“Why are you looking at me like that, Martina?” Alexa asks, worried about the answer.
“Braveheart is waiting for you in your office. I tried to stop him but he insisted, Alexa. I told him you were not accepting visitors, but-”
“I’ll deal with it,” Alexa says, clenching her jaw. She stomps into her office pissed off and ready to take it out on Brett Collins. “What are you doing here?” she asks, accusingly as soon as she sees him.
“Alexa, I’ve been so worried about you. Are you okay?”
“You do not need to be worried about me and you have no right to show up here unannounced. I don’t care if you are my boss. I want you to leave, Brett.”
“Alexa, I do have a right to show up here, as your boss. But as your friend, I’m deeply concerned about you. You won’t take my calls and neither will Scott. What the hell is going on?”
“None of your business,” she says as she walks behind her desk to sit down. “Unless you have something work related to discuss, I am very busy and I do not wish to share the details of my personal life with you.”
He stands and walks towards her, a concerned look on his face. “The sooner you talk to me the sooner I’ll leave. I care about you, Alexa, you know that. I know we will never have anything romantic but I told you we would be friends at least. I want to help you.”
“Help me?” she laughs coldly, “the only way you can help me is to leave me alone. If it wasn’t for you none of this would be happening.” She glares at him.
He nods. “So this is about what happened between us. Scott’s mad?”
“Scott is not mad, Scott is gone. Fucking gone, Brett. He left me and he’s not coming back,” Alexa says, as her voice breaks from the tears she can no longer hold back. As much as she doesn’t want to, she buries her face in her hands and sobs, wishing Brett would just leave. He walks behind her desk and places his hand on her shoulder but she shrugs him off. “Don’t touch me,” she says, her voice full of venom. “Don’t ever touch me again, Brett.”
He backs away, his brow furrowed. “Let me try to talk to him, Alexa. Maybe I can talk some sense into him. If he doesn’t know how much you love him, he’s a fool.”
She looks up at him, her green eyes burning. “I don’t care what you do. I don’t care what Scott does either. In fact, I don’t care if I ever see either of you again. Please respect my wishes and leave me alone.”
Brett raises his eyebrows, but nods his head. “As you wish, Alexa. If it matters to you at all, I’m deeply sorry for my part in all of this. It pains me to see you in tears.”
Alexa says nothing as she watches Brett leave her office. Martina rushes in immediately afterward, a fresh cup of coffee in her hand. “Are you okay?” she asks.
“Do I look okay, Martina?”
Martina shakes her head and places the cup of coffee down. She wants to wrap her arms around her boss and try to comfort her, but she knows Alexa can be defensive when she’s down. And the only time she’s ever seen her down was when Scott did something to her. Martina was starting not to like Scotty the hotty very much.
Alexa stands up abruptly and grabs her handbag. “I can’t handle this anymore, Martina. I’m going to take some time off. I don’t know how much yet but at least today. I’ll call you, but if you could just handle things around here, that’s what I need. You know who to rely on in case anything comes up. I just can’t do this right now.”
Martina nods and fetches Alexa’s coat for her. She stands in the doorway as she watches Alexa walk down the hall. When Alexa reaches the street, she decides to walk; the cold, London air doing its best to chill her to the bone. She just wants to run away, to go somewhere where no one can find her. She can no longer keep up this charade. The best thing for Alexa Drake right now is to disappear.
“Parker Collins Media, Alexa Drake’s office. May I help you?” Martina answers Alexa’s ringing phone. “I’m sorry, Miss Drake is out of the office for an undetermined amount of time, however, Patricia Reed is handling her meetings. I’ll pass you to her.”
Martina transfers the call, and then goes back to managing Alexa’s extensive business calendar. She’s had to reschedule at least a dozen meetings, deciding to clear everything at least through Christmas. She had no idea when Alexa would be back and she’s already been gone a week. The only reassuring thing to all of this is that Martina talks to Alexa every afternoon. She and Oswald are the only people in the world who know where Alexa is and they’ve been sworn to secrecy, especially if Scott asks.
