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  "She's back from maternity leave?"

  "I think so." I reach for my wallet.

  Liz motions with her hand for me to stop. "It's my treat today. What do you mean you think she's back?"

  "I haven't talked to her since the baby was born. Her assistant sent me an email yesterday, asking me to be at Julia's office at two o'clock today which means I need to leave now. Thanks for the lunch."

  "Good luck," Liz calls as I race out of the restaurant.

  ***

  As the taxi slowly snakes its way up Lexington, I think about Jax and how he reacted so strongly when I hesitated. I fully expected to hear from him Monday, it's Wednesday now and not a word. I'm beginning to wonder if my pause stalled his interest for good. Maybe a potential one night stand was all I was.

  I shake off the thought as the taxi pulls up to the corner of Lexington and Fifty Fourth Street. I run as fast as my red heels will take me to the building's entrance and then to the elevator. It's almost two fifteen now and Julia, the head of consignments for Veray Jewelers, is not a patient person. I'd had enough gentle lectures over the past few years to know better.

  "Ms. Marlow, there you are." Graham's cheerful voice greets me as I step off the elevator onto the seventh floor. He pulls me into a warm embrace.

  "It's great to see you." I step back and wait for his once over. Graham, Julia's assistant, has always been the last eyes on me before I enter Julia's office. He gently pushes my straightened hair back off my shoulders and fastens the top button of the white shirt dress I'm wearing.

  "Perfect." He grabs my shoulders with both hands. "We need to talk."

  "About your latest conquest?" I tease.

  "No." He shakes his head overly dramatically and then holds up his left hand. "I'm engaged!"

  I reach to embrace him again. "What? When did this happen? Who's the lucky guy?"

  "We'll talk about it later. You need the scoop on what's going on around here." He grabs my hand pulling me in the direction of his office.

  "Ivy, stop." A woman's voice calls from behind me.

  I turn to see Madeline, the owner of the company standing in the hallway. Her hands are resting firmly on her hips. She looks striking dressed in a dark suit and patterned blouse. Her black hair is pulled harshly back into a tight knot completing her always intimidating look.

  "Madeline," I gulp. "It's wonderful to see you. How are you?"

  Her face softens. "I'm well. Come." She motions me towards her office.

  "I'm sorry," Graham whispers in my ear as he straightens the buckle on the thin red belt around my waist.

  "For?" I mouth under my breath.

  "You'll see." He puts his hands on my shoulders and pushes me in Madeline's direction.

  I follow her into her office waiting silently as she closes the door behind us.

  "Please have a seat." She points to two chairs in front of her desk. I settle into one crossing my legs.

  "Will Julia be joining us?" I glance at the door again, willing it to open.

  "No." Madeline stops as if to gather her thoughts. She sits in the impressive leather chair behind her desk. "Julia isn't with us anymore, Ivy."

  "I don't understand what you mean." I feel my chest tightening.

  "Motherhood was too tempting I suppose." Madeline smiles as she glances at two framed pictures of her own teenage children hanging on the wall. "We've had to restructure and Julia decided to take advantage of that and devote herself to her family."

  My head is spinning with this news. Julia was the chief advocate for my jewelry line. She was my cheerleader. "Restructure?"

  "I've had to let a few people go." Her voice hints of subtle disappointment. "I've also reorganized some of the other departments."

  I sit in silence wondering what this means for the collection I've just finished.

  Madeline continues, "you're one of our stars, Ivy. You're a very important part of the Veray family and we're not going to let you down."

  I smile weakly, nodding my head up and down in acknowledgment.

  "I've partnered with someone to help ease the financial burdens the company's been facing. He's got some brilliant ideas, including being hands-on with many of the departments." Her voice is enthusiastic, or at least that's the intention she's trying to convey. "He's going to handle all the marketing and publicity for your collection himself."

  A knot forms in my stomach. "He?" I ask knowing that a man can't understand my designs the same way a woman can. The same way Julia did.

