by K. A. Linde
It had been the tensest month and a half of Lexi’s life. Ramsey had kept trying to reassure her that nothing had happened, and she had really wanted to believe him. God, did she want to believe him. He had kept telling her to trust him. After all the lies, she hadn’t known what to do.
They’d had a long-distance relationship for an entire year. It hadn’t been easy, and they had been apart a lot. He’d had a million opportunities to be with someone else. She hadn’t thought he had, but the seed of doubt had just kept cropping up.
What if the kid was his? What if the sexual harassment was true? What if they had slept together?
The more she had thought about it, the more it had eaten at her from the inside out.
She had lost ten pounds that month. On someone who was already a petite woman just over five feet tall, ten pounds was a lot. Her clothes had stopped fitting right, and she’d had bags under her eyes. She had endured three years of law school, and the possibility of Ramsey having a child with someone else had been the stress she couldn’t handle.
When the results came back negative, Elisa’s lawyer had dropped her like a sack of potatoes.
And Lexi could finally breathe again.
She could still remember the smile Ramsey had given her when he got off that phone call.
“Negative,” he had said, picking her up and crushing her against him.
“Really?” she had whispered.
“Really.”
“And the sexual harassment charges?”
It had all felt so surreal. One minute, she had been obsessing nonstop about the possibility of her boyfriend having a child with someone else, and then…he hadn’t.
“Dropped,” he had said, placing her gently back on her feet. He had taken up her face in his hands and claimed a kiss. “She won’t ever bother us again.”
“She just couldn’t prove the charges? Or she has agreed that they were fabricated?” Lexi had asked against his lips.
“She just dropped the case. Her lawyer wouldn’t help her after the paternity test came back negative. There was never a case. No grounds for them to stand on.”
“Oh. So, she just gave up then?” Lexi had asked.
She hadn’t been sure why she couldn’t wrap her mind around this. Of course, Elisa had given up. She hadn’t had any proof. She had tried to wager her son against a multimillion-dollar corporation, and she had run smack dab into a brick wall.
But that didn’t prove that nothing had happened. It just brushed the dirt under the rug so that the floor looked clean for visitors.
So, they had moved on.
She had to make a choice. Either she accepted that Ramsey was the man she had always believed him to be, or she didn’t. Really, there was nothing else she could do about it. The Bridges medical wing was opening in three weeks’ time. They were all under a lot of stress as a year of work was coming to a conclusion. She had to choose.
If she didn’t believe him, then that was the end. Was she willing to walk away because of one cunt? There wasn’t even any proof! Maybe that was the worst part. If she’d had proof one way or another that something had actually happened—even if the kid wasn’t his—then she could have closure and move on. Without it, she had to go on blind faith. She had to trust Ramsey—the man she had given a second chance to a year ago after he had lied to her over and over and over again for a year straight.
That meant there really wasn’t a choice. She wasn’t giving up on Ramsey. If he said nothing had happened, then nothing had happened. She had been just as far away from him, and she hadn’t done anything. He had never acted like anything had happened. Lying about his past did not make him a cheater.
She just had to remember that—while he spent every day with Parker.
The three weeks had disappeared in the blink of an eye, and suddenly, they were standing in front of the block of land that had been dirt a mere year ago. Now, it was a sixty-story, full-service hospital with a colossal Bridges Enterprise logo on the front. Lexi couldn’t believe they had finished in time.
Ramsey might look sleek in a brand-new black Armani suit for the occasion, but he had been a hot mess all week. Mini earthquakes had kept shattering through the company’s plans, and he had spent most of the week putting out fires. Lexi had taken a liking to one of the new receptionists immediately, and she had found herself spending more time with the new girl, Cierra, than upstairs with the big guys sorting out the details.
