Restoration & Forgiveness (Renovate Book 2)

by Mindy Carter

  I go into the whole story about Gretchen, and of course my dad, which I've kept her updated on, and Keegan's beautiful proposal.

  "I'm not surprised. I know true love when I see it, and you, my friend, are swimming in it."

  It's all been a whirlwind. I almost expected her to lecture me. She's the most logical out of my friends. She doesn't ask me if I'm sure, or question any of my choices. She knows how scared I was for my dad, and even approved me for more time off, but work is good right now. Keeps me focused, and when I'm focused I won't be worrying about what could be happening at James Architecture at the moment.

  I asked Keegan how work was, and he told me we'd talk about it later. He has been in an upbeat mood, so either it's really bad and he doesn't want to tell me, or it's not bad. Maybe Gretchen has decided to sink her claws into someone else. Even better, maybe she's decided to leave town and move to another country. A nice fantasy on my part, but wishful thinking.

  "We missed you, Aimee. I'm glad your dad is recovering, and the engagement is great. I'm happy for you."

  "Thank you. It is great isn't it? All of it?"

  "It sure is," Reese interrupts, walking into the office and taking the seat next to Olivia.

  "I can't believe you two are marrying brothers; rich, attractive brothers."

  Reese laughs and rubs her stomach, no doubt thinking of her baby during this conversation.

  "And you, with that bun in your oven, you surprise me the most." Olivia points at Reese, who smiles widely, enjoying the attention.

  "Everything happens for a reason. I mean, look at Aimee. She's living some kind of fairy tale. Did you tell her?" Reese asks, looking at me.

  Thanks, Reese, now I have no choice but to tell Olivia. I want to tell everyone, but keeping things between us for now is best. It's also nice having something special just between us. I trust Olivia, and she of course will be discreet, so I tell her about the magical castle that Keegan has started building for us.

  She's silent for a moment, and I think she may be in shock.

  "Really are living out your fairy-tale dream. If you change your mind about marrying him, let me know."

  "Get in line," Reese says.

  I have no plan to change my mind. I'm well aware of how fortunate I am.

  "I really don't want to tell you this, especially after all this good news, but I need to tell you about a complaint we received."

  A complaint? I haven't even been around. What could she possibly be talking about? Reese stands up to leave.

  "I'll talk with you in a bit," she says, then leaves, closing my door behind her.

  Closed doors are only for things you don't want anyone else to hear. I know by the way she's looking at me that this isn't a conversation Olivia is looking forward to.

  "Here goes… We received a complaint from James Architecture regarding you."

  "Um. All right."

  "The call came from Gretchen Stanfied," she continues.

  "What was the complaint, Olivia?" I say, irritated.

  "It seems that after your interview you made sexual advances toward Mr. James. She said you have been stalking him, calling him, and following him."

  This is ridiculous.

  "You know there is no truth to any of this, right?"

  Olivia relaxes back into the chair, crossing her arms over her chest. "Oh, I know, and I actually laughed at her. I mean, that's just crazy. She said that she has video evidence and wanted you fired for abusing your position."

  Fired? I didn't do anything!

  "So what, you want me to pack my office up?" I say.

  "Don't be absurd. I told her to go fuck herself. Plus, do you know how hard it is to find a good employee? I would have to train someone all over again. I also reminded her that blackmail was a criminal offense and ended the call."

  So, Gretchen is trying to get me fired and make me look like some obsessed stalker. Does Keegan know any of this? This is so farfetched it screams desperate.

  "Yes, absolutely, but Keegan isn't the one you need to worry about. That company is as much hers as it is his, from what you told me. For whatever reason, she sees you as a threat. She's smart though, you need to be careful.

  Olivia looks at me with concern, and I know she's trying to protect me. She's giving me her honest opinion. Now I'm even more worried about the lengths Gretchen is going to make me disappear from Keegan's life.

  "Thank you, Olivia," I tell her with a look of understanding.

