True Love (Volume 4) (Now and Forever) (10 page)

"Eve, let me explain," Alex stated as he walked around his desk and put his hands on her arms.

"What's there to explain, you have chosen to stay in town to see Emily instead of going to Pittsburgh with me."

Alex sighed. "It's for business. Emily has decided to show her pieces here and I need to work out the details."

"You could have told her that you have plans with your so called girlfriend but you didn't. I stood right here and listened to your conversation."

"Please try
and understand, you have been a breath of fresh air for me these past two days, I'm not going to ruin that, Eve."

He heard her sigh and look at the floor. "I think you already have, Alex." She turned to leave and he didn't stop her. She jogged down the stairs and out the front door. As the front door closed he turned and saw his sister standing on the main desk. Patty looked at him and shook her head.

"What did you do now?"

Alex headed back into his office but he could hear his sister
as she walked up the stairs. "Patty, I don't need a lecture."

She walked into his office and sat down. "
Why do I need to give you a lecture?”

Alex looked down at his paperwork. "I think I messed up another relationship."

"What did you do now, Alex?"

"Emily called me and she wants to display her work here. She's coming into town tomorrow to work out the details but earlier today I made plans to travel to
Pittsburgh with Eve so we can continue our relationship."

"How many times are you going to let Emily ruin your relationships? Eve is a gorgeous, fun and
a free spirited lady that you desperately need in your life. If you stay here for Emily, that's going to be over."

"What am I suppose
d to do, Patty? This is good business. We need the revenue and Emily will bring new people into our gallery."

"I understand that, Alex. You are a great businessman, no one has ever doubted that but when are you going to take a breath
er and find your true love. She may have just walked out of that door."

Alex sighed again and threw his pen across his desk. "I need to go talk to Eve."

"Yes, you do. I can stay around help out."

Alex stood up and hugged his sister. "Thank you, Patty." He ran down the stairs and out to his car. He dialed her number to find out where she was so he could meet up with her.

"Alex, I have nothing to say to you right now."

"Please let me have a chance to explain myself. I just want to talk."

"So talk," Eve said.

"I really want to see you, Eve. Where are you?"

She sighed into the phone. "I'm at the pier."

"I will be right there." Alex hung up the phone and started
to drive towards the pier.

As he reached the parking lot, he spotted her rental car. He looked around at all the picnic tables and families playing in the warm air. He smiled when he spotted Eve standing at the foot of the pier. He slowly approached her and stopped right behind her.

He knew that she could sense him. They were drawn to each other but she didn't turn around.

"Alex, I don't want to get hurt. I can't go through that again."

He walked up behind her and put his arms on either side of her, trapping her against him. He kissed the back of her head. "I told you that I would never hurt you, Eve."

"You can't get her out of your system," Eve said. "
But you need to, Alex."

"It's just business. I promise you that."

She turned around to face him. "I really want to let you in, Alex. I want to start a real relationship someone but this entire situation scares the crap out of me."

"It shouldn't. I'm over her and moving onto you. I need you by my side. Please don't let me ruin this relationship." Alex pleaded as he kissed her.

She slowly responded as she parted her lips for him. He felt her body move closer to his and her fingers move into his hair. She whispered against his lips. "I want to trust you, Alex."

He braced her face with his hands and looked into her eyes. "I want you to trust me. I will handle Emily's business in the morning and hop into my car as soon as she leaves to meet you in
Pittsburgh for a few days, ok?"

Eve nodded. "Thank you."

After enjoying each other’s embrace, Alex left her to her thoughts and headed back to the gallery. Patty greeted him at the door. “How did it go?”

“Very well, Eve is a wonderful person. I do have a favor to ask of you though.”

“What’s that?” Patty asked as they climbed the stairs to his office.

“I want you to be here when Emily arrives. It’s not that I don’t trust myself but I think Eve would feel better knowing that you were with me and I know that you won’t allow me to do or say anything inappropriate.”

Patty smiled and nodded. “Of course, I can be here.”

“Thank you. You don’t have to stick around. I will stay here until this evening’s show. Eve will meet me here.”

She nodded and grabbed her coat. “Oh, before I forget. Dan and I would like to have you over for dinner next week.”

“Just let me know when and I will be there.”

She disappeared from his office and Alex went back to working on his financial reports. Bringing Emily’s paintings to the gallery would be the infusion of cash that he needed to keep the gallery up to date and in the social limelight. He heard his cell phone ring from his jacket pocket.

“Hello?”
“Alex? It’s Steve Pike, Eve’s manager.”

“Of course, how’s it going, Steve?”

“I wanted to let you know that our crews will be in right after the show tonight. We need a quick turnaround for Pittsburgh. Will that be a problem?”

“No, of course not.
I have a great staff who will give you any assistance that you may need. I will give them a heads up that it may be a late night.”

“Thank you, Alex. I also wanted to speak with you about Eve.”

“What about her? Is everything alright?”

“Can I be honest with you?”

Alex paused and thought the conversation was about to take an uncomfortable turn. “I guess you can.”

“I’m concerned about your relationship with Eve.”

Alex was slightly taken back. “And how is that any of your concern?”