But finally, today was the big day—the official grand opening of the Bridges medical wing. A large ribbon had been stretched across the entrance, and standing at the front of the crowd were Ramsey and Parker. His father, Bekah, and other senior vice presidents in the company stood directly behind them. Jessica and John stood nearby, looking relieved that they had actually accomplished everything they had set out to do. Lexi wondered what their commission would be on this project, not that it was any of her business.
Personally, Lexi hadn’t wanted to be anywhere near the spotlight. She had held back and stood off to the side among the growing crowd, far away from the media thronging the building for the best spot. She knew Jack was here, but he wasn’t with Bekah, and she hadn’t seen him when she arrived. Lexi just hoped this went better than the groundbreaking ceremony.
A hush fell over the audience as Ramsey stepped forward confidently. He started speaking when Lexi felt someone touch her elbow. She scooted over to accommodate the person as she listened to her boyfriend deliver the opening speech.
“Sorry I was late. I got held up,” Jack whispered into her ear.
A chill ran down her spine at his nearness, and she fought to keep her eyes forward.
“Where were you?” she whispered back. “I thought you’d be here with Bekah.”
“No, she’s been really busy with this stuff lately. Gone a lot. I came on my own,” he told her. “I already hate the parking situation.”
Lexi bit on her lip to hold back her laugh. Ramsey had talked all the time about how shitty the parking was, even with the underground garage.
“You shouldn’t have been late then.”
“Probably not.”
“What were you doing anyway?”
“Picking up some things for the party tonight. I should have gotten them earlier, but I procrastinated,” he said, nudging her in the side.
“Doesn’t sound like you at all,” she whispered in a scolding tone.
“Not at all.” He chuckled lightly and crossed his arms, effectively ending their conversation.
She probably should be paying more attention anyway.
Lexi stared up at Ramsey. Pride washed over every other emotion that had manifested. Even if she hadn’t been sure about this venture to begin with, she couldn’t deny how happy it made her that he had done it. He had accomplished this against all odds. A year’s time should not have been long enough, but somehow, it had been. Now, they were standing on the threshold of a new beginning.
A few more speeches later, Parker and Ramsey held out a pair of giant gold scissors, and together, they sliced through the ribbon blocking the entrance to the medical wing. And just like that, Atlanta had a new hospital. Knowing how much work they had put into it, the actual ceremony felt largely inconsequential. It was a photo opportunity with a whole hell of a lot of applause and congratulations.
The real test would be seeing how the building actually ran. But in that moment, they had succeeded, which was what mattered. Tonight, they were throwing an enormous party to celebrate. She had actually splurged on a killer dress. Because if she was going to walk into that ballroom after everything that had happened with Elisa the past two months, then she wanted to look damn good.
At the end of the ceremony, the crowd surged forward into the medical wing. Lexi held back and let the majority of the people follow Ramsey and Parker through the sliding glass doors. She had already been inside more times than she could count since the building had been constructed. She could let everyone else have a turn.
Jack squeezed her elbow lightly before disappearing with the crowd. She saw him catch up to Bekah. She was in conversation with someone else, and she barely acknowledged him when he wrapped his arm around her waist. Lexi took a deep breath and then let it out slowly. It was just something she’d had to get used to over the past year. It might make her blood feel like it was being pushed through sludge, but there was nothing she could do about it. She’d accepted that fact a long time ago.
The crowd dispersed, and Lexi moved over to the front desk where Cierra sat, staring wide-eyed at the large group. It was clear she had taken a lot of time to get ready that morning. Her black hair fell pin straight past her shoulders. Her caramel skin was highlighted with a shimmery bronzer, and her black eyes were rimmed with coal that made them pop. She had on a shiny burgundy lip gloss that was perfection. It never would have worked with Lexi’s complexion.
“Hey, Cierra!”
“Lexi! Phew,” she said, breathing out heavily. “Finally, a familiar face among the suits.”
Lexi laughed lightly. “You’ll get to know everyone as they come and go.”
“I hope not. I prefer working with real people. Big-time suits make me nervous.”
“I didn’t think anything made you nervous,” Lexi said, leaning against the desk.