  "Just remember, I'm here for you always if you need anything, even if it's to vent over some wine, or find things to hit. I'm here."

  I nod, and I appreciate her offer, I really do, but I don't want to have to be in this situation at all to need those things.

  She leaves without saying another word, and I lean back in my chair. Tilting my head back, I close my eyes. I let out a long frustrated breath. Suddenly, as it all sinks in, I do want to hit something: the tall blonde banshee trying to make my life miserable.

  Olivia left my door open and I look up at a sympathetic Reese.

  "You know, don't you?" I ask her.

  She closes my door, and sits down in front of me. I'm getting sick and tired of having to shut my door. I tell her everything that Olivia just told me.

  "She tried to get me fired, and now I don't know what this even means."

  "Aimee, what did we say last night? This isn't just about you; we are all in this together."

  "She's not going to stop. When she finds out we are getting married, she may try to hit me with her car or something." I'm only half joking.

  "Naw, that's not her style, she may get a scratch on her Benz, the witch." I laugh at her attempt at humor.

  Maybe this is a twisted fairy tale. Gretchen certainly would be the evil witch; I have to remember to never accept an apple from her, it may be poisoned.

  "Reese, maybe this was a mistake? I don't want to be the reason Keegan and Kaleb lose everything."

  What do they say? When you love something, let it go.

  "Where is my best friend? Fight, dammit, don't give up because of some anorexic bimbo. That woman isn't the boss of you. She may think she has power over our boys, but she doesn't. The only woman who holds that title is their momma."

  She stands and walks over to me so she can bend over and shake me. I'm a little surprised by her sudden aggressiveness, and she's angry. I know she's not mad at me, but she's literally trying to shake some sense into me. I think it's worked, if only for the fear of her wrath.

  "Aimee, do you understand or am I going to have to spell it out for you more. Good always wins over evil, and that one is a witch if I ever saw one."

  "I get it," I say the words, but I'm not quite sure if I believe them.

  "I always wanted a sister, and no one's taking that away from me, or us. Also, I'm related to a pretty kick-ass attorney."

  Perfect, I'm sure my ex-boyfriend will love to help us with this. I need to get my head back on straight. Keegan doesn't deserve a fiancée who is going to give up. What is it with this woman? She's the worst mean girl, and I just let her beat me down. She's been messing with my life since I was seventeen, and for what? If she loved Keegan I might be sympathetic, but she doesn't. She even told me to my face. She used him; she saw something to manipulate and control. I can't stand her for playing with our lives, just so she could be rich, powerful, in the spotlight. Now I get it, and I'm fighting mad.

  "There she is, the woman I know and love." Reese recognizes the change in me. I'm getting my fairy-tale ending, and keeping a hold on it.

  Chapter Seventeen

  When I leave work promptly at five o'clock, I'm anxious. I don't spot Andrew right away; every other time he's been dressed in a suit. To my surprise he's wearing jeans, and a plain heather-gray long-sleeved shirt.

  "Hello, Ms. Brennan," he greets me.

  I look him over, wondering what's with the change in his work uniform.

  "I'm not going anywhere with you until you do what I asked you befor
e."

  He looks at me, trying to figure out what I'm talking about. "What was that?" he asks quizzically.

  "Please, for the last time, call me Aimee. I'm not that important, Andrew, okay?"

  "If you are one thing, you are important." He emphasizes the word important and leads me to the waiting car.

  I step into the car as Andrew holds the door, and am disappointed that Keegan hasn't surprised me with his presence. He's been full of surprises; I guess I was just hoping for him to continue with them.

  "How was your day, Aimee?" It doesn't escape me that he's used my actual first name, and that makes me smile.

  "It was good, happy to be back," I tell him.

  We drive in silence for a few minutes; I catch Andrew looking at me in the rearview mirror. A call comes through, and Andrew takes it on his Bluetooth device. Whoever is on the other end of the call must be doing all the talking, because after he says hello, the next words are yes, sir.

