by Evie Monroe
As for sex, I’d broken a new record by how long I’d gone without, and that wasn’t including the times I’d pleasured myself thinking about her. But memories were poor substitutes for some things.
Weed leaned in over my desk. “You’re a fool. She loves you. Do you think any of this has been easy on her? And I know you hate it. You’ve been moping around for weeks.”
“I wanted to ask her to stay, but I didn’t want to hold her back. She can do better on her own. She’ll be in her shop and be happy with her dad nearby.” I thought of the last time we’d made love. I wanted to kick myself when my last words to her were realized. I’d thanked her like she’d done me a favor. And even worse, she didn’t respond. I’d insulted her beyond words; beyond a reaction.
Weed slapped his hand on my desk as if to bring me to my senses. “You need to go get her, for fuck’s sake. Or send Nate. Hell, I’ll go. We know she still likes me.” Weed’s tone was slowly eating my fucking nerves, but only because what he was saying was making me want to rush right out to Lewistown and bring her back with me.
“I hate to say it, but you should go, Johnny. You two need to make up and get back together. Since you’re about to sign your life away to Victoria, perhaps she could help you lick your wounds.” The fact that Liss could comfort me was appealing, but then again, I wasn’t sure she’d want to.
I turned my head to Weed. According to him, he’d talked to her a few times since she went home. “Does she ever even ask about me?” I held my breath until he answered.
“Yes, every time.” He met my eyes, and he was full of sincerity.
I let loose a deep breath. “Look, all of this aside, if I start another label, are you two in? I need you both. I couldn’t have survived the past years without you.”
Nate glanced over to Weed, and I was surprised that they considered each other before responding.
I was suddenly insulted. “What? You two need a moment?” I pegged them both with a hard look.
Weed held up his hand as if he were about to testify. “No, I’m for it, but I want Liss.”
Nate met my eyes. “Me too. You were more bearable with her around.”
“I’ll consider it. On a professional level, of course.”
“Yeah, right.” Weed and Nate exchanged a look, and then my phone alarm went off.
I picked it up from my desk and dismissed the alarm. “Shit. It’s time to go. Wish me luck, men.” I left them and went outside knowing that it’d be the last time I’d come and go as a married man.
The drive over had me pondering many things. For one, I’d be single again, and even though it was a good feeling, and something I’d never want to do again with the wrong person, I knew I would marry Liss.
I closed my eyes and savored the memory of her until my driver pulled into the lot of the lawyer’s office. I’d avoided this day for years, so I took a deep breath before stepping out into the sun. I felt the heat on my skin and hoped there’d be no clouds when this was all over.
Victoria was waiting for me alone in the lawyer’s office when I arrived. I hoped she wouldn’t talk to me and make things worse, but I couldn’t be so lucky.
As I sat down, I glanced over at her and noticed she’d kept one of Liss’s scarves, and my heart sank knowing that once this divorce was final, and the company was sold, my connection to Liss through the collection, would be gone.
We’d done some amazing work together, and it was a shame it couldn’t have worked out.
“Don’t be so down, Johnny,” said Victoria. “It could be worse.” She giggled quietly. “Wait, no it can’t.” She slipped the scarf off from around her neck and fanned herself with it.
“I know you’re happy that you got your way, but you’ll never truly win.”
“I don’t know. I managed to destroy your relationship, it seems.” She smoothed down her hair and blew me a kiss.
“You might’ve, sure. But I still love her and not you. Never you, Victoria.”
“Like I care at this point. I’m about to take you for half of what you’re worth. In the end, I still have the best part of you.”
It was that moment that I knew I wasn’t done. And if I wanted to bring down this serpent, and her precious line, I’d have to get my partner in crime back for good.
We were a good team, Liss and me, and even if she didn’t want anything more, it’d be worth swallowing my pride to ask her back into my life.
Our lawyer came in, and before signing the divorce papers, I signed away my company to another owner. Mad Mode was finished, but I still had half my fortune and a lot of hope too. I only needed one thing.
