“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 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 held nothing back. Every ugly detail of his mistake was laid out for her to see. She needed to know all of it.

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“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 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 emotionally 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.”




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