Second Chance at Forever (Forever Book 2) (39 page)

Before leaving New York a few days ago, I examined the contents of my safe once more. It contained tangible and precious memories of Reese from our life together all those years ago.
The life I said goodbye to. The life I intended to have with Reese.

The ring box was there right where I placed it years ago. I opened the box to see this exquisite ring shining back at me, Reese’s ring that would soon be gracing her hand and remain there forever. It was the ring that her grandmother had given to me. This is the same ring that I had redesigned for my true love, and the same ring that I couldn’t bear to look at once I knew she was never coming back. Her grandmother never allowed me to return it.

Nana always told me to believe in true love, and eventually this ring would find its rightful owner. And now it had: Reese, the woman who held my heart, was wrapped around my soul, and was the only one that truly could hurt me. To lose Reese now would destroy me beyond any hopes of survival. I was now a believer in love, fate, and the universe with all of its signs. I would never doubt it again and the possibilities of a happy future with Reese.

It had been days since I returned to my office. Today was the day I righted a wrong that should never had happened. The smug bastard would not see me coming, and I would enjoy every minute of his misfortune.

Jackson was sitting at the breakfast bar with his headphones on. I waved my hand in front of him to get his attention.

“Hey, dad, I thought you would be gone already.”

“Good morning, son. Normally, I would be, but I caught up on some sleep last night and will be going in a little later this morning. I also wanted to have a chat with you before you leave for school.”

“I have time, dad. My first class is not until ten. What’s on your mind?”

“Jackson, above anything else in my life, you know you’re my number one priority, right?”

“Yes, I know, dad.”

“You and I have been quite the team all of these years, and I know the past week delivered you many changes that will now affect your life, as well as my own.”

“Dad, I’m fine. I’ve had a lot of time to process it all, and I’m secure enough to know my place in your life. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“Jackson, I will never stop worrying about you. That’s my job, but thank you for letting me know. How are things with Riley, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Lack of a better word? Emotional. We’ve been talking every day, but she’s not the same. She’s hurting over her parents’ break-up, and I’m just afraid she’s going to resent me for it.”

“I hope that doesn’t happen, son. The dissolution of their marriage has nothing to do with you, or even with her, for that matter. I know how much you care for her, and I’ve seen Riley return your affections.”

“Dad, when we were on the plane, and you were telling me all about Reese, I told you that I hope your relationship with Reese doesn’t spill over into mine with Riley. Well, its already happened, dad. I love and care about her. I think she is amazing and worth waiting for, but I also can’t sit back and have her crush my heart because of something that was beyond our control. It’s like her feelings for me have changed, and no matter what I say, it leads to an argument where she’s crying and I’m apologizing.”

“Jackson, I’m sorry. I never want to cause you one day of unhappiness. I hope everything works out for you and Riley, but be patient, son. Riley clearly needs time to work it out, and once she does, I’m sure you two will be okay.”

“If we’re not, then what happens? You and Reese will ride off into the sunset, and Riley and I will be over? I won’t let that happen, dad!”

“Okay, okay, calm down Jackson. You will see her on Friday in Georgia, and then the two of you can go off somewhere to talk. Pottersville has a way of bringing people together, and wait until you meet her great grandmother, Lila. She is so sweet, but a spitfire who says it how it is. No man is left standing when her feathers are riled up. I can’t wait to see her again. It’s been too many years.”

“You’re actually smiling, dad.”

“That I am, son. For the first time since I lost your mother, today I just feel at peace, which brings me to the next thing I have to tell you. Reese has filed for divorce from her husband. The divorce will not be challenged, and I have been able to lift the customary waiting period to a shorter time. Once that is all complete, I plan on marrying Reese and finally making her my wife.”

I watched Jackson’s expression fall, and he looked down to his hands. I lifted his chin to see him crying. “Jackson, this is not the reaction I wanted to see. Talk to me, son. Why are you upset?”

“I’m not upset, dad. I just wish my mother had lived. I almost feel disloyal to her memory for supporting you and your relationship to Reese. Does that sound crazy?”

