A sob passes my lips in pain and devastation, but Jordan is quick to come to my defense, and in a tone that would terrify me if it were directed at me, he unleashes his fury. “This is not her fault! She did not change that fucking order, and you damn well know it. Vera has been vying to destroy her out of some pathetic jealousy since the day Adeline arrived. She’s tormented her and degraded her for her own personal satisfaction, and Adeline has suffered enough because of that bitch!” He’s yelling. Foster is watching him calmly, but Dr. Lynch is sitting stiffly with his body shifted away from Jordan’s.

Vera, on the other hand, is acting aghast at the comments. “How dare you accuse me…?”

“Shut! The! Fuck! Up! You! Stupid! Bitch!”

“Vera, you will let me handle this,” Foster interjects before Jordan can become unglued further.

With Vera being managed by Foster, Jordan turns to me, and his face falls as he takes in my tears that have now slipped down my cheeks. His pain at the sight of me has his jaw clenching and his teeth grinding.

Jordan spins to Dr. Lynch, pinning him to his chair with his desperate expression. “Adeline did not change that order. She was not alone in the office that afternoon. I was with her the whole time, and I am telling you she didn’t do this.” Dr. Lynch regards him coolly. I’ve always respected Dr. Lynch, but he’s not showing me the least bit of compassion at the moment, and I resent the hell out of him for it.

But it’s Foster who speaks next. “You weren’t at the golf outing?” His eyes are suspicious as they regard Jordan, and Jordan is hesitant as he shakes his head. With an audible sigh, his fingers laced behind his head and leaning back in his seat, Foster continues. “What were you doing here?” Jordan says nothing but holds his gaze. Foster thinks, considers, contemplates, and takes a damn long time doing it before speaking again. “Dr. Lynch, I’d like some time to speak with Jordan and Adeline. I would caution you not to make a quick decision on this until you’ve had a chance to really think about what you’re doing.”

Dr. Lynch doesn’t appreciate Foster’s comments as he stands and turns to leave, and pausing at the door, he turns back and holds my gaze firmly. “I have no doubt the two of you have developed a relationship of some sort. He’s ready to kill the next person who insults you, and whether either of you are willing to say it out loud, it’s obvious. It was unprofessional and inappropriate of you to allow this to happen, and I’m well within my rights to remove you from this position.” He turns without another look and leaves the room.

“So, what do I need to know?” Foster is studying Jordan as I sit numbly by his side. I want to touch him; I want him to touch me.

Rather than compassion and touch, I get harsh words not meant to be cruel but painful regardless. “I don’t want to discuss this with Adeline here, and I want Vera gone as well.”

My gaze snaps to his as shock once more takes over my demeanor. Vera lets out a huff of irritated breath, but neither Jordan nor I pay her any mind. His eyes are focused on me as I’m shaking my head, refusing to leave. But as he regards me, he takes my hand. His touch is gentle, and while his words have upset me, his hand reassures me. “I’m so sorry, Addy. You don’t deserve any of this.” At the touch of his hand on mine, I catch the somewhat confused and intrigued look that passes Foster’s face, and another derisive snort from Vera interrupts the room. But Jordan isn’t done shocking the hell out of the poor man, and as I try my damndest to stay calm, he leans to my mouth, shocking me as well. He kisses me. It’s short, sweet, and not the least bit overt or sexual. Now the look of intrigue and confusion on Foster’s face turns to absolute shock as he shakes his head in resignation. And naturally, Vera weighs in with her own obnoxious and over-loud gasp. Jordan says nothing to me for many long moments. My heart is thudding in my chest, and I try desperately to make sense of his actions. “Please. I have to talk to Foster.”

I stand, my body numb, and Foster offers me a curt nod. After everything we’ve subjected him to this morning, he’s still compassionate and caring. I don’t deserve it. As I exit to the hall, closing the door behind me, I hear Jordan unleash his fury at Vera. I can barely keep up with his raging words, but the better portion of them would make a nun cry.

I stop quickly at my desk to collect my belongings before leaving the building without a word to anyone. I’m only really interested in escaping at the moment, but the second I sit on the bench of the ‘L’, I let my mind catch up to my body, and I cry. This man will stop at nothing to protect me, and even though the cause is lost, he is still fighting and clawing to redeem me. How can he not love me? However content his strong desire to protect me may make me feel, it means nothing without his love. The moment I walk through the door to my apartment, I send my parents an e-mail and set about packing a bag. I’m going home.


Chapter 25

With Vera finally gone from the room, and my rage only somewhat dissipated, Foster speaks. “What have you done, Jordan?” His words are concerned, laced with worry and a load of disappointment. Foster became the father my own failed to be. It took many years for our working relationship to grow into this comfortable familial mentorship, but it has. He’s as concerned for me as he is upset. He has every right to be, and I do owe him answers.

“I’m in love with her.” It’s the only real explanation needed, and with it, I unload my heart on him. I give him the censored version of our first night together. I tell of the day she came stumbling into the boardroom lost. I admit what an ass I was when I first took her to lunch and how I quickly started crumbling at her vulnerability, how her vulnerability soon grew into need, passion, lust, and eventually, and far quicker than I imagined possible, love. I want my life to be with her now. I want to give her all of me in the way she deserves, expects, and wants. She showed me what love looks like, and for the first time in my life, she has me craving it as much for myself as for her.

