Trust in Advertising (63 page)

“That explains it.”

“Explains what?”

Another long silence stretched before Lexi answered. “The slight differences in the materials, the way she got the information to set me up. She saw the original version at your apartment, before you updated it. That’s what was on the paper Erica gave me, a picture of the originals in your apartment. Jade knew what you were doing, and she set me up from the beginning.”

Ruefully, Vincent nodded his head. “She would ask what accounts were in play and which ones she should be listening for information on, and I gave 380

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her everything. I basically handed her everything she needed to frame you. If I could go back in time, I would.”

“It doesn’t matter. What’s done is done.”

Lexi’s words hung between them, the finality in them scaring Vincent.

She was right. The past was unchangeable and had an effect on the future, no matter how hard either of them tried to ignore it. He knew his actions would have repercussions and change things between the two of them.

“I want you to know that I believed you. Before you swore on Harry’s soul, I knew you were telling the truth, but I also know you well enough to realize that by considering you guilty for even a short time I’ve damaged our relationship. I only hope the damage isn’t irrevocable.” When he saw the tears had started again, he kept going, sensing his time was running out. “When Jade and I got upstairs, I sat her down and gave her the truth. I told her there was someone else I cared a great deal for and we needed to end things. She was in the middle of trying to talk me out of it when the text came from Mr. Johnson, and I admit, I was floored. My emotions were already a mess, and reading it just sent me over the edge. Jade saw it and went off, ranting about how you played me, pointed out that the time we started losing clients coincided with your arrival. She brought up you and Reid again, his interest in you, the flowers, the private discussion from earlier in the evening. She played on my jealousy and insecurities perfectly. She knew you were the woman I was leaving her for. She knew I wanted a relationship with you, and it drove her crazy. Jade lashed out and went straight for your jugular, and I stood by and watched.”

Lexi’s foot now tapped nervously, like she was desperately trying to stay in control of herself. Part of Vincent hoped she’d lose control and finally show some sort of emotion. A kicking, punching, screaming Lexi would be far less terrifying to Vincent than the totally apathetic woman sitting beside him.

“Right after I read the text, you walked through the door. There was no time for me to process it or reason things out. I was angry; I admit it. I was a hot-head, and I regret that more than I can ever say. My common sense was buried deep under my anger. I let my insecurities and pathetic history dictate my actions. In my head, I thought you had betrayed me, just like every other woman I had dated. Jade didn’t convince me—I convinced myself that you were guilty.”

A few moments passed during which Lexi’s head simply shook from side to side as she digested everything Vincent had told her. Everything about her body language screamed “back off” but she said nothing and listened. He had 381

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held nothing back. Every ugly detail of his mistake was laid out for her to see.

She needed to know all of it.

“The fact that when you asked me to trust you, I didn’t do it immediately will haunt me forever. When you turned your back on me, I knew the truth.

In the past when I had listened to my heart, I screwed myself. So this time, I followed my head. I ignored what I knew in my heart about you and let my paranoid head cloud my judgment. I’ll regret that decision and hurting you until the day I die. The incredible thing is that I do trust you. I trust you with my life, my work, and my heart. I panicked. I’ve never wanted to give my heart to someone like I want to give it to you. Totally and completely.”

The calm veneer that Lexi had put up finally exploded, and she scrambled to her feet, unable to sit there any longer. “Are you done?” she snipped, wiping her cheeks, straightening her dress and pulling herself together. “Because I’m done listening to you.”

“Lexi—”

“Don’t ‘Lexi’ me. This wasn’t the first time you’ve been awful to me, Vincent.

When I started working at Hunter, you were barely human. Then there was the incident where you suggested I be a whore for Hunter, or my personal favorite—all the times Jade spewed her hate at me or your family members and you stood beside her, suddenly struck mute and spineless.” Vincent stayed silent while she continued, teeming with rage. “And if all that wasn’t enough, you then have the nerve to accuse me of sleeping with that psychotic idiot Reid and saying I wormed my way into your life? Into the lives of your family? How dare you!”