The phone rings again and she sees Brett’s now familiar number on the caller id. “Hello, Mr. Collins, Miss Drake is out of the office still. No, I do not know when she’ll be back. No, I do not know where she is but I’m assured she’s quite well. I’m happy to take another message for you.” Martina was tired of fielding this daily call from Brett. When she told Alexa, her reaction was simply to guffaw and ask what was next. Martina had taken to writing, ‘another bloody call from Braveheart’ in the journal she kept for Alexa.
She looked around the empty office and missed her friend and boss. Even though she said she was okay, Martina knew that Alexa was far from okay and it worried her greatly.
Tomorrow, Martina would just have to tell Brett to wait for Alexa to call, which of course she never will. Brett needed to learn what everyone else already did–when Alexa Drake makes up her mind, there is no changing it.
Alexa looks out the huge window overlooking the courtyard of the cozy cottage she chose to sequester herself in. Watching couples walking hand-in-hand along the lake, only makes her heart ache a little bit more. She’s waited, prayed, wished, and hoped Scotty would call, but he never did. She called her office every day to check in but only had calls from Brett, the last person she wanted to talk to. She was finally accepting that she lost her chance with Scott and it made her burn with anger. Both of them were so stubborn they broke their shot at love.
For the first time in her career, Alexa was considering walking away from it all. She could pick a new place, start over again, far away from any memory of Scott. She picked up the phone for her daily check-in and dialed Martina’s number. “Hey, it’s Alexa.”
“Hi, boss! How are you today?” Martina asks, hoping to hear a better answer than most days.
“The same. What’s going on there?”
“Come home, Alexa. I miss you. We need you here.”
Alexa sighs. “I know I need to, but I just can’t yet. In fact, between you and me, I’m thinking about resigning.”
“What? No! You’re way too awesome at this job. You can’t quit. Alexa, your heart will heal.”
“It’s not about that. I don’t want to work in a company that bears Scott’s name. Nor Brett’s, for that matter. I don’t know if I can do it anymore, Martina.”
“Alexa, please just come back. You can think about it once you’re here,” she starts to cry, “It’s breaking my heart to see you like this.”
“Oh, Martina, please don’t you cry too. I’m enough of a mess for both of us,” Alexa says.
“I’m serious, Alexa,” she sniffs, “I want you to come back. You are so strong you can get through this. Don’t let Scott break you.”
“It’s too late, Martina. Too late,” Alexa murmurs. “I’m not ready just yet. I will come back before I resign. I’ll make sure the office gets a good manager that you guys deserve. I just need some more time. I need to go, I’ll call tomorrow. I really appreciate how well you are taking care of things.”
“Okay, Alexa, but people are starting to worry and I think Braveheart is about to send out a search party for you if I don’t fess up to where you are.”
“You didn’t tell him?”
“Of course not. I’m pretty sure he’d already be there if I had.”
“Good. I assume Scott hasn’t called?” she asks, then immediately wishes she didn’t. She already knew Martina would drop everything to call her and let her know.
“Alexa…”
“Yea
h, I know. Okay, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Bye.”
Alexa stands and paces her tiny room. She knew she couldn’t hide out here forever, but maybe just a little bit longer.
Martina answers the ringing office phone, and sighs. “Good morning, Mr. Collins. Alexa is still not here.”
“Martina, I want to know where she is. It’s most unusual to just disappear for two weeks.”
“She’s fine,” but Martina’s voice breaks under the strain of covering for Alexa. She knows she’ll be pissed off, but at this point, Martina is just as worried as everyone else is. “Mr. Collins,” she hesitates, “she doesn’t want you or anyone else to know where she is.”
“Where is she, Martina?” he demands.
“I can’t say. She’ll kill me. You’ve seen her angry.”
