I Promise (3 page)

J
ordan reentered the parlor just as the balcony door swung open and Christian raced inside. At the sight of tears streaming down her face, he rushed to head her off.

Her vision blurred as she searched frantically for her friend. Tonight had been a nightmare. Malcolm's wounded expression flashed in Christian's mind. Her heart shattered as she searched through the crowd. Where was she?

An arm encircled her waist and she hadn't the strength to resist being steered out of the parlor. She glanced up through her blurred vision. Grateful for the reprieve, her rescuer pulled her pliant body down a long hallway. They entered the sanctuary of the library and she slumped into a nearby leather chair. The door slammed shut behind her. The sound of her rescuer's heavy footsteps drew her attention

Words failed her when she finally recognized Jordan. The differences between the brothers were now more apparent. Tired lines were etched around the corners of Jordan's eyes and he had a faint cleft in his chin. His shoulders seemed broader, while he held a deeper air of maturity.

On bended knee, he produced a handkerchief and dabbed at her tears. Concern filled his dark eyes.

She blinked to clear her vision. Once she regained her bearings, she pulled away from his touch. How had she jumped from the frying pan into the fire?

When he smiled at her, two dimples grooved into his cheeks.

“I take it things didn't go well with my brother?” Jordan handed her the handkerchief, so she could finish drying her face.

“Thank you.” She accepted his offer. “If you don't mind, I'd rather not discuss my relationship with your brother.”

“I was under the impression that you were trying to end the relationship.”

Christian jumped to her feet.

Jordan stood. “Forgive me. I didn't mean that the way it sounded.”

The sincerity in his voice touched her. Since she wasn't ready to flee back into the crowded parlor to look for Alex, Christian stopped short of bolting toward the door.

He gestured to the chair with a sweep of his hand. “Please, sit down.”

She hesitated a moment longer, then reclaimed her seat. During the ensuing silence, Christian dried her eyes and tried to collect herself. “Thank you for saving me out there.”

“There's no need to thank me” he assured her. “But I'm the one who needs to apologize. There's no excuse for my behavior earlier in the gardens. I should have told you who I was.”

Somehow, that statement won a smile from her. “Apology accepted.”

“I'm not apologizing for the kiss, mind you,” he added.

Christian caught the playful, yet devilish glint in his eyes and laughed despite herself. “I was wrong for not recognizing the difference between you and your brother sooner. Malcolm is more humble where you're…not.”

Jordan's rich laughter blended with hers. “Your mistake is a common one. Though I'll admit it's nice to be able to slip behind another identify now and then.”

Her cheeks warmed as she tore her gaze away from his dark penetrating one. Her defenses had melted beneath their intensity. She cleared her throat to remove the lump wedged there before she spoke again. “I think I should be going now.” She stood and prayed that her wobbly legs wouldn't betray her nervousness.

“Do you need an escort?” Jordan also stood.

“No. I rode with a friend.” Her heart fluttered at the cloud of disappointment that darkened his features.

“Then I'll return you to the parlor. Maybe I can be of some assistance in locating your friend.”

“That's very kind of you. Thank you. Her name is Alexandria.”

“Ah, yes. Miss Cheney. I had the pleasure of meeting her earlier this evening. It shouldn't be too hard to find her. I'm sure she has a league of men at her disposal.”

Surprised by an unexpected twinge of jealousy, Christian made sure her emotions remained hidden.

 

“This is quite a party you're having,” Wong Chin commented, slapping a heavy hand across Noah's back.

“I'm glad you approve,” Noah replied in a deadpan voice. He pulled his lean six-foot frame up and met the gaze of his adversary with cool aloofness.

Chin laughed, but the gesture never reached his eyes. “You know the board is looking forward to hearing about your fall collection.” He drained his drink and leered at Noah above the rim of his glass.

“Why don't we just try to enjoy the party and leave business at the office.”

“You know, I have to be honest with you, Noah. I support the board's recommendation that you step down as CEO and President of Opulence. I think it's high time that we get some new blood in the company.”

Noah gripped his drink, pausing to catch hold of his temper. “I appreciate your honesty, Chin. But I'm not about to quietly step down from a company my family started long before you were an itch in your father's pants.”

Chin smiled, pleased to have been able to draw first blood. “We'll see, old-timer.” He tilted his head, gave a two-finger salute, and walked away.

Muttering a curse under his breath, Noah regretted the way he hand handled the conversation with his company's chief financial officer. He looked at his own empty glass, then went in search of a refill.

