemed like the right path.”
“You’ve spared yourself a life of stress, deadlines, and disasters.”
I didn’t believe that. “I had it all figured out.”
“Was the baby part of that plan too?” Mom peeked over her sunglasses at me, giggling with glee. “Not that I’m complaining. I never thought you’d find someone to tickle your fancy, especially working your hours with your dedication. I’m just thrilled I get to have a grandbaby!”
“Can you imagine?” Daddy whistled at Mom, gazing over her dark curves. “A woman as young as her. A grandmother.”
She giggled. “Oh, Reginald. You’re such a sweet-talker.”
“Only ‘cause you make me that sweet.”
I buried my feet deeper in the sand, twisting my toes into the cool depths. If only I could’ve plunged my head in there as well.
When I was a kid, I might’ve groaned and averted my eyes when they flirted—if Daddy had enough time, energy, and patience to flirt. But now?
They were happy together. Finally. No more dinners over the kitchen sink. No more juggling the company bills into their personal overdrafts. No more tense, hushed-breathed fights when they I thought I’d gone to bed.
They’d found a new peace in their retirement, and it’d rekindled everything they’d nearly lost.
And God help me…I envied them for it.
Daddy had a sixth-sense for when my thoughts turned rocky. He settled next to me, brushing a hand along my cheek.
“Spill it, Kenza. You haven’t smiled once since arriving. Are you worried about the baby?”
I rubbed my tummy. It wasn’t just my imagination anymore. The bump was definitely prominent, proudly pressing against the lightweight, coral sundress I’d sewn just before my flight.
It wasn’t the golden gown that Cameron so loved, but the dress was a perfect maternity ensemble. Simple, elegant, and stretchy enough to be comfortable. Perfect for showing off Baby.
“No,” I said. “I’m excited about him or her. It’s just…”
“Just?”
“Just the daddy that worries me.”
Mom tisked, lowering her drink so she could focus entirely on meddling in my life.
And I welcomed her advice.
“You should’ve invited Cameron out here with you,” she said. “Just call him now. He’ll be on his jet in an instant, and you’ll have all week to get everything out in the open. Make a plan.”
I kicked my toes out of the sand, narrowly avoiding the pinchers of an inconvenienced little crab.
“I don’t know if we have anything left to discuss,” I said.
Mom hmphed. “My daughter is smarter than this. There’s nothing to be gained by pretending like you have no responsibilities.”
“I wanted more responsibilities. He’s the reason I don’t have them. I’m not even sure I could look at him right now.”
Mom giggled. “May I? I always thought Cameron was handsome.”
“Careful,” I warned her. “That’s how you get into trouble.”
“Believe me, I know, honey.” Mom gestured toward Daddy. “I fell for a cute face twenty-seven years ago, and I’m still trying to get out of trouble to this day.”
Daddy frowned. “Now you take that back. I chased you all over hell’s half-acre to get you to settle down with me.”
“And you’d still be chasing even if I’d said no.”
“It’d make me work harder.”
They actually rubbed noses before kissing each other.
“I’m already nauseated enough…” I hid my face in my hands. “You’ve got plenty of rooms in that new beach house…”
Daddy laughed, deep and booming. “Don’t you scold us for being lovey just because you’re too damned stubborn to admit how you feel for that man. Why exactly are you fighting with Cameron?”
He could take his pick.
Cameron had ruined my future plans.
He’d destroyed the family legacy.
He’d broken his promise to keep the company safe from sale.
And he made me love him despite it all.
“We’re very different people,” I said. “And we want very different things in life.”
Daddy’s eyebrows waggled. The caterpillars didn’t believe me.
“I thought you’d compliment each other,” he said.
“Compliment?” I nearly laughed. “We couldn’t be in the same room without getting into a fight.”
Mom hummed into her champagne. “Must’ve done something other than fight to find yourself in this predicament.”
Oh, not the conversation I wanted to have with them.
“Just because we were compatible doesn’t mean he was the right man for me.”
Daddy disagreed. “Ridiculous. There’s never been a smarter match for you.”
Then he didn’t know Cameron Mitchell as well as he thought.
“He’s impulsive,” I said. “Takes too many risks.”
“And you’ve never taken a chance once in your life.” Daddy frowned. “Always walked the safe path.”
“Safe?” I stood, welcoming the warm breeze tangling in my hair. The scent of salt and ocean swirled with the fruity bubbles of the champagne. “I’ve taken the only path. I’ve worked my butt off to save the company.”
Daddy met my gaze. “All so you could take the reins one day.”
“Yes.”
“So that you wouldn’t need to head out into the world, make your own mistakes, and find a place for yourself outside of this family.”
That didn’t make any sense. “This is where I belong. With the Maxwells, with the company. I’ve always loved everything about the family and our business.”
Daddy’s voice lowered, edging into that corporate tone he’d left behind in Ironfield.
“And if you truly loved the company, you’d know why we needed to sell.” He interrupted me with a raised hand. “The company is old. Our styles outdated. Our wares lost in a sea of cheap competition from the internet. We could no longer compete.”
I expected the defeatism from Cameron, not Daddy.
“I could’ve made it work,” I said.
“You would’ve failed. The company was on the verge of bankruptcy when we installed Cameron. Even his money couldn’t keep us afloat, and I refused to impose on his generosity any longer.”
“Impose?” I asked. “What are you talking about?”
Mom tilted her head. “Didn’t Cameron tell you about the money?”
“What money?”