Victoria wasted no time leaving to celebrate her victory, and I hurried out to call Nate and arrange my flight. I had to go back to Lewistown. Luckily my plane was not booked, so leaving on a whim was no problem.
I didn’t even make a stop at home, as I drove out to the airport. And two hours later, I was touching down on the small runway in Liss’s small town.
I waited at the airport for my Uber and laughed when I saw the guy was the same one from before. He took me right to Liss’s house, and when he pulled into the driveway, I noted that her little SUV wasn’t out front. She wasn’t home. But her father was.
I told Rob, my Uber driver, to stay put as I got out of the car.
Going to the door was almost as hard as signing my company away, but I lifted my hand and knocked, swallowing a big dose of my pride in the process.
For a moment, no one came to the door, and finally, I heard footsteps on the other side. The door opened, and Liss’s father greeted me with a frown.
“What do you want?” He narrowed his eyes. But I wasn’t a kid. I was a grown man and closer to being one of his peers than his daughter’s. I wasn’t going to let him intimidate me.
“I’ve come to see Liss.” I knew that was obvious, but I wasn’t sure what else to say.
“No shit. I thought you came to see me.” He opened the door wider and stepped back into the living room where he went to sit in a big leather recliner.
“Is she here?” I hoped that her car was in the garage or that she’d left it somewhere.
“Nope, so it looks like I’m all you get. Have a seat.” He pointed to the couch, and I let go of a breath and sat down.
“I’d hoped to talk to her about coming back to work for me. I’m prepared to keep it professional if that’s what she desires and pay her a healthy salary. She’s quite valuable to our team.” She was the glue that was holding us altogether according to Weed and Nate.
“She quit for a reason.” He reclined his chair, kicking his feet up, which seemed to put me at ease. “Now, she didn’t tell me what it was, but by the tears staining her cheeks when she showed up here, I think I have a pretty good idea it was your relationship that had messed her up.” His expression was grim, and I could tell by it that he’d rather eat glass than chew on anything I had to say.
“I know you don’t like me. And you think I’m not good enough, but I do love your daughter. I’m not going to pretend I don’t, and yes, I didn’t handle things right, not the first time. It was all my fault, but I never meant to hurt Liss.” I didn’t know what I could do or say to convince him, but I wasn’t about to beg the guy.
He looked across the room and eased forward in his chair as if he saw something he couldn’t believe. His mouth hung open as he reached for the remote control on the table next to him.
I glanced over as he turned up the volume on the TV that had his attention. Mad Fashion was the caption below the evening news reporter’s head.
“That’s your company, isn’t it? Looks like you’re more famous than I knew.” He still didn’t seem impressed, and in fact, it seemed as if that were yet another strike against me.
The blonde read her teleprompter as we listened. “Today Mad Mode’s very own, Johnny Hatter divorced his wife and fellow designer, Victoria Hatter, owner of Victory Fashions, and it was a victory indeed for one Italian company, Bold, who, in a bold move,
bought the Los Angeles based competitor for one-hundred-thirty million dollars. Mad Mode was founded in 2005 and was known for their bright colors and iconic double M logo. No word yet on what’s to come from Johnny Hatter, or if his days in fashion are over. In other news, Victoria Hatter’s new collection is now for sale—
Mr. Carroll turned the television off and shifted in his seat toward me. “What was it you said you wanted with my daughter?”
As he stared at me with his cold, hard eyes, I knew that the daggers he was throwing my way were only warning shots.
“I know this looks bad, but I can explain everything. You have to understand my side of things—"
“I don’t have to do anything. I know you say you love my daughter, but a relationship takes more than love. It takes work like any other investment. Now, I don’t even want to know why my daughter got mixed up with the likes of you, and I’m not sure I’ll never understand what she sees in you, being that you’re twice her age, but I do know one thing. She cared about you.”
