by Sophia Henry
“I must be a mirror—because that’s what I see in you, Erik. You are the most honest man I’ve ever met. You have integrity and courage. And I love that you can’t be bought or bribed. As much as it will hurt to say goodbye to you, I know you have to go. And I’m actually so proud of you,” I say, as the tears flow again. “I’m wrecked.” I smile. “But I’m proud of the man you are.”
“Jesus.” Erik blinks a few times. Is he crying? I’ve never seen him cry—not even at Rusty’s funeral. “I don’t want to break up, Maddie. I mean, I know that I can’t ask you to put your life on hold, but—”
“We’re not breaking up,” I agree. “We’re going to utilize every damn form of social media there is to stay in touch.”
“Mmmmmm.” Erik drops his mouth to my neck, kissing his way to my earlobe before taking it in his teeth and tugging gently. “Maybe some sexy times over Skype?”
“That sounds fun,” I say, tilting my head so he has better access to the sweet spot.
“We’ve got one month to see me off with a bang.”
“We can bang wherever you want, sugar.”
He lifts his head, showing me a silly grin and wide eyes. “On your desk at the office?”
“Absolutely.”
“But first…” His mouth presses against mine and I fall back onto the bed. He climbs on top, gliding his palm across my cheek and through my hair, while gazing into my eyes. “I love you, Madeline. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
A tear slips out and slides down my temple and onto the pillow below me.
This may be the end of what we have right now, but it’s not the end of us. If I could make a long-distance relationship work with a man I didn’t even like, I can certainly make it work with the man I love.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Erik
When Harris Commons texted me, telling me he needed to meet with me as soon as possible, I let it go a few days. It may seem like I’m playing a game of whose dick is bigger, but it’s really because, after confessing to Maddie that I’m moving, Harris has nothing over me anymore. I don’t have to jump when he says jump. But I do need to tell him my plans, so I agree to meet.
“Please sit.” Harris nods to an antique settee, upholstered in worn, green leather. While I get comfortable, he strides to the bar and pours brown liquor into two highball glasses. He hands me one and drops into the seat behind the oversized desk in his home office. It’s probably meant to be subtly intimidating, but it doesn’t affect me.
“After Madeline told us she’d entered into an arrangement with you to keep you in the country, I spoke with your immigration lawyer.” He sets his glass on a coaster and grabs a pair of eyeglasses from a tray. “I’ve always been willing to help you with your status,” he says, sliding the glasses onto his face.
“You have. And I’ve always appreciated that.” I take a small sip of the drink—bourbon—before setting it on the desk.
He opens a drawer and pulls out a thin, document-sized envelope, then leans across the desk, offering it to me.
“What’s this?” I ask, meeting his eyes briefly as I take it, before sliding my fingers under the flap and removing the paperwork.
“It’s a birth certificate. If you stop this ridiculous charade with Madeline, you are an official citizen of the United States.”
More lies. More illegal activities. He’s asking me to stop one ridiculous charade with another—by offering me a doctored birth certificate. It’s the epitome of hypocritical.
“It’s not a charade, Harris.” I shove the document back into the envelope. “I lo—”
“Don’t say it, Erik,” Harris commands. “I’m very fond of you. You know that. I’ve done the best I can for you. I’m not going to cancel your contract here, but you’ll send a crew from now on. I’ll even set you up in an apartment of your own until we figure out what’s going on with your status. I want you to stay away from Madeline.”
Anger boils in my chest, my heart pounds to get out. Clenching my fists at my sides, I silently count to ten and take breaths—any calming technique I can think of, so as not to use him as a punching bag.
I can’t forget how good Harris Commons has been to me and my family. Twenty years ago, he hired my grandfather as a landscaper. Over time, he referred a huge group of his friends to him. Back then, it was just me and Grandpa, working our tails off for those families. As business grew, we hired additional guys to help us make the jobs faster and more efficient, enabling us to take on more.
My grandfather didn’t want to expand, but I knew we had to diversify—and I’m glad. If Harris fires me and his friends follow suit, my business will take a hit—but it’ll be okay. I may be frustrated and angry, but I’ll never hate him, because he is the sole reason we were able to create the thriving business I have today.
“There are plenty of women out there, Erik. You’re handsome and hardworking. You have a good heart. You’ll make a fine husband. I’m sure of it.”
“Then why am I not good enough for Maddie? You’ve said that you’ve always been fond of me. I’m a good person. I work my ass off. I have a thriving business. Even if you took away all of your business and all of your friends, I’m still going to be successful. I’m not trying to live off Maddie.”
“It’s not about that, Erik! This isn’t about your social status or your financial success, or if I think you’re trying to use her for her money. Which, for the record, I don’t think at all.” He takes off his glasses. “This is about Madeline and her future. Simply put: I cannot have my daughter get in trouble for conspiring to a fake marriage to keep you in the country. Do you understand what that could do to her—and to our business?”
“What we have isn’t fake.”
