She turned and left the room. She grabbed her laptop, then headed past the living room and bar to their bedroom. Carefully, she tucked the computer into its bag. Her hand was shaking as she zipped the flash drive into a pocket of her purse.
Moving almost mechanically, she took the time to change out of her yoga clothes. A pair of jeans and a knit top made her feel more like her old self. Her throat was thick as she tugged on her boots.
She stared at the dresser for ever. The dresser with her drawer … which had become two. When she felt herself wavering, she turned towards the closet instead.
It was time to get to work.
She was halfway through the hangers when Alex poked his head into the bedroom. Elena lifted her chin. She hadn’t tried to be quiet, and the rustling couldn’t be helped.
His gaze immediately latched on to her suitcase. It was open on the bed and full of clothes. His eyes turned flinty, and his lips flattened. ‘What’s this?’
His stoic phase had come and gone long ago. He couldn’t hide his feelings from her any more.
She folded her black suit carefully and tucked it in the bag. ‘I’m going away for a while.’
He was leaning in the doorway, braced against the doorjamb. His posture didn’t change, but everything else about him did. His body stiffened and the air snapped. ‘Why?’
‘Because I can’t breathe here.’
She forced herself to face the dresser. Rummaging through her drawer, she found the black lace lingerie. She hesitated for a moment, her breath shaky, and chose something simpler.
His voice took on a measured patience. ‘Elena, I’ve told you. It has to be this way, at least for a while.’
‘And I don’t agree.’ She packed her toiletry bag. She was about to zip up the suitcase when she thought of something. It made her chest ache, but she couldn’t leave it behind.
‘We could have a picnic lunch on the roof.’ His words were coming more quickly. ‘It’s supposed to clear up later on.’
She looked at him sadly as she returned to the closet.
‘A walk around the block.’ He dragged a hand through his hair. ‘Smith and Hanson will have to accompany us.’
Her resolve strengthened. ‘I’ve lived in hiding, Alex, and I’m done. It can’t be us against the world any more. We need to find a way to coexist.’
‘Elena.’
She took a hanger off the rod. He paled when he saw the hoodie. It impelled him out of the doorway and he stood over her, hands on his hips. For once, the all-powerful Ax looked helpless, as if he didn’t know what to say to keep her.
She folded the hoodie with the utmost care. More than anything, she wanted to put it on, but in comforting herself she would hurt him. She was already doing enough of that.
The air was raw with emotion.
‘I know you think you’re protecting me, Alex, but the world needs us out there in it. Things are difficult right now, but you need to get back to work. Go back to Wolfe Pack. Do good things.’
‘I’m trying,’ he ground out.
She zipped up the bag and pulled it to the floor. He reached to help her, but then stopped himself.
Elena hooked the computer bag over her shoulder. Gathering the rest of her things, she walked past him. The walk down the hallway to the penthouse’s front door was the longest she’d ever taken. Her eyes were damp, and her breaths were pummelling her lungs. She didn’t want to do this, but she had to. The roller case clattered along after her, the wheels sounding loud in the quiet apartment. It couldn’t compete with the roaring in her head.
‘Elena, please.’ He caught her shoulder. ‘Don’t.’
She looked him in the eye, even when a tear slipped out and trailed down her cheek. ‘I love you, Alex, but I can’t live like this.’
She opened the front door before she could change her mind. Vasquez was waiting in the foyer. His astute eyes measured the situation.
‘Vasquez,’ Alex warned.
The bodyguard’s jaw turned rock hard. ‘I’m sorry, sir. Your orders.’
The wiry man took the roller bag and planted himself firmly at her side. ‘What the lady wants, the lady gets.’
It wasn’t what Elena wanted, but this was the way it had to be. Something had to break them out of this self-defeating cycle. It was up to her.
Still, it took everything she had to leave behind the man she loved.
Chapter Fifteen
Alex wasn’t doing well.
