Redeeming The Billionaire (The Sherbrookes of Newport Book 5) (26 page)

***

He’d tried calling her five times while she shopped. When the fifth one came in the dressing room of Macy’s she switched off the ringer. Now back at home, or rather Chloe’s, she unpacked her shopping bags, her cell phone still switched to vibrate.

She owned more than enough clothes and as soon as she felt ready, she’d face Trent and get them. For now the clothes in the bags as well as what she borrowed from Chloe would hold her over. Once she hung up her clothes, she grabbed her phone. She couldn’t leave it on vibrate forever. What if her parents or one of her brothers called? She punched in her password. She’d missed six calls, five from Trent and one from her cousin. Her first instinct was to delete all the messages he’d left. Nothing he could say would change her mind. She needed time and space. Her curiosity got the better of her and rather than delete the messages she listened to each one.

On the first message he sounded remorseful as he apologized again and asked her to come back. By the fourth he sounded frustrated. There was no missing the desperation in his voice during the fifth message when he all but begged her to call him back.

All the messages pulled at her heart, turning her water works back on. Even knowing the truth about why he asked her on that first date, she wanted to believe he loved her like he claimed. But how could she believe that from someone who’d started their relationship because of a plan?

After deleting all the messages from Trent she played the last one from Chloe. Her message only asked about how she felt and told Addie to call if she needed anything. Deleting that message as well, she prepared herself some lunch. She’d considered buying something from the mall’s food court. When she’d walked into the area though, the smell of greasy burgers, pizza, and Chinese food sent her running for the bathroom. Now though, her stomach grumbled. A can of soup and a cheese sandwich sounded like just the thing.

She’d never considered herself a chicken. Well, unless it came to thunderstorms, but that was a whole other story. Yet, by Thursday of the following week Addie still hadn’t worked up the courage to get her things from Trent’s apartment. Which left her with two options, either she sucked it up and went over there or hit the mall and racked up a higher credit card bill. In all honesty, she couldn’t decide which option was worse.

So far she’d not spoken with him once. He’d called every day since that dreadful Friday night, leaving her messages when she didn’t answer. He’d also stopped by on Monday night, but she’d been up in Worcester meeting with a new client so Chloe had dealt with him. After that unannounced visit she’d feared he’d show up at her office. After all, she did work a few floors below him now. Perhaps because he feared a public scene, he never showed up there. That hadn’t stopped him from sending her a dozen roses. Unlike the previous flowers he’d sent, these found their way into the trash, as did the handwritten note attached.

In the end, Addie managed to avoid both solutions. Around noon on Thursday, Chloe made an unexpected visit to her office. With her shift at the bakery over and her late afternoon class canceled for the day, she’d popped in and invited Addie for lunch.

“I’m not sure eating out is a good idea considering I need a whole new wardrobe. I should work on saving my money where I can.” Addie covered her mouth as she yawned again and wondered if another cup of coffee would help. So far today she’d had three cups of coffee and two hot teas, but she still had trouble keeping her eyes open. It had been that way since last week in fact. At first she’d chalked it up to Trent’s short business trip. After their falling out on Friday, she’d assumed it was the stress from that. Whatever the cause, she needed her body back to normal. Every morning she got up tired as if she’d not slept at all. The exhaustion only made her nausea worse.

“Do you want me to get your stuff from him?” Chloe asked.

She’d considered asking for Chloe’s help but dismissed the idea almost right away. “You’d do that?”

“It makes more sense than buying all new clothes, although I still think you’ll move back in with him soon. You love him and I saw the way he acted around you. He loves you, too.” Chloe still believed they’d had a simple disagreement, and Addie liked it that way.

Addie considered her cousin’s offer. It did make a lot more sense than maxing out her credit card. “You really don’t mind?” If she sent him a text message and told him Chloe was coming, she could avoid both seeing and talking to him.

Chloe gave her an exaggerated sigh. “Do you think I would’ve offered if I minded? If he’s around I can go tonight.”

She didn’t question her cousin again. Instead, she sent Trent a text message. As if he’d had his phone in hand just waiting for a message, he responded answering her question as well as asking if he could call her. When she thanked him for his cooperation, but ignored his question, her phone rang.

“Well, are you going to answer?” Chloe asked. “Whatever you argued about couldn’t be that bad.”

Answer and get it over with. Maybe he’ll stop calling.
As the ringtone started over again, she picked up the phone. “Hello.”

“God, I’m glad you answered this time.”

The sound of his voice brought back one memory after another, each one another stake into her heart. “Don’t worry about packing my stuff. Chloe can do it. I’ll have her leave my key, too.” When she’d rushed out Friday she’d not thought about it.

“Addie, please give me a chance to make things right between us. Come over this weekend so we can talk.”

His voice bordered on begging and she wondered if maybe he did care. Just as quickly she wondered if it was all an act. Didn’t politicians act in front of the voters all the time? Perhaps this was just another performance for him.

“I can’t, Trent, not yet.”

“When then?”

The plea in his voice weakened her resolve but she pulled up the image of the documents she’d discovered. “I don’t know.” She swallowed down the sob that almost escaped her. “Chloe won’t take long tonight if you have other plans.” Addie hung up before he came back with another plea.

“Are you okay?” Chloe held out a tissue.

With a nod, she accepted it. “I’ll be fine.” Grabbing her key ring, she yanked Trent’s key off. “Most of my stuff is in the master suite and bathroom. But I left my favorite sweatshirt and sneakers in the closet right when you come in.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll get everything.” Chloe stuck the key in her jeans pocket and stood. “See you later tonight.

Grateful for her cousin’s help, Addie refocused on her work and hoped that would block out the sadness she’d heard in Trent’s voice.