  "He's up to speed on your work," Madeline explains. "He's studied all the current pieces we have on hand and loves them. He's anxious to see everything new you have to offer."

  "That's helpful," I say quietly, wishing I could talk to Julia.

  "I know this must be surprising," her voice shows little emotion. "But we're focused on moving forward and we're all going to work together to make the bridal collection the biggest success you've had yet."

  "Yes," I say, unsure of anything other than my disbelief that I have to work with a stranger, a man, to market my new pieces. This collection is cherished, personal and I can't hand it over to just anyone. I feel panic rushing through me but I take a deep breath realizing that without Veray my jewelry would likely be sitting in the small studio in my apartment gathering dust.

  She reaches for the phone on her desk and punches in three numbers. "We're ready for you now."

  Almost instantaneously there's a soft knock at her office door. As she moves to open it, I rest my head in my hands, trying to process all of this.

  "She's right here." Madeline's voice feels very far away although I know she's only a few feet from the chair I'm still glued to.

  "It's lovely to meet you, Ms. Marlow." His voice is intimately familiar.

  I turn slowly. My eyes following a line that begins at his blue trousers. I start to raise myself from the chair when I catch sight of the fingers of his right hand resting on his belt. Before I can make eye contact with his face, I'm falling back into the chair, my legs too weak to hold me up.

  He kneels next to the chair. "Ivy, are you alright?"

  "I'll get her some water." Madeline moves into my line of sight, reaching for a bottle of water on a table next to her desk.

  I take the bottle and open it, still staring straight ahead, my body preventing me from turning to look at him.

  "Are you still feeling faint?" Madeline is sitting in the chair next to me now. She rests her hand gently on my arm.

  I turn to look at her. "I'm fine. I'm sorry."

  "You're probably just dehydrated." Her voice has a motherly tone to it now. "Take a sip."

  I do as I'm told and swallow a mouthful of the cool water. I take a deep breath, knowing that this is the moment I have to face him.

  "Ivy, this is Jax Walker." Madeline's excited voice cuts through the silence in the room.

  "Jax, this is her." Madeline stands and spreads her arms above my head. "This is our Ivy Marlow."

  I stand before turning to look at him. "Mr. Walker, it's a pleasure."

  He takes my hand in his, his gaze locked on my eyes. "Ms. Marlow. I've been looking forward to this moment. May I call you Ivy?"

  I nod, searching his eyes for some sort of glimmer of understanding. There's nothing.

  "And you should call him Jax." Madeline pats me on the back. "We're all family."

  "Family," I repeat after her, casting my eyes down to the floor.

  "I can't wait for you two to start working together." Madeline is holding both my shoulders now. "It's a match made in heaven."

  I glance up to Jax's face again. "It's been lovely meeting you, Jax but I need to leave."

  I push past him and swiftly move in the direction of the door. "Madeline, I'll be in touch next week with the final pieces."

  She pulls her hands together, clasping them in front of her chest. "I can't wait, Ivy."

  "When did you join the Veray family, Jax?" I try my best to convey a sweet and endearing tone.


  "We became partners six weeks ago." Madeline interjects, wrapping her arm through Jax's.

  "I see." I swallow hard. "It's been an interesting afternoon. Thank you both."

  I bolt for the bank of elevators as soon as I'm through the door of Madeline's office. I lean against the wall, trying to catch my breath as I repeatedly punch the call button.

  Once the heavy metal doors open, I'm inside the small space, pushing the round button for the lobby. Just when the door starts closing, Jax steps in.

  "No," I snap. "I don't want to talk to you right now."

  He allows the doors to close behind him before he speaks. "I want to explain."

  The elevator jolts to a heavy stop on the fifth floor. The doors open and four people flood in. They're all talking about the same seemingly evil boss they work for. I stand in silence with Jax next to me.

  He leans down, his breath reaching my neck. "It's not what you think."

  Again, the elevator jars us as it stops. This time it's the third floor and as a small group of people enter, I quickly push through the crowd and slip off. I breathe a heavy sigh of relief as the elevator continues its downward flight to the lobby with Jax still onboard.

