I sit with my mother as we go through company records, Alec by our side. He wraps his arm around my waist and sighs. “Look, Buttercup,” he says. “This all doesn’t add up. Overhauling this company is going to be difficult.”
I drop my head against his shoulder, and he presses a kiss on top of my hair.
“I’m not surprised,” Mom says. “Alaric was never that good of a businessman. Even when you were little, it was me running both our companies. I did it then, and I’ll do it now. Between you and I, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish, sweetie.”
I nod, but the task seems daunting. “We need to set up meetings with every single department head,” I say, scrolling through the data.
My phone rings, and I frown when I don’t recognize the phone number. I haven’t given this number out to anyone.
Alec glances at my phone, looking surprised. “Take the call. That phone number, it’s my grandfather’s.”
I look at him with raised brows as I accept the call, confused as to why he’d be calling me.
“Hello?”
“Elena, darling. I heard you’re the proud new owner of Rousseau Corporation. From what I’ve heard, you went in with guns blazing. I couldn’t be more proud.”
I blush, I can’t help it. “Grandpa… it was nothing. It just needed to be done.”
“How about that lunch you promised me? I have some time right about now. I can be there in ten minutes or so. I’d love to hear the full story. Besides, I’d love to see your mother again. I haven’t seen her in years.”
“Of course, Grandpa.”
I glance at my mom and smile as I end the call. “Alec’s grandfather is coming over for lunch. He said he’d like to see you, since it’s been so many years. He sounded quite interested in hearing our full story.”
Mom smiles and shakes her head. “Sofia’s dad warned me against marrying your father. She and I were very good friends when we were younger, and her father always looked out for me.”
I put my hand on my mother’s shoulder, my heart breaking for her. Mom has lost so much, yet she still smiles.
I walk toward Sofia’s kitchen, startling the staff. Even though Alec and I have our own kitchen, Sofia’s is far larger, and it’s the one we always use for family meals. Grandpa walks in shortly after I do, a large basket full of vegetables in his hand.
“Hello, sweetheart,” he says, grinning.
He holds up a melon for me excitedly, and I stare at it with wide eyes. “Oh, my gosh! I wonder what it’ll taste like. Do you think it’ll be sweet?”
Grandpa shrugs. “We won’t know until we try it. How did you put it? They’re moody.”
I laugh, and Sofia pops her head into the kitchen, a smile on her face. “Thought I heard you, Dad.”
She stares at the vegetables on the counter through narrowed eyes and crosses her arms. “Dad… I thought you said I was the only one that ever gets to have your vegetables?”
Grandpa looks at her sheepishly, and I laugh. I love the way Sofia acts around her dad, and the way he treats her. This imposing man is nothing more than a loving father whenever Sofia is around.
“But Elena is going to cook them for you,” he says, throwing all his charm at her.
Sofia shakes her head. “You didn’t even know if I’d be here, and you didn’t call me either.” She turns to look at me. “Did he call you, Elena?”
Grandpa looks at me with wide eyes and shakes his head ever so slightly, and I just about manage to bite back a smile. “Uh, no,” I say, my tone unconvincing.
“I knew it!” Sofia says, glaring at her father.
“Don’t blame Grandpa,” Alec says, entering the kitchen with my mother right behind him. “He can’t help it. The old man never stood a chance. Elena just has a knack for stealing people’s hearts.”
Sofia nods, as though in agreement, and wraps her arm around my shoulder. “Yes, that’s true. My daughter-in-law is so loveable.”
Mom clears her throat. “Sofia, you do realize she’s my daughter, right?”
Sofia narrows her eyes and tightens her grip on me. “Not anymore, she’s not.”
Mom glares right back at her. “Alec and Elena’s wedding ceremony is still three months away!”
I watch the two of them in amusement. Sofia has loved having me around and I’ve gotten used to spending time with her, while Mom is trying her hardest to make up for lost time. The two have been butting heads over who gets to spend time with me constantly. It’s like they’re two divorced parents fighting over custody of me, and it amuses me endlessly. It makes me feel loved, and I haven’t felt that way in years. I know the playfulness they portray is an attempt to lighten the mood after a couple of tough months, but that they’d even consider doing that for me at all, astounds me. For someone to care enough, to want to cheer me up, it surprises me.
I glance around the room, my heart overflowing with love. For years, loneliness ate at me, and desperation was all that kept me going. Now I’m standing here in a room filled with people that actually want me around, people that care about me.
My eyes find Alec’s, and I can’t help but wonder if he has any feelings for me. Sometimes it feels like he does, and other times I can’t even read him. I’m not sure if love is still something I want. My heart craves it, but logically I can now see where Alec is coming from. Love… it’s too much risk. What Alec and I have right now is indestructible. If we fell in love, would it break us the way it did my mother?
He smiles at me, and my heart starts to race. Alec walks up to me, but loud sirens start to sound throughout the house before he reaches me, making us both jump in surprise.
He grabs his phone, frowning. His face drains of color, and my heart sinks. “Paparazzi have surrounded our house. They’ve breached the perimeter. Our men are working on pushing them back, but there are too many. Aiden tells me there are a few dozen out there.”
His eyes find mine and fear runs down my spine. Did they find out? Did they find out about our marriage? Did they somehow find out our relationship isn’t real?
I glance at Grandpa. Alec could lose everything.