Vincent was on his feet beside her in seconds. He was careful not to touch her, but he blocked her escape down the path and held his hands up in surrender. “Wait.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m done waiting for you, Vincent Drake. I’ve already spent years of my life waiting.” Lexi stormed past him, his jacket slipping off her shoulders and falling onto the sidewalk.

“Lexi, please!” the strangled cry came from deep in his chest. “Lexi!” he roared into the darkness as his heart began to rip apart in his chest.

Wheeling around, Lexi screamed back at him. “What do you want from me?”

“I want a life
with
you. I want what my parents have, what my sister has with Erik. God help me, I want to be able to come into work an hour late with a big goofy grin on my face like Sean does now that he found Hope.” He slowly approached Lexi, who was sobbing, not even trying to hide her distress any 382

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longer behind a brave face. She was shattered, boldly allowing him to see just how deeply he had hurt her.

Without hesitation, he stepped over and wrapped his arms around her, crushing her against his chest. Her body stayed rigid, but after a few seconds he felt her emotional y exhausted body sag into his. They stood locked in an embrace for a long time, Vincent whispering apologies and begging her forgiveness as he pressed his lips to the top of her head. Carefully, he led her back to the bench and sat her down, taking great care to wrap his jacket back over her shoulders and make her as comfortable as possible. Instead of sitting beside her, he stayed on his knees at her feet, holding her trembling hands.

“I want you to know everything about me, Lexi, to see inside me, beyond my gruff arrogance, beyond the hurt and loneliness, to the man underneath it all. There are things about me that no one knows, but I want to share them with you. Believe it or not, I think you’ve gotten closer than anyone ever has to knowing the real me.”

Taking the handkerchief from her hand, he wiped the new tears that had fallen. “You make me the man I want to be. You help me see the good in people.

I have fun when I’m with you, even under the worst circumstances. Your smile makes me happy; your touch sets my body on fire. When you walk into a room, I feel like a teenager and can’t help but look at you. I love the way you bite your nails when you’re stressed, or stick pencils into your hair while you’re working.

You have five little freckles,” he leaned forward and gently touched each one on the bridge of her nose and cheeks, “that I can only see when I’m this close to you. You’re loyal and brave. The way you are with Madison is beautiful to watch. She adores you just like everyone else who comes in contact with you.

My life felt like it was an endless night before you came along and showed me the sun again. I don’t want to lose you.”

Lexi’s head dipped down, hiding her eyes from Vincent’s view. When he hooked his finger under her chin and their eyes reconnected, he was overwhelmed by the emotions he felt. “You are the best thing that ever walked into my dreary life and rearranged my office without permission. I love your smartass replies to my angry text messages. I love the way you put me in my place when I act like an idiot. I love the way your nose wrinkles when you smile and the way you flick your hair over your shoulder when you walk into my office with that little yellow legal pad of yours.” He paused, looking deeply into her eyes and knew it was now or never. “Lexi, I lo—”

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At the speed of light, her hand found his mouth and firmly covered it. Her eyes were sad; the anger had dissipated and was replaced with misery. “Don’t say it. I can’t hear that from you right now. I don’t want the memory of the first time you say that to me to be attached to this night. I dreamed about what it would be like to hear you say those words to me. If you care about me at all, wait. Let me keep my dream. Please don’t take that away from me too.”

As much as he wanted to tell her how much he loved her, he understood.

This was not the time to do that. Earlier this evening, before he had made everything so damn complicated would have been better. He should have just grabbed her on that red carpet and kissed her in front of all the paparazzi and let that be it. Too little, too late.

His head bobbed up and down in agreement, and Lexi removed her hand.

“What are we doing, here?” she whispered, her exhaustion finally showing.

“Talking, sweetheart, just talking.”