“I mean, not physically nervous,” she said with a shrug. “I just feel like they’re always preparing to fire me.”
“What?” Lexi asked. “No one is firing you. You’re the best employee they have.”
“Lexi…be real. There are surgeons and shit who are irreplaceable.”
“Well, I told Ramsey that I like you. I doubt you’re going anywhere.”
Cierra’s eyes widened further. “You’ve talked to Mr. Bridges about me?”
“Don’t look so freaked-out. He’s just my boyfriend.”
Mr. Bridges. Ha!
“And my boss.”
“Well, I’m his boss, so we’re good.”
They both laughed pretty hard at that. Lexi missed having Chyna around so much. It was nice being able to talk to Cierra. The only real friends she had in Atlanta were Brandon and Jack, and it wasn’t like she could really talk to either of them about her relationship—not without getting serious looks at least. Krista lived too far out of the city for it to be practical to spend a lot of time with her, and Lexi hadn’t connected with anyone at her office. She hoped Bridges kept Cierra, if for no other reason than that Lexi really wanted a girlfriend.
“Speaking of the boss,” Cierra whispered, nodding her head and raising her eyebrows.
Lexi spun around and saw Ramsey standing there, waiting for her.
“There you are,” he said, striding toward her. “I knew I’d find you here.”
“Don’t act like you know me,” she said coyly.
“Oh, Lexi, I do know you.” He pulled her into him and kissed her little button nose.
She giggled. “When do we get to leave?”
“Soon. I have to talk to a few more people, and then we can head out.”
“Good. I’m ready to take you home.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Sounds like we’re going to have a night in,” he said, brushing his lips against her ear.
“Ramsey,” she said, smacking him on the arm and breaking out of his embrace. “Not here.”
He chuckled at her. “Yes, I figured we’d go home first.”
Lexi felt the blush creep up her neck. She was hardly prudish, but out in public like this at his work, she thought he would have had a bit of discretion. His gleaming green eyes told her that the last thing on his mind was discretion.
She heard a low catcall behind them, and she quickly swiveled around. Cierra was grinning from ear to ear at them, but she was trying to play it off like she had been working busily at her computer the whole time.
“Did you just whistle at me?” Lexi sputtered out.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Cierra said with a smirk.
“They just let anyone work here, don’t they?” she asked playfully.
“Almost like they just let anyone stroll right inside,” Cierra said, winking at her.
“Y’all play nice,” Ramsey said, kissing Lexi’s forehead. “I’m going to go finish up.”
Lexi watched him walk away toward a crowd of people. She could see Parker chatting up a group of suits. She looked surprisingly uncomfortable. Lexi knew Ramsey preferred the spotlight, and Parker preferred the background work. She had still been working as a surgeon this past year, and as far as Lexi knew, Parker would be taking up that job here, too. Seemed like a crazy life…
Even after the stress Lexi had endured through law school and now while working for a prestigious company, she thought being a surgeon and helping to open and run a brand-new hospital just seemed…insane. It sounded like a person who wanted to run herself into the ground.
Whatever. Parker wasn’t any of her concern. If she wanted to run herself into the ground, that was fine…as long as she stayed away from Ramsey. Lexi had already had to deal with Elisa. She couldn’t deal with Parker, too, and not come out unscathed.
“I know we haven’t known each other very long, Lexi, and I might be overstepping…but you don’t have to worry,” Cierra said softly.
“What?” Lexi asked, her head snapping back to Cierra.
“You look at her like she’s a thief.”
“Who?”
“Ms. Mackenson.”
“Oh…Parker,” Lexi said.
“You don’t have anything to worry about. He worships the ground you walk on.”
“I know.”
“He doesn’t look at her like he looks at you.”
“I know.”
“Then, stop worrying so much. Don’t let that Elisa girl get into your head. That’s what she wants. If you let it bother you, then she wins.”
Lexi bit her lip. “How can I not let it bother me though?”