He knew it, but there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. He missed Elena like hell. He couldn’t sleep. All the doors in his place stood wide open. Project Alpha Wolfe had become Project Dead Dog. He’d been taking out his frustrations in the gym, but he was working out so hard, his body was starting to break down. He’d run on the treadmill so long the other day, he’d barely been able to walk when he’d gotten off it.
He stared out of the window of the penthouse with his hand fisted against the glass. Everything she’d said had been the truth. Right, dead-eye centre of the target. He had to grow back that thick skin that she’d peeled away. He needed to toughen up and turn a deaf ear to all the critics. He knew that, but they’d come at him through his soft underbelly.
They’d gone after her.
They’d noticed just as quickly that she was gone.
He’d stayed in the apartment for another two days after she’d left, but his claustrophobia had expanded until even the entire top floor of the building had seemed too small. When she’d been in the penthouse, he’d had everything he needed. Once she’d walked out that door, the walls had pressed in. He’d gone back to work, and he’d even cut the ribbon at the public opening of the wolf exhibit at the Bronx Zoo.
All the news stories, though, had focused on why a pretty young brunette was no longer at his side. Fortunately, she’d turned into the sympathetic figure Caroline Woodward had predicted. Nobody blamed her for leaving The Ax behind.
He was the only one who felt split in two.
She’d told him that she loved him. She just couldn’t live with him.
Not many people could. He was finding it difficult these days to be around himself. She’d been gone two weeks. An eternity. He should just let it be.
He couldn’t.
Turning away from the view of the New York City skyline, he swept up his jacket. He put it on and smoothed it. He tugged at the cuffs and lifted his chin. ‘Let’s go.’
Vasquez was waiting just inside the door. When Alex moved out into the elevator lobby, the bodyguard nodded at the briefcase on the bar. ‘Will you be needing that?’
‘Not today.’
The ride in the elevator was silent, and James was waiting with the car on the street. Vasquez swept the area before letting Alex slide into the back seat. The Bentley pulled away from the kerb, its well-tuned engine nearly silent. Traffic was already busy. James put on his blinker, but was having trouble getting over into the next lane.
‘We’re not going to the office today,’ Alex instructed. ‘Head to NYU. The economics building is on West 4th.’
‘Sir?’ Vasquez said sharply.
Alex looked out the window. ‘I’m not going to make a scene. I just want to support her. It’s her big day.’
The stern man nodded.
Alex looked at his watch when James reached the edge of campus. They were early, but she would be, too. Knowing her, time would feel as if it were dragging by. She was ready for this. She’d been diligent in her work, and she’d sacrificed so much. He knew she was going to knock it out of the park.
He slid on his sunglasses as he and his bodyguard walked across the campus’s white sidewalk. In a world where students cruised around in jeans and sweatshirts, they stood out. He took no interest in the hive-like activity around him, and the realisation made him take a deep breath.
It wasn’t really the world he’d been avoiding.
He knew what building she was in and the front office gave directions to the room where she would be defending her researc
h. He headed to the third floor, but his steps slowed when he heard the growing chatter. His jaw clenched. Vasquez sent him a questioning look, but he shook his head. They weren’t turning around now.
Vasquez pulled out his cell.
The bodyguard took the lead. His sharp eyes took in the situation. Reporters were gathered everywhere with their cameramen.
The balding newspaperman was the first to see them. ‘Mr Wolfe.’
A collective gasp went up. People fumbled with their equipment, and Vasquez made the most of the opportunity. Acting like the tip of the spear, he made his way towards the conference room.
Alex summoned his control and looked straight ahead.
‘Are you here to wish Ms Bardot luck?’ a reporter called.
‘Are you two back together?’ another asked.
Questions flew left and right, but the crowd parted to let him through the doorway. They followed him inside and the small passageway soon bottlenecked. They didn’t just want a shot of him on campus. The money shot would be of him and Elena together.
At the ruckus, the university representatives turned. Disapproving looks settled on their faces. It was a public oral examination, but they would not put up with a disruption.