He sighs. “Yes, I have. When you talk to her again, tell her I won’t tolerate her absence further and I demand that she check in with me.”
“That won’t work.” She pauses again and takes a deep breath. “She’s thinking of quitting. You’ll just make her decision easier.” Martina knows Alexa will have her ass for this disclosure but at this point, she’s more concerned about Alexa’s wellbeing than her own ass.
“What? She can’t do that! All this over Scott?”
“I don’t think you get it, Mr. Collins. It’s major.”
“I see that,” he says, his voice softening with true concern. “I wish I could undo all of this nonsense. It went in a most unexpected direction.”
Martina nods her head, even though he can’t see her. “Yes, most unexpected,” she agrees.
“Alright, Martina, thank you for the information. I’m going to resolve this my way.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it.”
“Um, okay.” Martina hangs up the phone, now more nervous than ever. How exactly did Braveheart think he was going to fix this?
Brett finishes his call with Martina and immediately dials Scott’s phone, knowing he won’t answer and it will go to voicemail. This time, he plans to leave a message that if Scott feels anything for Alexa at all, he’ll respond.
“Scott, I swear to God if you do not return my call, I’ll get on a plane and make you face me in person. I’m seriously worried about Alexa. I don’t know what you did to her, but she’s disappeared off the face of the planet. Her assistant won’t say where she is, but even she sounds concerned about it. She’s been gone for two fucking weeks. Scott, you need to find her.”
He hangs up the phone and waits. He knows Scott Patrick like the back of his own hand. He knows he will listen to the message and call within a matter of minutes, despite the time difference between them. Sure enough his phone rings, and Brett grins before answering.
“Brett,” he says.
“What do you mean she disappeared?” Scott’s voice comes frantically across the line.
“Exactly that. Her assistant said she just left one day and is hiding out somewhere. She refuses to come to work, and today Martina told me she’s been thinking of resigning. What the fuck did you do to her?”
“What did I do? How do you know I did anything?”
“It’s obvious. That last time I talked to her she sounded in love and happy, she was focused on her work. Now, she can’t even make it to the office. Besides, her assistant said it was because of you, Scott.”
“Her assistant doesn’t know shit.”
“Are you sure about that? How come she’s the only person who knows where Alexa is? Do you suppose there’s a chance that she does know about it? I know how you treat women, Scott, remember? I’ve been there through it all. I know you’re a bastard. You did something to her.”
Scott shakes his head and sighs. “Yeah, I did. I broke her heart. I had to. She doesn’t need me and I don’t deserve her.”
“On that point, we agree.”
“You just want her for yourself, you asshole.”
“I did, obviously. But trust me–you are way off base on what you think happened between us. Alexa is not even slightly interested in a relationship or anything else with me. I’m sure she never was. The only reason she entertained the idea at all was to get your attention. How fucking thick-headed are you? She loves you, you stupid son of a bitch.”
“I know she has feelings for me, but fuck, Brett, I don’t think you understand what she does to me. I can’t think straight. I want to lock her in a fucking cage so I can protect her and keep her all to myself. It’s fucking crazy, I know.”
“Scott, listen to me. I do know what she does to you. I’ve never seen you act like this either. You were willing to end our friendship over it, and we’re brothers. You’ve got to get on a plane and come get this girl. She needs you.”
“We don’t even know where she is, Brett.”
“I’m sure we can persuade Martina to help us. She’s very worried.” Brett takes a deep breath. “Do you love Alexa, Scott? I mean really love her?”
“Yeah, Brett, I do. But I’ve fucked this up too far to fix it. I can’t make this right again.”
“Why don’t you let Alexa decide that?”
“I’ll book a flight right now,” Scott says.
“I’ll meet you in London, mate.”
“Brett?” Scott says, “Thanks for calling, man. Thanks for giving a shit.”
“You know I do. See you soon.”