***

The gentleman in him said he should pack up Addie’s things and make it easy for her cousin. The selfish ass in him decided the longer Chloe stayed at his place, the longer he had to enlist her help. Since the moment Addie walked out on him he’d racked his brain for ways to repair the damage. Thus far, he’d had no success on how he could reach Addie and make her believe him. Maybe once she believed him, she could forgive him. The alternative just wasn’t an option. Every time he considered that he might never talk to her or hold her again, his chest ached.

Trent stared out a window, the evening news the only sound in the apartment as he waited for Chloe, who he was still pissed at now that he thought about it. With everything else he’d forgotten about Chloe sending the picture. He didn’t believe Chloe had meant any real harm. Still, she’d violated Addie’s privacy. Tonight wasn’t the time to scold her though. He needed her on his side.

When the security panel buzzed, he told the doorman to send the guest up even before he found out who it was. Eager to speak with Chloe, he opened the apartment door and waited for the elevator.

“Thanks for letting me come by tonight,” Chloe said when she stepped off the elevator and saw him. “And before I forget here’s your key.” She pulled the key from her pocket and held it out.

He hesitated. He didn’t want the damn thing back. “Thanks. Come on in.” He shoved the key into his own pocket and closed the door. “I think all of Addie’s stuff is upstairs. I’ll show you.”

Chloe didn’t speak again as she followed him upstairs, but her expression told him she had a lot on her mind.

“Addie’s suitcases are in the closet.” He flipped on the bedroom light and walked halfway into the room. “Do you want my help?”

“Uh, no that’s okay,” she answered but didn’t start packing. “Um, Trent.” Chloe shoved her hands into her back jeans pockets. “I don’t know what you guys fought about, but I hope it’s not me.” A guilty expression clouded her face. “I never should’ve sent that picture in. I’m sorry.”

Had Addie not told Chloe the truth? From the sound of it Chloe believed her confession caused their breakup.

“I know you care about my cousin, and she loves you. Is there any way I can help you two work this out? I hate seeing her like this.”

He almost laughed. He’d hoped she’d have some ideas. “If you can think of a way, I’m open for suggestions. Just so you know, Chloe, you didn’t cause this. I did.” Well, maybe her confession had but not in the way she thought. If not for the picture he never would’ve gotten to know Addie or fallen in love with her. No, all blame for the collapse of their relationship rested on him and Marty.

On the other side of the room, Chloe dropped a suitcase on the bed. “I wish I had some ideas.” She grabbed a bunch of skirts from the closet and placed them in the suitcase as he stood by and watched the final remnants of his relationship disappear. “She won’t even talk about you. I’ve never seen her so upset.”

It looked like he was back to square one. “I do love her, Chloe.” Other than with Addie, he hadn’t shared his feeling with anyone. “I just don’t know how to fix things.” He’d figure it out though, or die trying.

“Have you tried apologizing? Addie has always been a forgiving person. I don’t think she’s ever held a grudge against anyone.”

Obviously, Chloe didn’t know how many times he’d tried calling and Addie hadn’t answered. “She never takes my calls. I did send her flowers at work.”

Chloe looked up from packing. “Really? I didn’t see any there. Maybe they didn’t make it.”

More likely she’d either refused them or tossed them out.

“Maybe she needs a little more time.” With the suitcase full, Chloe zipped it up and proceeded to fill the other one.

“I hope you’re right.” He doubted time would help the situation. “I’ll let you finish up. If you need help just ask. And Chloe, when you see Addie please tell her I miss her.” He hated using a messenger to convey his feelings, but right now it was all he had. “And tell her I love her.”

“Will do.”

Trent turned away, but Chloe’s voice stopped him. “Trent, I know she loves you. She’ll come around.”

When he helped Chloe carry the suitcases to her car a little later and watched her drive away, an inexplicable feeling of emptiness took over his body. The only other time he’d experienced something similar had been when his mom died. As terrible as that experience had been at least then he’d had the love and support of the entire Sherbrooke clan behind him. Now, he had no one.

With slow steps he took the stairs from the underground parking garage to the building’s main foyer. Once at his private elevator though he changed his mind. Rather than go back upstairs, he turned around and headed for the parking garage again. Right now his place was full of memories and was the last place he wanted to be.

Getting behind the wheel of his Bugatti, he revved the engine, then pulled out, the only destination in mind the open road.

***

Addie’s eyes opened when she heard the front door open and close. How long had she slept? She’d sat down intent on watching her favorite new show, a paranormal drama. Now a popular sitcom played on the television.

“I’m back,” Chloe said as she entered the room. “I think I got everything.” She dropped down on the couch. “I didn’t know you watch this show.”

Addie glanced at the screen. “I don’t. I fell asleep watching something else and then this started.” She turned off the television. She had no interest in the silly show. “Thanks so much for doing that.”

“No problem,” Chloe answered. “I apologized for the whole picture incident while I was there. I thought maybe that was why you two fought.”

She’d not considered that her cousin might blame herself. “It had nothing to do with it.”

“That’s what he said. He also asked me to tell you he missed you and loves you.”

Addie didn’t reply. Unless she went into specific details, Chloe would never understand why she doubted his words.

“He looked unhappy, Addie. I think he’s sincere. Maybe you two should try talking. Couples fight and disagree all the time. That doesn’t mean they can’t work out their problems.”

She appreciated her cousin’s concern, but right now she didn’t need her suggestions. “It’s complicated, Chloe. Can we just leave it at that for now?”

Chloe’s shoulders sagged and she frowned. “If that’s what you want. But Addie, if a man told me he loved me and I loved him…” Chloe held up a hand when Addie opened her mouth to speak. “Don’t deny it, you love him,” she said before she completed her original statement. “Then I’d work things out with him before it was too late.”