He does deserve an answer, but he’s not going to like it. “I’m resigning.”

“That’s not necessary. I don’t want you…”

“Please listen to me.” My mind has been spinning since we walked into this room and I realized Adeline was being threatened. I know what I need to do, and I’m prepared to fight. “What I did with Adeline was inappropriate. I broke company policy, and if nothing else, it was unethical. But she doesn’t deserve to be destroyed by this. What I intend to do could have backlash. At the very least it could attach a fairly negative reputation to me, and your firm doesn’t need to be attached to that.”

“What the hell are you planning on doing?”

I look at him for many long moments, gauging my words. “You have policies in place that I broke. In order for you to maintain control of your company should there be any fallout, you need to be protected, and the best way to do that is for me to no longer be associated with the firm.” He’s shaking his head, and I quickly continue, giving him no time to argue. “We both knew I would eventually move on. I want to have my own firm that focuses on restoration. It’s time for me to leave. With me gone, whatever happens will be associated with me only, and not with your firm.”

“You’re not answering my question. What exactly is it you intend to do that could cause fallout?”

“The fallout’s already done, in case you missed the past thirty minutes. Adeline’s been ruined, and I won’t tolerate it. I intend to ruffle a few feathers at the college to get Adeline back on track, and if I have to put some heat on Trigg for allowing Mark to remain employed after his behavior toward Adeline, so be it. Either way, Foster’s won’t be involved.” I have nothing further to say and nothing left holding me to this place.

When I stand and move to the door, Foster speaks again. “You really love her?” I nod as he studies me curiously. “She’s lucky to have you.” His words are warm, genuine.

“I’m not so sure of that. None of this would have happened if it weren’t for me.”

“She’s lucky to have you.”

I sigh in resignation. “We’ll see.”

I want to go to Adeline, so much so it’s hard to steer my car to her college rather than her apartment. She’s only days from graduation, and if I have a hope of salvaging that, I have to do it now.

When I arrive at Adeline’s school, I’m smacked with a world of memories from what feels like a lifetime ago. This was my school as well, some ten or so odd years ago. It’s where I met my first wife. Marrying her was one of many mistakes I would and will make in my lifetime, but I didn’t understand the world in the same way I do today. I was young. I thought I knew what I was supposed to want, and while our marriage ended, and it left me bitter and resentful for years after, it’s the very fallout from that terrible time in my life that put me in exactly the place I needed to be to meet my Adeline, my sweet Adeline. She was a one-night stand that stuck. From the first moment I saw her in the bar, I had to have her, and that utter sense of urgency hasn’t faded one ounce, though I’ve had her many times over at this point.

I was in the architectural department, adjacent to the design department, but I spent enough of my formative years here to know where I’m going. When the secretary asks who I wish to see, I demand to speak with Dr. Lynch. She recognizes my name and curtly tells me to wait.

When she returns to me and as politely as her perturbed demeanor will allow tells me Dr. Lynch doesn’t wish to see me, my voice suddenly becomes as loud and demanding as it was in Foster’s office. “If I have to wait all goddamn day, I will! And if I have to take this issue farther up the chain than Lynch, then so be it! He’s allowed Adeline to be harassed and practically assaulted…” The secretary likely has no idea what I’m talking about, but the half a dozen or so pairs of eyes now peering over the tops of cubicles is what I was really going for, and within moments Dr. Lynch appears in his doorway. His face is crimson, and he is glaring. I’m allowed to pass into his office, but I’m anything but welcome there. He returns to his desk, and I take the seat in front of his desk while we glare at each other.

“Adeline’s good at what she does.”

“Yes, she is.” His voice is seething with fury at my behavior.

“And yet, you’re intent on ruining her. Why?”

“Students have to uphold a certain level of professionalism when studying as an intern…”

“Bullshit. Adeline has always been professional, her work has always been second to none, and she’s dedicated. Her personal relationships should have nothing to do with her internship. So, I’ll ask again, why are you doing this? Are you attracted to her? Is that it? Offended she’s not fucking you? What?” I’m accusatory, and the look of shock returned to me is genuine. Thank God for that at least.

“Fuck you! I’ve always been fond of Adeline, but not like that. I’m old enough to be her father, and she’s better than this!” He’s struggling to remain composed, and his voice is bordering on yelling.

“You mean she’s better than me.”

“Better than allowing herself to be pulled into an inappropriate relationship with a superior. I’m disappointed in her. She should have known better. She’s not a child. She’s responsible for the decisions she makes, and she made the decision to become involved with you. How much more clear can I make it, and never mind the accusations she botched a fifty-thousand-dollar order your company now has to eat!”

“Foster’s is no longer my company, and we both know she wasn’t responsible for that order.”

“Well perhaps if she’d been paying better attention to her job and less attention to you, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“She was sabotaged by a resentful employee, and there is nothing she could have done to stop this from happening.” I pause, and he watches me. He’s judging my words. His actions, his decisions aren’t driven by mere departmental procedure and regulation; he’s disappointed in her the way a parent would be after finding out their child was diddling the teacher. He may be able to make a strong case for removing Adeline from the internship, but it won’t be the true reason behind his actions. He’s upset. Plain and simple. I hold his gaze harshly. “If you care about her future, you won’t destroy it. She does not deserve this, and it isn’t her fault.”