Cierra shrugged lightly. “That’s between you and your man. I’m just saying, if I had a man who looked at me like that…I would be worried for the girl who stepped wrong in his path because he wouldn’t put up with it.”
“Don’t you have a boyfriend?” Lexi asked, trying to redirect the attention.
“Boyfriend? More like a plaything,” she said with a giggle.
“Oh Lord…”
“Yeah, he’s younger. Doesn’t know what he’s in for.” Cierra winked at her dramatically.
“Are you bringing him to the party tonight?”
“Oh!” Cierra said, her eyes lighting up. “I’m so excited for this party. I’ll have him in tow. You can judge him for me.”
Lexi just laughed. “I look forward to it. See you tonight.”
Walking toward the group of people that Ramsey was talking with, Lexi thought about what Cierra had said. Did she really look at Parker like she was a thief? Lexi didn’t mean to if she did. But it was so hard not to be concerned after the lying and then this huge debacle with Elisa. Lexi just needed to take a deep breath and let it go.
Maybe tonight would help.
Splurging had been well worth it when she saw the look on Ramsey’s face after she came out of the bathroom, all done up for the party tonight. The strapless plum dress ruched around the middle, and reached the floor with a thigh-high slit showing off her tan lean legs. She paired the dress with long drop earrings that nearly grazed her shoulders and mile-high black Manolos. She had woven her hair up into an intricately messy braided bun with soft curls falling around her face. Her makeup was smoky, giving her a cat-like, seductive appearance, and she wore soft nude lipstick that highlighted her natural beauty and the grace of the dress.
“No,” Ramsey said, shaking his head.
“No?” she asked, her smile faltering. “No, what?”
“You can’t leave the house in that.”
“And why not?”
“Every guy in the place is going to want to get his hands on you,” he said, walking forward and running his hands down
her sides.
“They’re going to have a pretty pissed senior vice president to contend with if they even think about trying.” She slid her palms up the front of his crisp black suit.
“Damn right, they will.”
She pressed her lips lightly against his, not wanting to smudge her makeup before their debut. He didn’t seem to have the same idea as he crushed Lexi against him. She squealed, trying to push him back to avoid touch-ups, but he didn’t listen and just kissed her until she gave in.
“I know it’s been rough lately,” he said, drawing back, “but I love you so much. I’m glad you stuck with me through the bad. I promise to keep pushing to make it better from here on out, okay?”
“Okay,” she whispered, giving him the reassurance they both needed.
She wanted to believe what Cierra had said about him, and the easiest way to do that was to just keep saying it over and over. It would sink in eventually.
Their arrival at the party was with a big fanfare. Lexi thought it was mostly for Ramsey since he was a partner on the project, but with the way everyone kept eyeing her dress, she wondered if Ramsey had been right.
The party was set up at Opera in midtown, which on any other given day of the week was a packed nightclub complete with paid go-go dancers, a dance stage, and poles. The grandeur of the nightclub had been removed and replaced with an open dance floor and table with food. It had two levels, just like an old-fashioned opera house with balcony seating and crystal chandeliers.
The place maxed out at around a thousand people, and Lexi could see that they were likely going to hit capacity tonight. They had a lot to celebrate with the medical wing, and so many of the employees were here, dressed in their best. Bridges medical wing had only officially been open for a half day, and then tomorrow, it would be in full swing.
After Lexi and Ramsey managed to break through the crowd, they moved over toward the stage where Ramsey’s parents were in deep conversation with some other executives that Lexi recognized. Bekah was in a tight, floor-length bright blue gown that made her baby-blue eyes pop out and her thin frame even more evident. Her blonde hair had been slicked straight back into a tight bun. She wore no jewelry, save for her wedding ring and two giant diamonds in her ears. Her shoes were champagne-colored peep toes with rhinestones running up the heel. Lexi hated how much she liked Bekah’s outfit. If only the Bitch were uglier…