Reporters quickly began claiming seats. Alex looked around the space. It was one of those large, stately academic rooms with tall windows that climbed high up the twelve-foot walls. The moulding was ornate, and the smell of books hung in the air. A projector screen had been set up at the front of the room. His gaze settled upon a familiar laptop on the podium. It was already hooked up and ready to go.
He spotted Elena immediately. Like a magnet, he felt her pull. She was heads-down, going through her printout one last time. She was studiously avoiding looking at the audience, but from the stiff set of her shoulders she knew what she was about to face.
It wasn’t fair. Most PhD candidates went through this alone or with a few fellow students in the room. Speaking before the evaluation committee was stressful enough, but she had to face a crowd of media. Everything she said, every move she made, would be broadcast by lunchtime. He scowled at the row of distinguished-looking professors from the Economics Department. They’d better not give her a hard time or NYU would see his charitable donations drop next semester.
He noticed Dr Walters, but the professor was headed over to the large audience that had formed. Behind him, Alex heard the man start laying ground rules.
Good.
He took advantage of the opportunity and headed up to the podium. Behind him, he heard a hush come over the room. ‘Elena?’
Her head spun around and her hair swung forward over her shoulder. ‘Alex?’
For a moment, excitement lit her face. She looked young, fresh and full of life, but then she caught herself. She paled when she saw the packed room and her hand went to her stomach. ‘What are you doing here?’
The reaction made his jaw clench. He caught her by the elbow and pulled her behind the projection screen where they could have some privacy. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring them here.’
She shook her head. ‘They were here before you. Caroline Woodward is in the front row.’
Alex jerked in surprise. His fists clenched and he leaned back to look. Elena caught him before he could make a scene.
‘I’ll deal with her,’ she promised.
He let out a frustrated breath. None of this was going the way he’d planned. ‘I’m not here to upset you. I just wanted to wish you luck and give you this.’
He pulled a jewellery box out of his pocket. He’d had it for weeks.
She looked at the velvet-covered box, her eyes widening.
‘It’s a graduation present.’
Her shoulders relaxed, but she threw a look back at the academics who were still in view. Seeing that they were busy in a heated discussion about the overcrowding, she tilted her head at him. ‘Alex, you didn’t have to.’
‘Of course I did.’ He put the box in her hand. ‘Open it.’
Her hands shook as she opened the clamshell box and she let out a tiny gasp. Her gaze snapped up to his and back to the box. She pressed her fingers to her mouth.
He took out the necklace and undid the clasp. ‘You can wear it for luck.’
He moved around behind her. Her hair was gathered back in the gold clip. She held the dark curtain of it aside as he threaded the dainty gold loop through the latch at the back of her neck. She touched the necklace where it lay between her breasts. He’d had an artisan specially craft the black diamond pendant in the shape of a wolf’s paw.
‘It reminds me of Siren,’ she said.
‘I saw her the other day.’
‘Did you? How is she?’
‘Growing fast.’
She took a breath that shook her shoulders. He slid his hands down her arms, but stepped back. Maybe it hadn’t been a good idea to come. He was piling stress upon stress. ‘I’ll go.’
‘No, don’t. Please.’ She glanced towards the long table where the committee was lined up like a firing squad. Her hand fisted around the necklace. ‘I’m so nervous.’
‘Dr Walters will keep control of the room.’
‘Not about that.’
He stuffed his hands in his pockets to keep from reaching for her again. She’d gotten past the reporters easier than he had. They weren’t her concern; it was the presentation. ‘Don’t be. You’ve worked hard. You know your material.’
She looked at him with those big, scared doe eyes. ‘What if it’s not strong enough?’
‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
Behind them, someone cleared their throat. Looking over his shoulder, Alex saw Dr Walters. The man was pointing at his watch.
Elena’s breath caught and her voice tightened. ‘It’s time.’
He gave in and squeezed her hand. ‘Good luck, baby. Knock ’em dead.’