  Chapter 8

  I glance at my ringing phone again. It's the same number for the sixth time since I left Veray this afternoon. It has to be Jax. I slide back down into the bathtub, letting the water and remaining bubbles rush over my body. Since I left the elevator I've replayed every interaction with the man over and over again in my mind. He knew when he met me at the gallery that he practically owned my business. My pulse quickens just thinking about how foolish he's made me feel.

  I pull myself from the now tepid water and walk to my bedroom with a towel wrapped around me. I need fresh air so I decide a walk in Central Park will help. I throw on a pair of loose fitting jeans, a white t-shirt and a light pink cardigan. I rummage through my cluttered closet to find a comfortable pair of blue flats.

  "Ivy." I hear the recognizable sound of Mrs. Adams' voice as I lock my apartment door behind me.

  I turn to look at her. "Mrs. Adams. How are you today?"

  "I'm fine." She gives me the once over. "Are you wearing a brassiere, dear?"

  "I glance down at my full breasts pushing against the thin fabric of the t-shirt. "Oops. I guess I'm not."

  "You should close this then." She reaches to fasten several of the buttons of the soft cardigan.

  I smile. "How was your hot date?"

  She giggles in response. "I'm eighty-nine-years-old. My suitor is eighty-six. Hot dates are for the younger crowd."

  I laugh with her. "I'm going for a walk. Would you like to join me?"

  "Not tonight. I'm rather tired. I just stopped by to give you this."

  She hands me another letter addressed to Mark. "Thank you," I say in a hushed tone.

  "I don't have to keep giving them to you." She reaches to take it back. "I know it must be hard."

  "No." I hold the letter tightly. "It's fine. I'm going to take care of this with Mark."

  "Good," she says. "You need to get that boy out of your life for good."

  I nod in silent agreement as she turns to walk away.

  ***

  Sixty minutes later I march into the lobby of my apartment with Mark's letter still clutched in my fist. The instant Oliver approaches me I see Jax sitting on the bench near the elevator.

  "He's been waiting for almost an hour, Ms. Marlow." Oliver's voice is apologetic.

  "It's fine." I smile weakly. "We work together."

  Jax stands as I approach him. "Ivy, we really need to talk."

  "Let's talk." I stand in front of him, perspiration gathering on my forehead from the brisk walk I've just finished.

  "Not here." He glances in Oliver's direction.

  "He's paid not to hear." I know my voice sounds harsh. I suddenly feel overheated so I quickly remove the cardigan.

  "Your apartment would be better." Jax reaches to push the call button for the elevator, his eyes lingering on my breasts.

  I hold the cardigan to my chest as we share the elevator ride with one of the students subletting the apartment next to mine.

  I close my apartment door behind him and throw my cardigan, keys and the letter on the foyer table.

  "You can sit down in there, Jax." I motion towards the living room. "I'm going to get some water. Would you like anything?"

  "Water sounds good." He stands motionless in the foyer, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans. The grey polo shirt he's wearing wrinkled just a bit.

  "Please, have a seat," I say as I walk out of the room.

  I steady myself against the kitchen counter as I take a long drink of water to quench my thirst. This is the conversation I've been dreading all day and now I realize it's unavoidable. I pick up both bottles of water in my hands and walk back to the living room.

  Jax is still in the foyer, his back turned to me. I silently walk up behind him and instantly realize he's holding the envelope addressed to Mark.

  "What are you doing?"

  He jumps slightly, the letter falling from his hands to the floor. He quickly reaches to pick it up and place it back on the table. "I'm sorry."

  "That's personal."

  "Do you still see him?"

  I motion towards the living room. "That's none of your business."

  "He's bad for you." He doesn't budge. "You shouldn't be anywhere near him."

  I push the bottle of water at him. "I can do whatever I want."

  "Stop acting like a child." Jax wraps his large hand around my wrist. "He hurt you. Why put yourself through more of that pain?"

  "I refuse to discuss Mark with you." I stamp my foot for effect, pulling my arm free from his grasp.