“I know, and it hurts that I let her down and that I let her go. I should’ve asked her to stay with me. I didn’t.” I steepled my fingers and looked down to my feet.
“You know, Liss and I had never had a fight before you came along. We always agreed on everything. Or should I say, that she’d agree with me? Used to drive me crazy honestly. She didn’t like making decisions about anything. Not even simple ones. I’d have to push her every time. But not when you came along. She knew just what she wanted with you. I think that’s why I got so angry. I couldn’t influence her or make her change her mind. She wasn’t giving in to appease me.”
“I’m not sorry for that. I think she should be strong and make her own decisions. Even if they aren’t what I want. I think that’s why I let her go. Why I didn’t ask her to stay with me.”
“I don’t know what’s going to happen with you and my daughter. Hell, she might hate your guts and never want to see you again, which would be fine by me as well, but if she wants to be with you, I’ll be okay with that too. You bring something out in her. If she’s willing to tolerate you, I’ll support it. You can’t be all that bad if you have that effect on her.”
“Thank you, sir. You have no idea how much that means to me.” I put out my hand, and this time he shook it.
“Call me Daniel.” The man gave my hand a firm squeeze.
Chapter 24
Liss
Me and Sabrina had done a lot of catching up, and since I was her best friend and a wiz on the sewing machine, she’d recruited me to sew new curtains for her room.
She sat on the couch watching TV as I sat nearby at the dining table behind my machine. “I would’ve never thought to use bed sheets, and at least I don’t have to worry about matching my bedding.” I had helped her choose a coordinating set that matched her bedspread but still gave her room to change things up if she wanted.
“It’s an old trick I learned years ago. You save tons on yardage too, because thread count doesn’t make a difference on your windows. I’m almost finished.” I was proud I could help her, and it hadn’t been since working at Mad Mode that I’d felt useful.
Over the last month, I’d not taken on any new orders at the shop and had decided to close the place down. I had plenty of money and felt like taking a year off to clear my head and travel. I had plans to travel to New York, Paris, and Milan during their fashion week shows and wanted to send my dad and his new girlfriend on a cruise.
She got up and came over as I sewed the hem. “What do you think?” I handed her the last panel.
“You’re a genius, Liss. Thank you so much! They are going to look great.” She took them to the ironing board, and I stood a minute to stretch.
I looked up at the TV just in time to see the Mad Mode logo and hurried around to stand close and listen. The blonde reporter I’d watched for years was talking about Mad Mode selling out to Bold, and my heart sank.
“Liss? Did you know about that?” Sabrina stood just behind me and put her hand on my shoulder. I’d confided everything to her since my return and she knew how much the people of that company meant to me.
I couldn’t help but wonder what it would mean. Weed, Nate, the production workers, the organizers, they’d all be out of work. “I didn’t.” I hadn’t taken Johnny seriously when he’d said that Victoria was out to destroy the company, but it seemed as though her new line had done the trick. Offered in a wide array of colors instead of my dyed patterns she’d used for her show, the line had sold quite well.
“Shouldn’t you call someone? Don’t you still talk to that Weed guy?” She sat on the arm of the couch, and I went to my bag to take out my phone.
“I’ll call him. I feel so bad. I don’t know what he’ll do with himself now and Johnny, he has to be losing it. Nate could scout for another company, but I doubt Weed would even stay in the business without Johnny.”
The phone rang a long time, and just when I was about to hang up, I heard Weed’s voice. “Biscuit! How’s tricks?”
“I just saw the news; please tell me you’re okay.” I didn’t want my friend to be down.
“I’d be a lot better if you’d take Johnny up on his offer.”
“What offer?” I looked to Sabrina who seemed to be on pins and needles waiting to hear what was going on. She knew how important it was to me.
“Um, have you talked to him?” Panic had my heart racing.
“No, am I supposed to?”
“He’s flown out to see you, Liss. He should’ve been there a least an hour ago. Maybe he’s checking into a hotel or something. Are you home?”