Daddy’s brow furrowed, crinkling in confusion. “Cameron’s the one who’s been paying for your penthouse in Ironfield.”
Oh dear God.
I sunk into my chair, more than a little afraid the heavy thunk would bounce me onto my butt in the sand.
And maybe that’s where I belonged, where I could just wait for the ocean to creep up the beach and wash me away.
“You let him pay for the penthouse?” I asked.
Daddy shrugged. “Didn’t have a choice. Our finances were so tangled in the company we couldn’t let loose what was left of our stock and investments without sinking the price and losing the potential buyers. We didn’t have the cash to support you.”
“Damn it, Daddy. I told you to let me pay for myself.”
“You weren’t taking a salary from the company. And you couldn’t afford any other place in the city. You’re a good designer, Kenza, but you were working such long hours. You would’ve been able to do any commissions at the same time.”
I would’ve found a way.
“So, you asked Cameron?” I hissed.
“Asked him for far more than what was reasonable,” he said. “He floated us enough money so that we could afford our house out here and you could keep a roof over your head…though had I known the extent of your relationship, we probably could’ve skipped your penthouse.”
“And he agreed to this?”
“Kept it quiet too—loaned us the money on the contingency of selling the company,” Daddy said. “Why do you think we pushed so hard for the sale?”
“You never said you wanted to sell.”
Daddy heaved a forlorn sigh and balanced his drink in the soft sand. “It was always the plan, Kenza. But I knew you wouldn’t understand the decisions, and, on some off chance the company survived, you never would’ve found out. I couldn’t get out of this mess without help, so I proposed the merger to Cameron Mitchell.”
“Because you didn’t trust me to do it.”
“Listen to me. We needed to sell the company, but I’m not heartless. I wanted to protect our family name too. That’s why I knew when the time came, it couldn’t be a Maxwell at the helm. Even if you had all the experience in the world, even if you’d been perfect for the job, I wouldn’t have made you CEO. Think of how it might’ve looked for you—the Maxwell who couldn’t handle the pressure and folded like the company. I did this to protect you. To spare your reputation so you could always find more work in the fashion industry. Now, designers and companies will take a chance on you. But if you had been the one to declare bankruptcy and lose a fifty-year-old legacy…”
This only made the headache worse.
Especially when I realized the truth.
“What about Cameron’s reputation?” I asked. “What about his future?”
“It’s not like Cameron was going to stay in the fashion industry forever. He was installed to save and make money, not to spin gold out of straw. He’s done this with countless other companies in other industries, and no one would fault a man like him for making the right business decision.”
I frowned. “He promised me he wouldn’t sell.”
Daddy glanced away, but it earned a harrumph from Mom. He awkwardly shrugged.
“Let’s just say…he was easily persuaded,” Daddy said. “Just gotta know which carrot to dangle.”
I didn’t understand. Daddy patted my hand.
“I might be retired, but that doesn’t mean I can’t look out for the best interest of the company. So…I might’ve talked to Bonne Chance a month ago. Got the ball rolling.”
“He couldn’t help himself,” Mom said. “He’s going around, making secret deals, calling people in the middle of the night organizing clandestine deals. I don’t know how many times I told him, your retirement looks the same as your old job, Reginald.”
Reginald.
I stood, pounding my feet so hard into the sand I was sure I made concrete, especially as the truth rooted me in place.
I stared at my father, eyes wide. “You’re the one who made the deal? You’re Mr. R?”
“Oh.” He poked at Mom. “I have a nickname now.”
“How could you?”
Daddy held his hands up. “You should kn
ow Cameron fought me tooth and nail on this decision. I even threatened to remove him as CEO and replace him with someone the Board could trust in order to facilitate the sale. When he wouldn’t budge, I had to take initiative.”
“What did you do?”
Daddy scratched the back of his head with a shamed sigh. “Cameron Mitchell has a reputation for chasing something exciting, like a cat with a laser pointer. So…I pointed the laser.”
“At what?”
“Wrynn Radcliff.”
My frustration escaped in a growled huff. Mom skipped the glass and took a swig from the champagne bottle.
“Reginald, you’ve done it now,” Mom said. “Stop upsetting your daughter. She’s in a sensitive condition.” She met my gaze with a mischievous glance. “That Wrynn is a strange one…but my goodness, is he attractive. The man probably wants to leave the planet just to escape the flocks of women chasing him.”
Daddy shushed her with a jealous snort. “It’s obvious Cameron is head over heels in love with Kenza. I knew he wouldn’t do anything to upset her—including selling the company. So, I gave him that push. A little wanderlust. I called in a favor and send Radcliff his way, figuring that Astrix business of his would look pretty shiny to our boy.”
I wasn’t amused. “I can’t believe you’d meddle like this.”
“Meddle?” Daddy laughed. “Cameron didn’t take the bait. He refused Radcliff’s every offer.”
“Cameron told me Wrynn was looking for investors.”
“Investors, sure. But he wanted Cameron to be the ringleader. Offered him a massive stake in the company—stock, partnerships, executive management, the works. Cameron refused, and I knew he did it for you. His head might be in the clouds, but his heart belongs to you, Kenza.” Daddy narrowed his eyes. “You didn’t know any of this, did you?”
“…No.”
Mom cooed. “Oh. He was trying to protect her.”
“The damned idiot,” I murmured. I sunk into my chair, head in my hands. “I’ve made a huge mistake.”
“Nothing you can’t fix.” She soothed me with a gentle hum.
“What’s there to fix? I left him. I accused him of horrible things.”