She slipped her hand from his and reached out to touch his face, running her fingers lightly over his swollen eyebrow. Vincent winced at the contact. “You look terrible.” Her fingers continued to trace over the swollen flesh around his eye that was starting to turn purple.

“It’s nothing.” His eyes closed, and he stayed perfectly still as she continued examining his injury.

When he opened his eyes the corner of her mouth was turned up in a little grin. “Sean?”

“Actually, Hope.”

“That’s my girl.” A genuine smile crossed Lexi’s lips for a second before it faded. “I have to go. I’m sorry.”

This time when she got to her feet, Vincent didn’t stop her. He too stood, and they took a few tentative steps down the path. He’d said his piece. He’d confessed his sins and begged for forgiveness even though he didn’t deserve it.

But most importantly, he told her how he felt. He let her see herself through his eyes and the beauty he saw within her. It was up to her now. Either she would forgive him or not, but she needed her space and time to think. With a heavy heart he decided to give that to her.

“How did you get down here?”

“Cab,” she said as she slipped the strap of her purse around her wrist and started walking.

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“May I walk with you then? Just let me get you a cab, then I’ll leave you alone.” Even if she said no, he was going to follow her. There was no way he would let her wander the streets of San Francisco alone at this hour.

“Whatever.” She started walking, not waiting for him.

They walked side by side, in silence, each deep in their own thoughts. For Vincent, every step brought them closer to what could be their final goodbye.

She could potentially step into the cab and that would be the last time he ever saw her. He planned to fight for her, but even that might not be enough.

Up ahead in the distance, a line of brightly colored cars sat waiting for customers.

His hand reached out and touched her shoulder, halting her in place. She slowly spun around, her eyes still puffy from all the tears. “I want you to know I’m going to give you some space. No matter what happens between us, please don’t let it affect your relationship with Elizabeth or Anna. They love you and think of you as family. If you want to spend time with them, I’ll respect that and stay away. I’ll make sure I’m not there when you visit. I’ve done enough to hurt you. I won’t get between your relationships with them.” Lexi closed her eyes and nodded her head with a grateful smile.

Vincent tucked his hands deep into his pockets and watched her start walking to the cabs. The clicks of her heels on the concrete were the only sounds he heard. As she moved away from him, he felt a crushing pain in his chest, the fear of losing her overwhelming him, making it difficult to breathe.

He screamed in his head for her to stop, begged her to stay with him, but she continued, her steps assured and strong as she separated herself from him. Then she paused and looked over her shoulder.

Every step she took back toward him made his heart soar. She was coming back to him. She wasn’t leaving. The closer she got, the faster her steps came until she was on her toes in front of him, a polite smile on her lips.

“Here,” she whispered as she slipped off her jacket and handed it to him. “I almost forgot to give this back to you.”

His heart fel out of his chest. She didn’t come back to him; she was returning his jacket. He quickly covered his sadness and smiled. “Thanks. Goodnight, Lexi.”

With tears in her eyes she simply said, “Goodbye, Vincent.”

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Vincent and Elizabeth were splattered all over the paper for the next week with headlines like “Corporate Scandal at Hunter” quickly changing to ones of claimed innocence by the accused, namely Reid, Parketti, and Jade. The following day, the paper contained a lengthy interview with Adria in which she denied everything and accused Vincent of being a lover scorned. David Reid continued to publicly deny a relationship with Jade, and Jade did the same, making her way around the morning talk shows and playing the part of jilted girlfriend. Soon, everything became a case of he said/she said. Vincent’s lawyers had advised him to not comment any further, so Vincent hid, and public opinion began to turn on him.

Lexi had been hounded by the press requesting interviews after Jade hinted that Vincent was having an affair with a co-worker. While Jade didn’t accuse Lexi publicly, she put out enough sound bites and vague details that the news agencies had Lexi in their crosshairs within twenty-four hours.

Hope had been such a great friend to Lexi through the last week. When Lexi finally came home that horrible night, Hope was already waiting for her in the apartment, tending to her bruised knuckles in a small bowl of ice water.