“No, I’m at my friend’s house. Oh no, he may have gone to my house. Dad’s there.” Shit. I had to go.
“You should call him. Call me back when you get things worked out, Liss. And no matter what happens, I’ll respect your decision.” With that, he hung up the phone. My head was reeling.
I looked up from my phone to Sabrina who was just as lost as I was. “I don’t know what’s going on. But Johnny’s here in town. Or he should be. Look, if he goes to my house, there’s no telling what my father will do!”
“Go, girl!” She started jumping up and down. “He’s coming for you! It’s just like in a movie.”
“We don’t know what this is about, so let’s not get too excited.” I was only speaking for my benefit. My heart was pounding faster by the second knowing Johnny was coming. I’d missed him so much that it hurt my heart longing for him.
I grabbed my bag from the table and headed to the door. “I’ll get my machine later if that’s okay?”
“Yes, go!” Sabrina practically pushed me out the door, and I got in my car and checked myself in the rearview. My bright blue eyes were wild and smudged with mascara that I hadn’t taken off the night before. I had thrown my hair up in a ponytail for my day of shopping knowing we weren’t hitting any place too fancy in our small town.
I thought of Johnny showing up at my house and hoped I wouldn’t pull up to the place and find my father and him fighting out on the lawn.
It took forever to cross town and knowing I didn’t need a traffic ticket, I slowed down for the usual speed traps and hauled ass where it counted. I turned onto my street noticing a car parked outside my house. I waved to the Uber driver I recognized from before and then turned to the house which was eerily quiet.
I listened carefully for the sounds of shouting voices as I approached the door and when I didn’t hear any, I wondered if that were a good thing or a bad thing. I held my breath as I opened the door and stepped inside. I turned to the living room where I could see my father sitting in the recliner, and a few more steps revealed Johnny sitting on the sofa all in one piece.
“Come on in, honey. You’ve got company.” Johnny got to his feet as I walked into the room and gave Daddy a nervous glance and a shrug.
“I hope it’s okay to be here. I need to talk to you about some things.”
“I saw the news. I’m sorry about your company. I k
now how much it meant to you.”
“Not as much as some things, Alice.” Hearing him call me by my full name made me think of our most intimate times, and I blushed, turning my eyes to my father to gauge his reaction.
“I’m going to leave you two alone,” Dad said, putting down his footstool on his recliner.
“No, Daddy. You stay put. Johnny and I will take a drive.” I rattled my keys and turned around to head back to the door.
Behind me Johnny’s voice was low. “Thank you, sir. Wish me luck.” I turned to see my father pat him on the back and shook my head. What the hell is going on?
I went out and unlocked the car as he went to grab his bags and pay the patient driver he’d kept sitting. Then he stepped up to the passenger side. “What’s that all about? You and my father?”
He glanced back to the house and got in the car, sliding into the seat beside me. “I’ve spent the last forty minutes talking to him. I think we’ve reached an understanding.”
“An understanding. That’s nice. So, what happened with the company? Did Victoria make good on her promises.” I started the car and backed out into the street and then headed for the main road. I had no idea where I was headed, but it didn’t matter. Driving gave me something to stay focused on and hopefully it would keep me from losing it.
“I signed for my divorce and honored her wishes for me to sell the company so we could divide the earnings.”
“Why not just buy her out?” I glanced over, and my heart did a flip. Why did he have to be so freaking hot?
“I felt it was time to let it go, besides, I didn’t want to fight her on it. I realized I wanted to start something new.” He shifted in his seat, angling to face me.
“Something new? What about Weed and Nate? Are they going to be a part of this ‘something new’ also? Did you ever consider what would happen to them after you took their jobs away?”
I turned my head and gave him a quick glance only to find him giving me a blank stare.
“You make it sound as if I’d be leaving them with nothing?” He chuckled. “They will both make out fine once the business deal is done with Bold, but both have millions all of their own. They stay with me because they love their jobs, Liss. It gives them both something to do, something to be a part of.”