All Good Things (26 page)

"Miss LeRoux?" A female voice sounded behind me. My spine stiffened and shivers claimed every inch of bared skin. I turned around slowly.

Blue eyes, the same as Jace's, looked back at me. Jaylah was tall, just a few inches shorter than Jace. She had jet-black hair and high cheekbones. She was stunning. I felt inferior just standing next to her.

"Hello," I slid my hand into hers, shaking it formerly. "You can call me Olivia."

Her eyes twinkled. "And you can call me Jaylah." She beamed. "I cannot believe Jace has a girlfriend."

I swallowed. "Why not?"

She cocked her head to the side. "Jace does not date. This is new for him and for me. I never thought I would live to see this day."

"Oh,"

"And I cannot wait to tell Mother. She will be so happy." Jaylah's eyes misted over as though she were about to cry and I stiffened. Shock rolled through my system as I stared into her face. "Anyway," she huffed. "Now that I have made a complete and utter fool of myself, I should probably show you I can be professional or you aren't going to trust me with your project."

I smiled. I liked her already. Whereas Jace was always so controlled, Jaylah was a bundle of emotions and she was not afraid or ashamed to show them.

"I already trust you." I beamed. "But let's grab a coffee and settle in."

***

I leaned over the pile of paperwork on my desk and wished, for a moment, I liked the thought of having a personal assistant. Life would be so much easier if I had one, but I couldn't overcome my trust issues. It was because of that I could not allow myself an assistant. If Jaylah hadn't been so determined to make a name for herself on her own, I would have had her as my assistant, but I couldn't tie her to me. She was bright and I would only take her down with me, dimming her shine. She deserved more than I could give. She deserved more than Rush Industries could give...and so, I allowed her to pursue her dreams. And she grew out of the little girl I had always loved into the confident woman I adored. She was the only woman apart from my Mother...and now Olivia, who made me feel like a normal guy. Just Jace...without the Rush. It was exhilarating and relieving at the same time.

The phone on my desk rang. The line for reception flashed and I pressed speakerphone.

"Why are you still here, Laura?" It was after ten-thirty. She should be at home with her kids.

"I was just about to leave, Mr. Rush." She assured quickly. "But Mrs. Rush is here. She will be in your office in a moment."

I sighed and glared at the door. "Did she say why she was here?"

"No, Sir. But, she looked almost nervous."

I scoffed. "Thank you, Laura. Go home."

"Goodnight, Sir."

The line went dead as the door to my office opened and my mother stepped through. Her face was pale, but her eyes were bright. I shifted in my seat as she strode confidently into the space, letting the smoked glass doors fall closed behind her.

"Hello, Mom."

"What are you still doing here, Jace?" Karen demanded. The underlay of her tone told me I was being scolded...but what the hell for?

"I'm working." I gestured to the papers on my desk.

She frowned. "Jaylah tells me you have a woman in your life. When were you going to tell me this and when will I meet her?"

My mouth dropped. The little scoundrel told Mom about Olivia even after I made her promise she wouldn't say anything. "Her name is Olivia, Mother."

"Oh, don't you dare Mother me, Jace." She pointed her finger at me. "You should have told me yourself and you should be with her rather than in this office hiding out like a frightened pup."

My brows rose. "A frightened pup?"

Her sharp eyes narrowed. "You know exactly what I mean, Jace."

I bristled. "I don't think I do, Mother. I'm trying to run my father's company."

She paled. "You didn't have to take over the company, Jace." She whispered. "You could have sold it and lived your life. When he died, you were free."

I stood, running a hand through my hair. "I was never free, Mom."

"I'm so sorry, Jace." Her voice shook and I felt like an ass. She didn't know why I took over the company. She had no idea the choices I was forced to make. "If I could go back and make different choices...I would. You know that, don't you?"

My skin tightened as I stared into her soft blue eyes. She was the polar opposite of my father. Where she taught with love, my father taught with his fist. He had been a harsh man ruled by his desire to succeed. He wanted a son he could mold into a better version of himself, a version more successful, and he succeeded. I had always known my fate. He had drilled it into me ever since I could remember. I knew who I was supposed to become. I knew who he expected me to become. And, it was this. In a moment of rebellion, I decided this was not the life for me. I decided I wanted to move away and study architecture. I wanted a family.