“No, it doesn’t, Jackson. It makes perfect sense, because I’ve been where you are. But I have to believe Elizabeth would want me to be happy. Jackson, I’ve never been able to give my heart to another in all of these years after losing Reese, and then your mother. I did love her, son. Please know that. Jackson, I have never asked anything of you until today. I want your blessing and support for my marriage to Reese. It’s just not okay for me to be alone anymore, and now that I have her back, I don’t plan on waiting one more day.”

My son appeared to be struggling with his reply. I was just about to say something to him when Stephen interrupted us.

“Sir, excuse me for the intrusion, but you don’t want to be late for your appointment.”

I groaned rather loudly, but he was right. I had to leave for the office. “Jackson, we will finish this conversation tonight.”

Not one word, he just quietly nodded.
Fuck!
This is not how I envisioned our talk would go.

In record time, we arrived at Reed Global. I’m greeted by Jenny, who has returned from her vacation.

“Good morning, sir, and welcome back,” she says warmly and nods at Stephen.

“Good morning, Jenny.” I say to her, as I move past her and right into my office. It’s just as I left it, maybe a bit tidy. Clearly, Jenny has been in here. Catherine knows not to enter without my permission. “Oh, you put flowers in my office?”

“You look oddly happy this morning.” Her comment is not lost on me, as she entered with my coffee.

“Why odd?” I look over myself, and then back over to Jenny, who is shyly smiling at me.

“It’s not odd at all, you just look…different, and whatever has made you this way, I hope it continues. I put flowers in your office every week, and you’ve never noticed them before.”

“Thank you Jenny, but that conversation will have to be for another time. Has Donovan checked in yet?”

“He has, but has been delayed by traffic. He should be here soon.”

“Send him in as soon as he arrives, and we are expecting Jake Ralston momentarily.”

“Yes sir. The papers you requested are on your desk, and the other files you asked for as well.”

“Excellent. Thank you, and Jenny…”

“Yes, Mr. Reed.”

“If Jackson calls anytime during that meeting, please patch him through without hesitation.”

“Always, sir.”

Stephen took his place while I began to look over the documents I had Jenny put together for me. That file contained everything I needed to single handedly take down all of my enemies who played a part in my separation from Reese: Miles, Ralston, and Henry. I’m still shocked about Henry’s role in all of this. Of all people, I never imagined he could or would ever hurt me. My father was the only one that got off easy…or did he? His life was cut short by a heart attack, and my mother was mourning his loss each day. My heart hurt for her, but not for him. He left me with his letters of apology and the information I needed to close this chapter of my life, but I was conflicted.

I wanted my pound of flesh. I wanted the men who hurt me to suffer and pay for what they had done to me and to Reese. I kept hearing Jackson’s words replay in the back of my mind, “At what cost?” I think I doubted my decisions because of how I left things with Jackson this morning. We were at a crossroads, and I needed to have us be on the same page. I needed his support more like my next breath. My son was everything to me, and the uncertainty of the unknown was killing me.

“Sir,” Jenny called over the intercom. “Mr. Tate has arrived.”

“Send him in, Jenny, and please hold my calls.”

“Welcome home, Walker. I’m sorry I’m late, traffic was horrendous with a five car pile-up.”

I raised my hands to silence him. Hearing his excuses to why he was late was irrelevant to me. “Donovan, take a seat, we have much to discuss.”

He looked over nervously to Stephen, who remained focused on what he was reading. “Is this about the Reinhart plans? The plans have been delivered, and all is right with them. They are currently looking the plans over, and we will meet again next month in Germany.”

I cut him off. “Donovan, this has nothing to do with the Reinhart building. Yes, I want to talk about that, but not today. I have other matters that we need ironed out. Now, don’t interrupt me again.” He quietly nodded, and I continued, “While I was in New York last week, I traveled to my family’s estate and discovered some unsettling revelations that need to be addressed, and they will be today. Do you remember Reese Mitchell?”

“Of course I do. Why do you ask?”