“I understand you believe that. But we both know that Madeline has a soft heart. She would do anything to help anyone—especially you, since you two were quite friendly when you were children. But you need to leave her out of your ordeal. Her career—her life—is on the line. She’s the future of the Commons Stores. I can’t have her involved in something illegal. Her reputation is already tarnished.”
“Tarnished? How?”
“The aftermath of her breakup. I know she went through a rough time with Trent—”
I jump to my feet and look down at him. “‘A rough time?’ He almost killed her and you call it ‘a rough time?’”
Harris stands, refusing to be overpowered, even in body language. “I’ve already discussed the incident with Madeline. She insists it wasn’t that at all.”
“Oh my God!” I roll my eyes to the crystal chandelier above our heads. My body shakes so hard, it feels like the room is moving. “You really have no clue, do you?”
“What does that mean?”
“Do you hear yourself? How could you believe that manipulative scumbag over her?”
He shakes his head and holds a hand up. “Enough of this.”
“Harris, I will promise to walk away from Madeline if you promise not to push her toward Trent.”
“You’re not really in a place to compromise.”
“You really don’t understand how much I love her, do you? I have to protect her—especially if you won’t.”
Harris scowls as if I’ve slapped him in the face.
“I’m not worried about being deported. I’ll go to the Czech Republic and start a life there. What I am worried about is Trent hurting Maddie again.”
“He didn’t hurt—”
“Ask her!” I yell, interrupting any ignorant comment that’s about to come out of his mouth. Harris Commons could have my head on a platter, but I don’t care. He needs to hear the truth. “Straight up ask your daughter all the things he did to her, Harris! But ask her with an open mind, not as if you’re trying to prove her wrong.”
He’s staring at me in disbelief, as if I’d used my fists instead of words against him. But he’s listening now, and this is my chance to help him see the truth about Trent. Maddie isn’t a pawn in a family busin
ess. She’s a human being—a human being who’s being sent to the den of a hungry lion every time she’s forced to interact with Trent.
“You’re standing here, telling me you’re worried about her future. You’re worried about the trouble she could get into for marrying an illegal immigrant, and I get that. But you’ll let a narcissistic sociopath abuse her—maybe even kill her?”
“Was it really that bad?” Harris asks quietly, as if finally entertaining the thought for the first time. His hands brace the top of his chair.
I lift my arms as if to shake him, but I know I can’t, so I clench my fists in frustration. “Yes. He’s violent and emotionally abusive. How have you never seen it?”
“He’s never laid a hand on her in my presence.”
“No shit,” I snap. “What about how he talks to her?”
“It’s no different than—” Harris pauses, stopping himself from saying anything else.
It’s no different than how he talks to Cookie? It’s no different than how many of his associates speak to women? I’m not saying I haven’t benefited from a patriarchal system or values, but fuck—unchecked patriarchy is a sad, disrespectful way to live. Especially when you can’t see outside of it.
I can’t say any of that to him, and I honestly don’t want to. I’m never going to change his mind, but maybe I can get him to see it from another perspective.
“Madeline has idolized you her entire life,” I say tentatively. “She never had any doubts about wanting to work in your family business—to work directly with you. This is your chance to be the hero, Harris. To be the man she’s always seen through those beautiful blue eyes.”
He taps the envelope against his thigh as he contemplates what to say next. I honestly have no clue if I’m getting through to him. Finally, he squares his jaw and looks me in the eye. “I don’t know if she’ll ever see me that way again.”
“That’s up to you. But if you don’t start listening to her concerns, you’re going to lose the only daughter who’s always been on your side.”
“I have your word that you won’t let her continue this charade?”
“If I have your word that you will take her concerns about Trent seriously and keep him away from her.”
“I will be sure that the Trent Anderson situation is taken care of.”
A “thank you” rushes out with the breath I’ve been holding. “You have my word that I will end our arrangement. I don’t want her involved in anything that could get her in trouble either. It’s gone too far.”
Though my feelings for Maddie are very real, I can honestly say I don’t want her to be involved in any of this. I certainly don’t want to be linked to any shady, fake birth-certificate that Harris Commons can make happen. I’m done living with lies.
I have to take responsibility for my own life. I can’t blame anymore. If Maddie and I are meant to be together, it will happen. Someday. We live in a world where communication overseas is easy. We may not be together as a couple, but we can still keep in touch.
He holds the envelope out to me. I shake my head in refusal.
“Make sure that record gets wiped off the planet, Harris. I’m doing this the legal way. I don’t want my name tied to any of that fake-document shit.” By the way his eyebrows inch up, he’s surprised by my stern command.
There’s no reason to be intimidated because he doesn’t have anything to hold over my head anymore. Not the secret of my citizenship. Not my job. Not my relationship with his daughter.
Despite his surprise, he keeps a cool demeanor, shoving a hand in his pocket and shifting his stance casually before asking, “How so?”
“I’m moving to Prague at the end of the month.” The relief of finally taking control of my life gives me confidence. “Everything is in place.”