In a heated moment of bravery, I told my father I would never run his company. I told him I was leaving New York, and I would never look back.

The bastard that he was killed himself. Not two days later. He had refined his will to state if I chose not to run the company, it would be sent to auction and the proceeds would be given to charity. The will stated my mother and my sister would be left with nothing, robbed of the only life they had ever known. I had been forced to take over the company to ensure the carpet of their lives was not ripped out from under their feet, leaving nothing but concrete on the bare pads.

"I know you would make different choices, Mom." I sighed heavily. I would never tell her of my reasons for remaining in control of the company. She didn't need to know the brutal father I had been born from ruled my life and happiness from the grave.

Karen sighed heavily and her frail looking hands shook. "Jace, don't become your father." My blood turned cold. "Don't throw away the love you have for this girl for this company." Her eyes were serious orbs in her face. "It will not keep you warm at night and it will not chase away your fears. She will."

"I don't love Olivia, Mom."

She smiled gently. "But, you do, Jace. You just don't know it yet. Go home to her for tonight and bring her home to meet your Mother tomorrow evening." She closed the distance between us and pressed a kiss to my cheek. I tried not to flinch away from her affection, and to my relief, she pulled away quickly. "Goodnight, Jace. Think about what I said."

I watched with my feet rooted to the floor as she moved across the room to the door. She paused when she reached the door and turned back to look into my eyes. Hers were sad and I wished I could be the son she wanted me to be. I had fought hard to be the son she desired. The one who lived for himself and for his dreams, but my father had robbed me of my life when he'd robbed himself his own.

***

I paced the floor with a glass of white wine in my hand. Jeez, where was Jace? It was already half past eleven and I hadn't heard a word from him all day long. What the hell was he doing and why wouldn't he have texted me back?

"Come and sit down. You're freaking me out." Trisha called out from the couch, patting the cushion beside her.

"No, I'm good." I didn't think I could sit down. My nerves were too tightly strung and if I sat still...I was sure they would snap.

"I'm sure he's fine. He's probably just working."

I glanced at her, trying to hold back the glare that wanted to surface. "It's late."

Her eyes narrowed. "Maybe he went home tonight."

"He told me he would be here." I snapped. I was growing more and more irritable by the second, but I was afraid for him. I came home to another letter today, but I didn't open it. I was afraid I would find the words more threatening than the last two letters. I was afraid that whoever the writer was had Jace. What if they did? I had no idea who the person was.

Trisha sighed, breaking through my thoughts. She stood and walked to past me to the kitchen, picking up the letter I had placed on the counter. "Well, maybe you should open his letter." I felt my face grow pale and her eyes narrowed. "The letters have been from him, right?"

I shook the fear from my head and snatched the letter. "Of course." I huffed. "Who else would they be from?" I downed the glass of wine. It was my fourth glass and I was just a little tipsy. But, I was certain I was going to need to be intoxicated to read this particular letter. The weight of it in my hand was different. It felt...heavier somehow. Like the weight of the words would undoubtedly weigh down on my heart. And, break it.

I reached for the bottle of wine I'd left on the counter and tipped it over my glass. Not even a drop fell from the bottle. I pouted, staring at it as though I could set it to flames.

Trisha scoffed. "You drank the entire bottle by yourself."

I frowned. "Apparently." I glared at the bottle for another minute before setting it on the counter. The glass chimed against the granite and I flinched. "Do we have any more?" I peeked up at Trisha who was staring down at me with wide, worried eyes.

"No." She shook her head. "I think you've had enough."

My mouth drooped. "We do have more. You liar!"

Her brows rose. "I think you should go to bed, Liv. You're going to have one hell of a hangover tomorrow."

"I have to wait for Jace." I argued. "I want more wine." A giggle erupted from my lips and once I started, I simply could not stop. What the hell was wrong with me and why was this so fun? "Drink with me, Trisha!"

"I don't think so, Liv." She reached for my glass, but I clutched it to my chest protectively. She sighed. "How about you go to bed and I will wait up for Jace?"

