The Lingering love

Chapter four

THE LINGERING LOVE

Chapter Four: The Secret He Kept

Serena waited until the office was almost empty before approaching Alexander.

She had spent the afternoon staring at the photograph of him and Vanessa. Every time she tried to concentrate on work, the same questions returned.

Who was Vanessa to him?

Why had she disappeared?

And what did she know about Serena's father?

At six thirty, Serena knocked on Alexander's office door.

"Come in."

He looked tired. His tie was loosened, and several documents were scattered across his desk.

When he saw her, he sat straighter.

"Serena. Is everything all right?"

"No."

She placed the photograph on his desk.

"Tell me who she is."

Alexander looked down.

The change in his face was immediate.

"Where did you get this?"

"Someone left it in my desk drawer. I'm beginning to think your company has a serious security problem."

He didn't smile.

"Her name is Vanessa Reed."

"I know that much. What was she to you?"

"A legal adviser."

"That's not what I asked."

Alexander rubbed a hand over his face.

"She worked for my family. She was involved in several matters concerning the company."

"And my father?"

His eyes lifted sharply.

"Who told you about your father?"

"So there is a connection."

He stood and walked toward the window.

"Your father and my family had business dealings long before you and I met."

"What kind of dealings?"

"Financial agreements. Investments. Things that became complicated after his death."

Serena felt a chill.

"My father died before you left me. Are you saying his death had something to do with our relationship?"

"No." Alexander turned toward her. "I'm saying there are parts of your father's business dealings that were never properly explained to you."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I promised your father I would keep you out of it."

Serena stared at him.

"You knew my father?"

"Yes."

The answer landed harder than she expected.

Her father had died when she was twenty-two. Alexander had been in her life at the time, but he had never mentioned knowing him beyond their few family dinners.

"How well did you know him?"

"Well enough to know he was worried about you."

"Worried about me because of what?"

Alexander looked as though he was fighting with himself.

"Serena, I can't give you all the answers tonight."

She felt anger rising.

"Then stop pretending you're helping me. You knew my father. You knew Vanessa. You know what happened five years ago, and you still expect me to accept scraps of information whenever you feel like giving them."

"I'm not asking you to accept anything."

"Then tell me the truth."

He looked at her for a long moment.

"When your father died, he left behind documents that could have caused serious problems for several people. Vanessa was responsible for handling some of those documents. A few weeks before you and I separated, she contacted me and said something was wrong."

"What was wrong?"

"Some of the documents had disappeared."

Serena's mouth went dry.

"Which documents?"

"I don't know exactly what was taken. Vanessa refused to discuss it over the phone. She said she needed to meet me in person."

"At the hotel?"

Alexander nodded.

Serena stepped back.

"That was the night I was supposed to meet you."

"I know."

"Then why didn't you come?"

Pain crossed his face.

"Because someone told me that if I met you that night, you would be in danger."

"Who?"

"I never saw their face. I received a message telling me to stay away from the hotel. It included a photograph of you leaving your apartment."

Serena's anger faltered.

"Someone was watching me?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell the police?"

"Because the message included information only someone close to your family could have known. I didn't know whom to trust."

"So you simply disappeared?"

"I thought if you believed I had abandoned you, you would move on. I thought keeping you away from me was the safest thing I could do."

Serena stared at him, struggling to understand.

"You let me believe I wasn't worth an explanation."

"I know."

"You let me blame myself."

His voice broke slightly.

"I know, Serena."

She looked away, fighting tears.

For five years, she had imagined a hundred reasons why Alexander left. None had prepared her for this.

Part of her wanted to believe him.

Another part wanted to shake him for deciding on her behalf what she could and couldn't handle.

"You should have trusted me," she whispered.

He stepped closer but stopped when he saw her stiffen.

"You're right."

The simple admission surprised her.

"I was scared," he continued. "I thought I could control the situation if I kept you away from it. I didn't understand how much damage I was causing you."

Serena wiped her cheek.

"Did you stop loving me?"

Alexander's expression softened.

"No."

The answer came so quickly that she almost believed he had been waiting five years to say it.

"I tried to," he admitted. "I told myself that if I stayed busy enough, if I worked hard enough, eventually I'd stop thinking about you."

He gave a small, sad laugh.

"It didn't work."

Serena looked at him.

For a moment, the distance between them seemed to disappear. She remembered his hand resting on her cheek, his quiet laughter in the middle of the night, and the way he used to pull her close whenever she was upset.

She wanted to ask him to hold her.

Instead, she stepped back.

"Love doesn't erase what you did."

"I know."

"And I can't promise I'll ever forgive you."

"I wouldn't ask you to."

She picked up the photograph.

"Then help me find Vanessa."

Alexander's expression changed.

"Serena, that's dangerous."

"Someone is sending me photographs and messages. They know where I work and where I live. I'm already involved, whether you like it or not."

He was silent.

Finally, he nodded.

"All right. But you don't investigate this alone."

"That's not your decision."

A faint smile touched his lips.

"There she is."

Serena frowned.

"What?"

"The woman who used to argue with me whenever I tried to tell her what to do."

Despite herself, she almost smiled.

Then she remembered the years she had spent crying over him.

The smile disappeared.

"Don't mistake a familiar argument for forgiveness, Alexander."

His expression became serious.

"I won't."

---

Serena returned to her apartment feeling more confused than ever.

Alexander's explanation had changed everything, but it hadn't answered all her questions.

Who had threatened him?

What had her father been hiding?

And why had Vanessa disappeared?

She was pouring herself a glass of water when someone knocked on the door.

Serena froze.

It was nearly nine o'clock.

She wasn't expecting anyone.

She approached the door cautiously and looked through the peephole.

A woman stood in the corridor, wearing a dark coat. Her hair fell around her face, and she kept glancing toward the staircase.

Serena opened the door a few inches.

"Can I help you?"

The woman looked directly at her.

"Are you Serena Hayes?"

"Who are you?"

The woman swallowed.

"My name is Vanessa Reed."

Serena felt the blood drain from her face.

The woman from the photographs was standing outside her apartment.

Alive.

Vanessa glanced over her shoulder.

"We don't have much time," she whispered. "I need to tell you what really happened five years ago."

Serena opened the door wider.

"Come inside."

Vanessa stepped over the threshold, but before Serena could close the door, the woman caught her wrist.

"Listen carefully. Alexander didn't leave you because someone threatened him."

Serena stared at her.

"Then why did he leave?"

Vanessa's eyes filled with fear.

"Because the night you were supposed to meet him, I discovered who had been stealing money from your father's estate."

Serena's heart pounded.

"Who?"

Vanessa leaned closer.

"Someone you trust."

Before she could say another word, headlights swept across the apartment window.

Vanessa went pale.

"Oh, no."

"What is it?"

"They've found me."

A loud knock struck the front door.

Serena jumped.

A man's voice came from the corridor.

"Miss Hayes? Open the door. We need to talk."

Vanessa grabbed Serena's hand.

"Whatever happens, don't let him take the documents."

"What documents?"

Vanessa reached into her coat and pressed a small flash drive into Serena's palm.

Then she whispered a name.

A name Serena never expected to hear.

"Chloe."