  "Keegan will be a little late this evening; He's stuck in a meeting, and his phone battery is about to die he wanted me to ask if you wanted to stop home to retrieve some things for overnight."

  "Sure." I nod.

  Traffic in New York never bothered me, but I easily became re-acclimated with the quiet and less-congested roads back home. It's only been one day and I miss it. I imagine that Keegan and I could be cuddled up watching the stars from the terrace adjacent to our room this evening. Instead, depending on when I see him, I'll be alone in his penthouse.

  It takes forever for Andrew to weave through the streets, and all I can hear are echoes of horns. When we arrive at my apartment, I invite Andrew to wait inside as I gather what I need. He declines, choosing to stay with the car. I would like to know more about this man Keegan has trusted as his driver. He's always so professional and stiff, but his choice of clothes says that he may not be either.

  When I enter my apartment Reese's shoes are lying by the door. It's quiet, and when I check on her she's facedown in her fluffy pillow with her work clothes still on, and fast asleep. I feel bad for her, to be so exhausted that she immediately passes out after work.

  I gather everything I need, which isn't much: pajamas, work clothes, and my Kindle. I haven't opened it in so long that it's started collecting dust. It's the perfect distraction right now while I sit and wait for my fiancé.

  I write Reese a note, letting her know that I was home and that I'll see her tomorrow.

  When I reach Andrew he's waiting outside the car, and engrossed in something on the screen of his phone. He smiles and opens the door once again for me. I almost tell him it isn't necessary, but decide it's his job to be courteous. We ride in silence to the penthouse, where I'm aware that the last thing I want to do is enter Keegan's home alone and be reminded of the last time I was there.

  Thankfully, Andrew doesn't follow me, so I take a seat in the lobby. I have a clear view of the elevators. That way I can read and people watch all at the same time.

  I open my Kindle, and am relieved that it still is fully charged. I relax into the chair and start reading a new romance. The hero is an alpha male who will do just about anything to keep the woman he's fallen in love with safe. I wonder are there actual men out there that would put their partners before themselves and above anything else, for love. If push comes to shove and a woman's life is in danger, would he actually jump in front of her to catch a bullet, or just run when the threat was just too real?

  After a few pages of reading, the book hooks me in. It's a page-turner. I wish I had more time to read. It's my favorite hobby.

  I'm not sure how much time has passed, when I look up and notice the sun has set. There goes Keegan and me watching the sunset, and the reason I agreed to come here. I contemplate just heading home; I haven't heard anything from Keegan, not even an apology. I try calling him, but it goes straight to voicemail. I guess his phone is still dead. After today's developments, we are where we were a month ago: me out of the loop and wondering exactly what kind of relationship he and Gretchen actually have.

  I maneuver myself out of the building, and outside. The doorman is busy talking with someone. I decide to walk down Park Avenue a little ways, where I will just hail a cab. I find myself in front of Central Park and close to Belvedere Castle, another reminder of Keegan and me. The last time we were here, he made me feel special and loved, crowning me with a beautiful, elegant tiara.

  A taxi stops at the corner and as a couple gets out, I move in that direction, but before I can even step toward the curb my arm is pulled, and I'm looking into those stormy blue eyes that have given me butterflies since I can remember.

  "Where are you going?" Keegan demands.

  I don't say anything at first, just stare. His stare tells me he's mad, if it's at me then he can just let me go.

  "Home."

  "Why, didn't Andrew tell you I'd be late?" he asks.

  It's as if he doesn't understand my hesitation. That bothers me more than I want it to. Does he even get this big picture in front of us?

  "He did. I went home, grabbed some things, waited for you, a long time actually. The sunset and the reason I wanted to stay passed, so I left. I tried calling you, and I didn't want to spend an evening alone, ok?" I'm so angry right now.

  He runs his fingers through his hair, frustrated. After a few moments I start walking. I don't want to be another couple fighting in the streets of Manhattan. I've had my fill for the day, and despite the fact that we are supposed to be spending the rest of our lives together, I feel farther from him then I have before. I lost my ride, but will find another; if worse comes to worst, I'll walk my ass all the way to SoHo.