I pouted, but finally nodded. "Fine. Since you aren't going to be any fun tonight, I guess I will just go to bed by myself."

"Yes, you do that sweetie." Trisha smiled as I set my glass on the counter.

Glaring at Trisha, I made my way to the hall. When I opened the door to my bedroom, Moo-moo stretched on the corner of my bed, but didn't bother to open his eyes. I held the unopened letter to my chest, and sighed shakily, as I walked to my desk, dropping it in the drawer with the others. I didn't want to read the words until I knew Jace was all right. I needed to know he was okay before I tore open the daunting envelope.

On shaky knees, I moved to my bed. I didn't bother to pull back the covers or change from my clothing. I just flopped on the bed, pulled Moo-moo into my chest and fell asleep to the sound of his purr.

Chapter 19

I pressed the buzzer to Olivia's apartment and tried to ignore the worry plaguing at the fringes of my mind that she might not answer. It was late. Probably too late.

"Hello?" A voice sounded through the intercom. It was not Olivia's.

"It's Jace. Is Olivia there?"

There was no answer, just a buzz allowing me access to the building. I really couldn't wait for her lease to be up so I could get her into something...safer. This brick building housed some shady people. I had done my research and I wanted her in something approved by both me and my security team. She needed to live in a place that had a doorman. Not this little buzzer that let anyone in. I ran a hand though my hair as I pulled the handle of the barred door open and stepped into the building.

I climbed the stairs until I came to her floor and walked to her door. I knocked gently before trying the knob. It was unlocked. Instant anger sizzled in my throat and I swung open the door to find Trisha leaning against the wall with her arms over her chest. She looked madder than a bat out of hell.

What the fuck?

"Where is Olivia?"

"She is asleep. Finally."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Trisha rolled her eyes. "She was waiting for you for hours. Where were you?"

"I was working." I didn't like being questioned by her. Actually, I didn't really like her at all.

"And, you didn't have time to text Liv...or answer her texts?"

I bristled and kicked off my shoes. I closed the door, making a point of locking it behind me. "I am going to go to her."

"She was drunk out of her mind when I came home tonight." Trisha's voice was low. Her anger was sizzling. If I got any closer to her, I was confident she would burn me. "Liv does not drink, Jace. She drank an entire bottle of wine and fought me for another. She only went to bed because I promised to wait up for you."

"Why-,"

She cut me off. "I really didn't think you were going to show up, but I waited because I promised I would. It's after one in the morning, Jace. What the fuck were you thinking?"

She was more than mad. She was furious and she was in protection mode. I couldn't blame her. "Look, I'm sorry. I had a few things I had to figure out before I could come here."

"And, I am assuming those things you were trying to figure out revolved around Liv, right?" I didn't say anything as she glared up at me. "That's what I thought. Let me tell you something, Jace. Olivia is not like you. She is so much better than you or any of the whores you have had in the past,"

I cut her off. "Don't you think I fucking know that? I've done everything within my power to forget about her. I've done everything I could do to stay away and let her live her life, but I can't. I know she deserves better than me."

Trisha took in my fisted hands, but didn't back down. "Then, be better, Jace. Because I promise you," she paused. For effect I assumed. "If you hurt her, I will kill you."

"I don't doubt it." And, I didn't. There was some feral protection housed within Trisha for Olivia. A protection I couldn't begin to understand.

"I gave up everything to help Olivia get away from men like you. And, if you don't start treating her as though she means more than your average conquest, I will do everything within my power to get her away from you." Her voice was low and threatening. "Have I made myself clear?"

I clenched my jaw. "What do you mean, you gave up everything to get her away from men like me?"

"Her father is just like you." Trisha's eyes were cold. "And she hated him."

With those words, Trisha walked away from me. My blood boiled under my skin as I took in her words. They were like a punch to the gut, but ten times more painful. It was in that moment I realized...I did love Olivia. I was in love with her because I wanted to be better for her. I wanted to be everything and more than she deserved. I just had to prove to her I could be different than her father...but, I didn't know if I would succeed. I didn't know the type of man her father was. I had nothing to compare myself to.