  "You can't trust him." Jax moves to sit on the edge of the couch.

  "I can't trust you either, can I?" I seethe. "You conveniently forgot to mention that you were going to be my boss when you had me sitting half naked on your lap."

  He runs his long, slim fingers through his tousled hair. "No. It's not like that. I'm not your boss."

  "What's it like then?" I sit on a chair opposite the couch with my arms firmly crossed.

  "I've never met anyone like you, Ivy." His eyes lock on mine. "When I saw you at the gallery, I couldn't believe it was you."

  "Because you already knew that you owned the company that consigned my work." I stand, my voice loud but shaky.

  "I did know then, yes." I watch him squirm in his seat. "But seeing you there, standing there, so beautiful, so close. I just wanted you so much."

  I walk closer to the couch, my anger brimming near the surface." You had my jewelry at your apartment because it was your job. You let me want you when you knew we'd have to work together and then you rejected me."

  "No." He stands now. "I recognized your talent long before I talked to Maddie about buying in."

  "Maddie?" I step back. I've never heard anyone refer to the head of Veray as Maddie before.

  "Oh, shit." He runs his hand through his hair again. "Madeline, I meant Madeline."

  "No, Jax. Why did you call her that? How well do you know her?"

  "It doesn't matter, Ivy." His voice is strained. "Just drop it."

  I step towards him grabbing the arm of the chair to steady myself. "Tell me now."

  "We dated briefly when I came back to New York."

  I close my eyes to absorb the information. "Are you dating now? Is that why she took on a business partner?"

  "It's more complicated than that." He takes a drink from the bottle of water. "This isn't coming out the way I wanted it to."

  "What way?" I can feel my chest burning. "That you flirted with me at the gallery knowing you were my boss? That you and your lover practically own my jewelry line? Or that you tossed me aside like an old shoe when I needed to catch my breath the other night?"

  "Ivy, please." His voice is pleading now. "You have to let me explain."

  "Why?" I can feel my eyes flooding with
tears. "You're playing games with me. I don't want to play anymore."

  "I'm not. I'm not playing any games." He takes two large steps towards me. "I want you."

  I push him away, my hands resting on his chest. "No. Leave."

  "I don't want to go."

  "You blindsided me today." I look directly into his eyes. "You let me walk in there knowing you'd be there. You rejected me the other night and then knew I'd have to face you today. It's so cruel."

  "I should have told you," he says quietly. "I'm sorry I didn't."

  "It doesn't matter anymore." I walk swiftly to the door, holding it wide open. "As I told Maddie, I'll have the rest of the collection to the two of you next week."

  He turns as he reaches the threshold. "I care about you. You have no idea how much."

  I silently close the door behind him.

  ***

  "Heavens." Liz's voice startles me as she exits the elevator. "What on earth is that?"

  "An unwelcomed gift," I say smugly turning back to the delivery men standing at my door. "Mr. Walker at Veray Jewellers. I wrote the address here." I point to my messy handwriting on the front of the brown packaging I clumsily pulled together with tape.

  "Will do," the older of the two says as he directs the other to pick up the edge of the painting before they carry it out of my apartment and life for good.

  "Mr. Walker at Veray?" Liz walks back into the foyer after helping herself to a glass of wine in the kitchen.

  "It's not even noon." I motion to the half-full glass.

  "It's been a bad week." She takes a small sip. "Which Mr. Walker at Veray?"

  I had hoped to explain all of this to Liz next week, or maybe next month, or perhaps never. "Jax. He's the new co-owner."

  "What?" Liz's southern drawl is all too apparent when she raises her voice.

  I shrug my shoulders. "I had no idea."

  She moves to sit in the living room. "Was that what the meeting with Julia was about yesterday?"

  "Yep." I sit on the arm of the chair. "Julia is out and Jax is in."

  "But you and he...you almost...you know." She finishes the glass of wine in one gulp.

  "I know." I lean closer to where Liz is sitting on the couch. "And he...you...you know with Madeline."