“I’m asking because her husband happens to be Samuel Briggs, the same Samuel Briggs that is a neurosurgeon over at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland. He’s the very same doctor whom Reed Global designed and built a building for.”

“Yes on all counts. Walker, I’m not following.”

“Let me bring you up to speed, Donovan.” I opened the file and showed Donovan the contents of it. His eyes widened when he found the picture of him, Dr. Briggs, three men from the board of directors, and a beautiful woman in the background. My Reese.

“Well?” I asked him.

“Well, what?”

“Donovan, are you really going to play this game with me? You will lose, and lose a great deal if you don’t tell me the truth, and right fucking now! Do you see the woman in this picture?” I point to her. “Did you or did you not know that this same woman was Reese Mitchell? The same Reese Mitchell who I was madly in love with? The same woman who I planned to marry until she disappeared out of my fucking apartment? The very same woman who hasn’t been in my life for the better part of eighteen years?”

“Not at first, but then once I heard her speak and talk to her more I did place her as one and the same.”

I slammed the folder down and grabbed Donovan by the throat. Not knowing what I would do next, Stephen rose out of his seat and looked over to me. I ignored him and proceeded with Donovan.

“Why didn’t you tell me this?”

“Would it have mattered? She brought you nothing but hurt and misery, Walker. I was there for you when she left, and then by your side when Elizabeth died. I hadn’t seen Reese since New Year’s 1997. I had no idea who she was at the time, and when I finally did remember, I kept it to myself. She clearly didn’t remember me, and if she did, she never said anything.”

He continued, “All the times I was there in Maryland, this was the only time our paths crossed. This picture was taken the day the papers were signed to finalize the project. It was after you met with the board the first time. Walker, you never returned to Maryland after that, and I felt it was best not to say anything to you. I never saw her again after that day.”

Trying to get myself in check, I let go of Donovan and watched him slump down in to his chair. “It would have mattered to me, Donovan. Everything matters, and she was my life.”

“I’m sorry, Walker. I thought I was protecting you. I’ve been your friend since college, and I have always had your back in business and your personal life. I just didn’t want you to get hurt again.”

“It wasn’t your call to make, Donovan. I lost more precious time when we could have been together, but it’s all changed now.”

“What’s changed?”

“I have her back, and we will be marrying very soon in the near future. When you lift your jaw from off the floor, you can say something.”

“Wow, Walker. I’m stunned to say the least. How did this happen?”

“Donovan, you know I’m not one to share intimate details of my personal life to anyone, not even you, but I will give you the short version. Our children met during the dedication celebrating the new building. They formed a friendship, and now are seeing one another, never knowing that their parents also shared a connection many years ago. While I was in New York for Jackson’s college trip, I had the opportunity to meet his girlfriend, and to say I was shocked was an understatement. Riley, hands down, resembles her mother. I sucked in a breath with the sight of this young beauty standing before me. I nearly died when Reese walked in. I was out of my mind. All the feelings I had for Reese came flooding back like a tsunami. I knew this was fate giving us a second chance.”

“What about her husband? She’s married, Walker.”

“That’s the perfect part, Donovan. Before she left for New York, she asked her husband for a divorce. Now if you want to challenge fate after that, then I’m going to fire your ass.”

“I never took you for believing in the universe and all that sentimental shit, but I’m happy for you. I truly hope it works out this time for the both of you.”

“I have no doubt in my mind about ending up with Reese Mitchell. She will be mine very soon, as I always planned on her to be. Donovan, everything I do in my life matters, personally and professionally. You may have thought you were protecting me, but don’t ever take my choice away from me again. I’ve been down that road, and I won’t travel it again, especially with you and the history we share. I will sever our ties and have your office cleaned out so fast, your head will fucking spin off. Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal.”

“Good. Now let’s get down to business. We need to discuss the Reinhart Project, but that will have to wait. These matters of importance take precedence over everything right now. Here in these files contain the last three projects my father had a hand in. I want you to gather as much intel as you possibly can on each deal and report back to me. Also here is a file on Townsend Development. Henry assisted my father with getting out of some unfortunate situations.”