“Yep.” Scott hangs up the phone and sits on the edge of his bed, surrounded by darkness. He didn’t know how he was going to find Alexa but he was going to do everything in his power to do just that. It’s time Scott Patrick started acting like the man Alexa Drake deserved.
He opens his laptop and books the first flight he can find to London. It left in exactly four hours. He quickly packed a bag, took a shower, and dressed in his favorite faded jeans and gray sweater, the one he wore with Alexa. His heart pounded in his chest and he knew going to her was the right thing to do. He tried living without her and it was simply impossible.
He looks around his apartment, grabs his keys and walks out to hail a cab bound for La Guardia airport.
Brett paces in front of the gate where Scott’s plane just landed. He had already decided they were driving straight to the office to get Martina to admit where Alexa was hiding. Scott walks towards his friend, a tense expression set on his face. He spent the whole trip thinking of what he would say when he looked in her stunning green eyes. How could he get her to believe he was truly sorry for how he behaved and take him back? Is there anything he could say?
“Good to see you, Scott. I’ve got a car waiting for us out front,” Brett says. “Do you have luggage?”
Scott shakes his head. “No, I just grabbed this bag and came.” He motions to the carryon bag he carries. “I’ll buy clothes if I need to. Where are we going first?”
“To see Martina.”
The two men walk with purpose to the waiting car and sit back for the drive to Alexa’s office. Scott fidgets while Brett looks out the car window. Finally, Brett speaks. “Hey, mate, I’m sorry for what I did with Alexa. I got carried away and… well anyway, I didn’t mean to hurt you or her and I’m sorry I fucked things up for you.”
Scott glances at his friend and knows he’s being sincere. “I get it. She’s special. I was mad, of course, but I get it. Frankly, she deserves a guy like you a lot more than a guy like me.”
“I don’t think that’s true. I saw her face the day we walked into her office. It was obvious to me then that I didn’t stand a chance. It was stupid of me to try. She loved you. You could see it in her eyes.”
“I hope she still does, Brett.”
“Me too.”
The car pulls up in front of the Patrick Collins building and the two men head straight up to Alexa’s floor. When Martina looks up and sees the two men, her mouth falls open and she sits speechless before them.
“What are you doing here?” she finally asks. “Alexa’s not here.”
“W
e know,” Brett answers. “We came to find her and get her to come back. You have to tell us where she is, Martina.”
She shakes her head. “No way. She’ll have my ass on a platter.”
“I’m just as capable of having your ass, Miss Diego,” Brett says, causing Martina to blush.
Scott steps forward, trying a different tactic. “I came a long way to see her again. Can’t you help?”
“It’s your fault she’s gone, Mr. Patrick. I can’t say that you’re my favorite person,” she says, surprising everyone.
“That’s fair. You have every right to be mad at me. You have to believe me when I say that I want to make things right between us.”
Martina studies the two men, positive they must be telling the truth to go to so much trouble. “I don’t know exactly where she is. She rented a cottage in the countryside and Oswald drove her there. All I have is the phone number.”
“Call Oswald then,” Brett says.
“Ooh, I don’t know, Mr. Collins,” Martina says.
He leans towards her. “Martina, please start calling me Brett and please call Oswald.”
Her cheeks turn a bright red as she lifts the receiver to call Alexa’s driver. Scott chuckles softly as the poor girl requests Oswald to come to the office. “He’ll be here in a few minutes,” she says softly.
Scott turns to Brett. “I think I need to do this alone. I can’t even imagine what would happen if she saw us both. As it is, she’s gonna be a level of pissed off that will be hard enough to deal with.”
Brett nods his head. “You’re absolutely correct on that point. I will stay out of your way.”
Martina makes the men tea and stares nervously at them, wondering just how pissed off Alexa will be when she finds out she helped them find her. But honestly, what choice did she have? She prays Alexa will understand.
Just then, the silence in the room is broken by the sound of a ringing phone. Martina looks at it and gasps. “It’s her!”
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