Alex felt the eyes upon him as he walked to the seating area. Cameras were clicking fast and video recorders were rolling. There was only one seat left. His jaw clenched. They’d left him a seat next to Caroline Woodward from WABC News. She smirked up at him.
The bastards.
He spotted Vasquez along the back wall. The university’s Department of Public Safety were lined up next to him, ready to handle any disruptions.
Alex smoothed his face and put a lockdown on the snake slithering inside his chest. Not-so-sweet Caroline was not going to rile him today. He sat down beside her in the hard wooden chair.
‘Mr Wolfe,’ she said gleefully.
‘Ms Woodward.’
The head of the committee raised her voice. ‘Silence, please. We’re ready to get started. Ms Bardot, if you would.’
Elena nodded politely and gestured to the screen where her presentation was showing. She began to talk and Alex eased back. The chair was rigid and uncomfortable. Trying to find a more relaxed position, he hooked an ankle over the opposite knee. He drummed his fingers against his thigh as she got started and felt Caroline’s gaze take in the nervous gesture.
He couldn’t help it. Elena was nervous. She was talking too fast and her voice sounded high and tight. Her blank stare was skittering along the audience and off the back wall. He finally caught her eye. Their gazes locked and he took a deep breath. She did the same. He nodded at her and her shoulders relaxed. She slowed down. Gathered herself.
Addressing her audience, she finally got into her flow.
She began going through slides, and his pride in her grew. The subject was dry, but she was doing what she could to spice it up. Some reporters took notes, but others just watched. The sexy suit was probably the reason for that. It was black, with a modern edge, yet so professional the edges looked like they could cut steel. The fit was tailored and the style didn’t require a blouse underneath. It emphasized the black diamonds that lay nestled between her curves.
Curves that were supported by some kind of sexy lingerie, he was sure. Was it the black lace? The innocent pink? He shifted on the hard seat. Whatever it w
as, he’d bought it for her. That thought alone was enough to make him rock hard.
From that point on, the crowd of reporters just disappeared. They didn’t matter now.
‘I began by looking at Case A, which followed market trends,’ she was saying.
So this was what she’d been doing all those hours she’d spent alone in the lake house. He ground his teeth together. Would they still be together if they hadn’t left the manor? Or would he have driven her away from there, too?
‘I tracked all the known market indicators,’ she continued.
She’d said she loved him.
The snake that always sat inside his chest hissed. It was impatient. It wanted him to make things right.
He wanted her back.
She loved him, but she’d left him. If he could just come to grips with the way things were, could he convince her to give him another chance? The world might just see the rotten image they’d created of him, but she’d dug beneath the surface once.
She pulled up another colourful chart. ‘I then turned to Case B, the Wolfe Financial scenario.’
Alex’s ears perked up and his attention focused like a laser. He read the chart more closely, and his long body unfolded. He planted both feet on the floor and gripped the arms of the chair.
Next to him, Caroline started taking notes furiously.
‘I tracked the very same indicators,’ Elena said, her enthusiasm mounting. She was addressing the evaluation committee directly now. It wasn’t a student trying to impress her teachers. She’d gone beyond that and was so immersed in her subject, she’d become the expert. ‘You’ll notice the trend is the same, however the variance is more pronounced. This made me question if the deviation was something that could be quantified.’
Alex’s heart began to beat a bit faster. She hadn’t just been reading textbooks down at her lake house office and thinking in hypotheticals, she’d dug into a real-life scenario.
Her life.
And his.
He looked at the chart on the screen. Unlike most of the reporters in the room, he understood exactly what it meant. She’d analysed the scandal that had put him in a cell and knocked her to the ground.
He homed in on the sound of her voice until the room felt hollow around him. Every muscle in his body was clenched until his bones ached. His brain raced as he listened to the theory behind her work. She was more advanced than he was in the area. Hell, the committee was looking at her with stunned expressions.
Solace in Scandal Page 23