Harris breaks eye contact to toss the envelope on his desk. He leans over and grabs his bourbon. “Does Madeline know?”
“Yes,” I say firmly.
Harris’s eyes fly to mine in surprise.
“She understands I’m doing it because I love her. And I will do anything in my power to keep her safe and out of trouble—even if it means breaking her heart.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Maddie
Even though I understood the reasoning, when Erik told me he was moving to Prague no matter what, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to process. Though it felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest, I played it cool, as cool as I could, because there was no reason to get upset or make him more upset. I knew there was no changing his mind.
The reality that we’ve always known, is that for him to ever be able to stay in America legally after his work permit expires, he must leave the country. And when he leaves we have no clue how long it will be until he’s allowed to come back. Because he chose to admit that he was brought here illegally as a child, and took the appropriate steps to stay here, we’re hoping his process to re-enter the country will be a little easier. The policies on the status of Dreamers could change a hundred times over the next few months, or even years, but it’s highly unlikely that all of them would ever be given blanket U.S. citizenship, no matter how many Homeland Security policy changes happen. And it doesn’t do him any good to wait if the solution will always be the same.
I never thought that he would choose to leave, and as much as that hurts, I understand why he has to do it.
I was prepared to handle his absence with a strong heart and my head high. Until I realized…
Erik can’t stay in America, but there’s absolutely nothing that stops me from going with him to the Czech Republic.
All this time we’ve been discussing how to keep him here, but going with him never came up once. I’m quite certain he never mentioned it because he thinks I have this grand life here that I couldn’t possibly leave behind, and maybe I thought that myself once—before us. I’m a different person now than I was even a few months ago, but one thing hasn’t changed: family is the most important thing in the world. And Erik is my family now.
I knew he’d never agree to my suggestion unless I settle a few things beforehand—not just in my life, but also things that weigh heavily on him. If I can get everything I need to sorted in the next few weeks, I’m free to move to wherever I damn well please.
If the man I love is going to Prague, I’m going too.
I knock on the doorframe to my father’s office. Like a college professor, he holds open door hours at work. It was part of a company-wide plan built to make the workplace a more open, friendly environment. We’re a family business, and we want our employees to feel like family. Open door hours give employees specific times to reach managers in person. Daddy can only be reached by executives this way, but it’s still helpful.
“Daddy, I need to talk to you about my future with Commons Department Stores.”
“Excuse me?” He looks up from his computer screen.
“I’m moving to Prague at the end of the month,” I say matter-of-factly, though I know the news will be a major blow. “I may not be able to efficiently handle all of the duties of the Vice President of Apparel and Cosmetics remotely. I need to talk with you about a different position, or hiring an Assistant VP to take care of the things I need to be present for during that time. I assume hiring someone is cheaper than flying me back and forth. I’d like to know what other options I have with the company.”
“Hold on a second, Madeline! What do you mean, you’re moving to Prague?”
“Erik has to move, so I’m going with him.”
Daddy stares at me. He looks at the computer screen, then to me again. “Come in and sit down, please.”
I step into his office. “I can’t stay long, Daddy. As you can probably imagine, I have a to-do list a million miles long. I just need to know if it’s something we can work on, or if I need to look for a position in Prague.”
“Madeline, you’ve made your point. You love him. I can handle that.” He removes his glasses, tossing them on the desk, an
d rises from his chair. “But giving up your career? Moving to a foreign country?”
“Erik stood up for me when no one else would. Erik stands up for everybody.” I look out the window, because I can’t quite face my father when the pain is still so raw. “You wouldn’t stand up for me when I told you about Trent. I’m your daughter.” I turn back to him with tears in my eyes. “I can’t keep putting on a strong face every day and be forced to work alongside Trent. Something has to—”
Daddy raises his hand, a well-known nonverbal command to silence me. It’s ingrained. “I spoke to Jessie Piper and told him that Trent Anderson is not to be involved in any matters that involve Commons Department Stores or the Commons family. He is not to have access to records. He is not to communicate with our family in any legal matter. And if they don’t adhere to those rules, we will pull all of our business from their firm.”
“But—” I close my eyes and shake my head, trying to understand. “You—”
Within a few strides, he’s at my side. He places his hands on my shoulder and looks me straight in the eye. “You are more important to me than Trent Anderson. You always have been and you always will be. I’m sorry if my actions have ever made you doubt that.”
“Thank you, Daddy.”
“Now, that we’ve handled that.” He kisses my forehead and starts to walk toward his desk.
“Does that mean I’ll be able to stay in my current position while in Prague?” I ask.
He spins around, eyes wide with surprise. “I thought I just established the fact that you won’t have to work with Trent again. You can stay here.”
“While I truly appreciate that you finally stood up for me, Trent has little to do with my decision. I want to be with Erik. He’s my family. I won’t let him move to a foreign country alone.”
He tilts his head before pleading, “Madeline—”