  His steps hurriedly behind me; he jumps in front of me to stop my escape.

  "Look, I see you're upset with me, and I understand, I really do, but all you had to do was call me, Aimee."

  Call him? He coerced me to spend the evening with him, not the other way around. I was perfectly happy to spend the night in my tiny apartment, listening to Reese snooze away.

  "The phone works both ways, buddy. You convinced me to come over under false pretenses. What makes you think I wanted to spend the evening alone at your place?" I try to move around him, but he doesn't let me pass.

  "It's not my place, it's ours. Aimee, something came up at the end of the day. I had every intention of watching the sunset with you in my arms. I tried to get home in time."

  I'm just going to have to be honest with him, and hope it's enough to end this ridiculous argument.

  "To be honest, the thought of entering your home again makes me uncomfortable. I certainly don't want to be alone there. I couldn't even work up the nerve to step foot on the elevator. I love you, Keegan, but you just don't seem to understand me."

  He takes a deep breath as his shoulders relax. "I'm sorry you feel that way, or that you think I'm so self-absorbed that I wouldn't understand."

  "Do you?" I ask.

  "I can't just move overnight, but if you ask me to, we will never step foot in that penthouse ever again. We can live in a small one-room apartment in Northern Brooklyn for all I care."

  "Keegan, I just need a little time. I'm just not ready. We have been engaged for two days, back in the city for one, and I just found out from Olivia that Gretchen called her trying to cause trouble for me," I say, putting it all on the table.

  There is regret in his eyes, the compassion he has for me. Not pity, he would never do that, but it shows me with one look how much he cares.

  "You know I would never."

  "Keegan, I know, but it doesn't make it any less of a concern," I interrupt.

  "Aimee, we need to go somewhere a little less out in the open to talk. So, just tell me where."

  I draw a blank, because I am lost. Where is there to go? I can't think of one comfortable place. I want to tell him Indiana; that's the only place that flashes in my mind. No one to bother us, or keep us from being us. We have no freedom here, it's like we are animals in a cage in the city. Which is insane, be
cause this is my home, I've built my life here, but looking at it right now I don't see how we can ever have a life together here.

  "Nowhere," I whisper.

  "What?" Hurt flashes across his face, but holding things back and pretending that everything will be fine isn't working.

  "I'm sorry, Keegan."

  "Me too, but I'm unmovable Aimee, so forget me walking away right now. Since you have decided for the both of us again, I'm just going to take things over."

  The next thing I know he's lifted me over his shoulder in the most uncivilized way. I yell at him to put me down, yet he ignores me. I kick, but somehow he blocks my kicks. He's like invincible or something, with his super strength and speed. I'm the damsel in distress not worth saving, as everyone we pass just looks away. I've lived here long enough to know this isn't a normal occurrence. Humans of New York, my ass.

  Keegan is taking me toward his building. I can see us getting closer; we pass the entrance and he continues straight through to the parking garage. I'm starting to become nauseous from being jostled, and my voice is hoarse from my yelling. I've given up fighting at this point; no one's here to save me anyway.

  We stop at a row of cars and he places me on the pavement, still holding on to me. It takes me a minute to get my bearings back. I was just jostled around like a sack of potatoes.

  He lets go and we are next to his Mercedes. He opens the back door for me and ushers me in, following right behind me. Apparently, we aren't going for a drive, but are going to have our private chat here. In the back of his car. This isn't strange at all. He makes sure to lock the doors with his key fob.

  "Child locks," he tells me.

  I am really trapped; he's given me no opportunity to run. I can't scream, because I'm at risk of losing my voice.

  "I'm not a child," I whisper, backing away and depositing my bag on the floor. I cross my arms and face away from him.

  "You give me no choice when you act like this, Aimee."

  "So now you have me as your prisoner, go ahead and talk," I spit.

  "Give me a second to catch my breath; it's not easy carrying someone five blocks."