Anger swelled in his chest. “You don’t get it! He’s all I have!”
“What about me?”
“That’s not what I mean. You’re different.”
“I thought I was, but…” She shrugged. “Brock, if you deny him, he’s not going to die.”
“You don’t know that. You can’t know that. Accidents happen. Remember?” He shook his head. He knew his argument made no sense, not even to him anymore. “Look, all I’m asking for is time.”
“We don’t have time. The ball is on Saturday. Today is Thursday.”
He gulped and looked away, clenching his teeth together. “Can’t you at least give me time? I mean, you of all people should know how hard it is to stand up to family. You’ve been a doormat to your own sisters your entire life!”
Jane’s lower lip trembled as her eyes filled with tears. “You’re right. But I’m willing to make that change and it’s because of you! I’m willing to fight for me, to fight for us. Are you?”
“Jane.” Brock felt like his heart was breaking. “I’m just asking for time.”
“Time.” She sighed. “Then I guess that’s it.”
What had just happened? Why did this feel like good-bye? He blinked hard at her. “So, you’re okay?”
“No, Brock. I’m not okay. I’m leaving.”
“What the hell?” he roared.
“You said you needed time,” she fired back. “So I’m going to give it to you. Spend the next few days thinking about what you want, or”—she seemed to shrink inside herself—“if you already know, you can just go back, and tell your grandfather how you feel before it’s too late.”
“It’s not just about my feelings anymore.” He sat down and ran his hands through his hair. “If all I had to do was say no to my grandfather, I could manage it.” His eyes burned when he took in her sad expression. “Jane, it terrifies me. But for you, for you I would risk it.”
She gulped and sat down next to him, sliding her hand up his thigh. “Then what is it? What aren’t you telling me?”
“The shareholders want to push Grandfather out. I don’t know the exact details but I do know that for him to say something to me, it must be bad. He’s using the auction as a way to show a united front—me, him, the twins. The face of Wellington. The publicity alone has made them change their tune, enough that they seem at least partially satisfied. The other snag we have is Titus Enterprises. We’ve had several…” He tried to think of the correct words. “We’ve had several sour dealings with them and the board has been itching for a better business relationship with them.” He locked eyes with her. “Guess who’s co-sponsoring the auction?”
Jane’s eyes fell. “Titus Enterprises.”
“Right.” His laugh was bitter. “And they’re absolutely thrilled that the future leader of Wellington is going to take one for the team.”
“You,” she whispered.
“Me.” He nodded. “Wellington, Inc. is everything to my grandfather. Saying no may not kill him; you’re right. But losing this company to a bunch of greedy shareholders who would run our name into the ground would.”
“I understand.” Jane stood.
“Just…” Brock didn’t release her hand. “Give me time to think of a solution that keeps everyone happy…and living.” His try at a joke missed its mark; if anything her face fell more.
“Brock.” Tears filled her eyes. “You’ve known me three weeks. You’ve been with your grandfather, and this company, your whole life.” She lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. “I can’t expect you to sacrifice everything for a maid.”
He sucked in a breath. “You’re not just a maid.”
“Okay, the hired help.” She offered a sad smile and cupped his face with her free hand. “I’ll wait for you.” Tears spilled onto her cheeks. “And I hope you can come up with a solution.”
“You don’t have to leave.”
“Maybe we both should. I’ll go back home and face my own ghosts.” Her brave smile wasn’t making him feel any better. “And you can go try to find a way to keep the company and your grandfather.”
“And what about us?”
“We’ll be fine.” It was a lie. Even as she said it, he knew she didn’t really believe her own words. His chest clenched. Did she really have that little faith in him?
Then again, even as he sat there hating life, hating their circumstances, he literally had no clue how to fix them—and still keep her.
She left two hours later.
Brock suddenly understood what it was like to feel truly empty. His parents’ death had altered the course of his life—but a few weeks with Jane had changed it as well.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Jane held back the tears that threatened the entire drive back to Phoenix. She was proud of herself when she finally pulled up to her house that evening and had managed to shed only one.