“I’m her manager and close friend. I’ve
looked out for her for years and she’s broken through and in the spotlight now. She had horrible relationships in the past and I’m afraid you will just end up hurting her like the rest of them.”

“Steve, I think you are way over the line right now.” Alex stated.

“I don’t. I looked into your past Alex. I know about your business dealings, your relationships and the trouble that your father had gotten himself into years ago.”

Alex stood up and yelled into the phone. “How dare you! How is any of th
at your business? If I were you Steve, I wouldn’t step foot into this gallery tonight.”

“Now you
threaten me, Alex. This is the type of behavior that I’m talking about.”

“I’m going to hang up
Steve but take my advice.”

Alex slid his phone across his desk and punched the wall behind him. How could he dig into his past? He thought that his undercover investigator ha
d buried his father’s past.

He reached for his phone and made a phone call. “Brad, it’s Alex.”

“Alex, how can I help you today?”

“I just had a very unpleasant conversation with a nuisance in my life. He claims he found the information about my father. How is that possible? I thought you buried that.”

“I did! He must have some powerful friends in low places.”

“I’m pissed off, Brad!”

“Man, I’m sorry but I will look into this. Give me the guys’ name.”

Alex shared all the information with Brad and quickly asked him. “Are the online pictures of Eve gone?”

“I found what I could and paid off the sites to take the rest of them down. You can let Eve know that she should have her privacy back. It looks like her ex rock star boyfriend did most of the leaks. He wanted to create some buzz for his career."

"Thank you for that but I'm pissed about my father, find where the leak is Brad!" Alex hung up the phone and leaned back
in his chair. He didn't understand what the hell just happened to him.

He stood up and grabbed his suit jacket. He walked down the staircase and found Beth talking with the caterers. "Beth, I need to run out for awhile. Can you watch over things until I get back?"

"Of course, we are just cleaning up for tonight. I have a small tour group arriving in about an hour but I can get someone to man the front desk."

"
Thank you, I will be back in a couple of hours." Alex ran to his car and quickly dialed Eve.

"Hey handsome, what can I do for you this afternoon?" Eve asked.

"I need to speak with you immediately. Has Steve called you?"

"
He called while I was in the shower but I haven't returned his phone call yet."

"I beg you not to until I get there. Is that ok?" Alex pleaded.

"What's wrong, Alex?"

"I will be at your hotel in fifteen minutes."

"Ok, I will be waiting for you."

Alex raced through the lobby and into the waiting elevator. He tried to keep his cool but he wanted to hurt Steve. As the elevator stopped on Eve’s floor, he ran down the hallway and knocked on her door.

Eve opened the door and tried to smile at him. “What’s going on? Steve has been calling nonstop but I haven’t picked up.”

“Good,” Alex said as he entered her hotel room and sat on the couch. “Steve called me earlier today and voiced some concerns about our relationship.”

“
What about our relationship?” Eve asked.

“I want
ed to explain a few things to you because I think you have the right to know about my history.”

“Alex, you don’t have to tell me anything. If Steve was out of line, I will talk to him and put him into his place. He only manages my career not my personal life.”

Alex shook his head. “No, I really like you and I don’t want any secrets between us.” He got up and walked over to her. “Years ago, my father had found out he had been diagnosed with cancer. There was no treatment for him and he knew he was going to die. He wanted to protect his family and make sure we were taken care of properly before he left us. So, he decided to do something rash and started to embezzle money from his employer.”

Eve gasped. “I’m so sorry, Alex.”

Alex stroked the side of her face and looked into her eyes. “It was a tough time. I don’t approve of what he did but I understand it. I would do anything to protect my loved ones. After my dad passed away, we found out the truth when the cops knocked on our door one night. Of course, we returned the money and they couldn’t press charges because he was already gone.”

“
Why are you telling me this?” Eve asked.

“Because this morning
Steve called me and informed me that he had unburied my Dad’s secrets.”

“What!” Eve gasped. “Why would he do that?”

“I told you Eve, he has a thing for you. I knew that just by the way he looked at you. He wants me to stay away.”

Eve sat down at the kitchen counter and sighed. “I can’t believe he would do something like that.
He was supposed to be my friend.”

“I’m sorry, Eve. That’s why I wanted to speak with you first. I also wanted to let you know that I talked to my friend and those pictures from online have been removed.”

Eve looked at him and stood up. “You are amazing. How did you make that happen?”

Alex smirked. “I have friends in low places.”

Eve laughed. “Thank you, Alex. Thank you so much.”

He leaned down and kissed her lips softly. “You are very welcome.”

She gently placed her head on his chest and whispered, “What am I going to do about Steve? That wasn’t right of him to dig up stuff like that on you or anyone else in my life.”

“The decision is yours but if it was me, I would fire him and find someone else who would support your career.”

Eve nodded. “I think I need to speak with him.”

“Of course,” Alex said as he kissed her again. “I need to head back to the gallery. See you tonight around seven?”

She nodded. “Thank you for the information.”

He nodded and disappeared into the hallway. As the elevator doors opened, Steve stepped from the car. “You son of a bitch, I knew she wasn’t answering my phone calls for a reason!”