Later, inside Noah's private study, Clarence served his employer another Bloody Mary.

Noah slammed his fist on the bar. “I tell you this family has gone to hell in a handbasket.”

The two men sat tucked away in his office above the party.

“Look what I get after slaving away to provide for this family. Insolence.”

“I'm sure it's not as detrimental as that, Mr. Williams.”

“Humph!” Noah played with his glass. “Is it too much to ask for my sons to take over the family business? At least one of them?”

“It's not my place to judge, sir.”

“Of course it's not,” Noah answered his own question. “Opulence paid for those boys' education and their lifestyles. Now they want to turn their backs on it.” In two gulps, he drained his glass.

“Perhaps, sir, you should allow your sons the opportunity to carve their own destinies.”

“Don't tell me you're taking their side on the matter?” Noah looked aghast at the very idea.

“It was just a thought, sir.” Clarence stated flatly. “But if you would recall, you, too, bucked at the idea of joining the family business when your father first asked you.”

A deep flush of burgundy stained Noah's cheeks. “That's entirely different.”

“How so?” Clarence asked with mock innocence.

“That was a different time—a different era. Opulence was not the thriving business it is today. Why, my father died penniless.”

“And you were able to breathe new life into the business after his death?”

“Quite right, quite right.”

“But it was also after you were allowed to go out in the world and discover how much Opulence truly meant to you.”

Noah wasn't too drunk to know where Clarence was heading with this. “My God, you
are
siding with them.”

“I'm just trying to show you that your sons are more like you than you think.”

“I can't wait around ten or twenty years on the hope that one of them will want to come back. A million things could go wrong between now and then. The place could crumble to the ground.”

“Patience is a virtue, sir. It wouldn't hurt you to exercise that every once in a while.” Clarence gave him a knowing smile, then left his employer alone.

Noah watched Clarence exit the study and grudgingly admitted Clarence had a point, though it didn't help ease his disappointment. He looked longingly at the liquor bottles behind the bar, but heeded his doctor's warnings. He'd already had his fair share for the night. No need to push his luck regarding his health.

His office door swung open and Rosa rushed in. Her flushed face told him she was in a state of panic.

“Thank God, you're here. Did you hear what Malcolm has done? Can you believe it?” She rushed her sentences as if they were one.

In anticipation of his wife's flair for dramatics, Noah's shoulders slumped and he heaved a sigh of frustration. He looked at the bottles again.
Well, maybe just one more drink.

 

Alexandria watched Malcolm stroll through the quiet gardens, longing to comfort him, to be with him. She had known him for the last two years and had loved him the entire time.

If she ran to him, she realized that he would never view her in the same way as he did Christian. Why was it you always wanted what you couldn't have? Fate had dealt her a cruel hand in love and she had been forced to play the cards she had.

Malcolm pivoted and caught a glimpse of her in the shadows. “Alex? What are you doing out here?”

Forcing a pleasant smile, she stepped farther into the moonlight. Its luminous beams danced off her red sequined dress. “I was looking for Chris,” she lied effortlessly, wanting to take back the name the moment she saw the pain it struck across his features.

“She went back inside.” He slid his hands into his pockets and inhaled sharply.

Alex moved closer. “Are you all right?” she asked just above a whisper.

Malcolm's handsome face broke into a smile, but the sadness that ghosted around his eyes remained. “Yeah. I'll be all right. Thanks for asking.”

There was nothing else to say—no safe subject to broach. A cool breeze caressed her skin, and the heady fragrance from the surrounding exotic flowers made the gardens seem more like a paradise.

“Then maybe I should go back and look for her inside,” Alex announced to break the silence.

Again, he nodded.

Gathering her courage and blanketing her disappointment, she turned.

“Alex?”

She stopped. Her fragile emotions shimmered in her eyes as she faced him again.

“Where did I go wrong?”

With strength she didn't know she possessed, she prevented her tears from humiliating her. “It's nothing you did, Malcolm.” She closed the distance between them.

When their eyes met, she prayed that he would see her in a different light. In the past two years, he had never viewed her as more than “good ole Alex”—a friend.

“In my heart, I knew she didn't feel the same way about me. I don't know. Maybe I thought with time—”

“She didn't lead you on.” Alex took up for her friend.

“No. She never did that.”

His voice sounded distant; his shoulders stooped in defeat.

Alex reached out to him. “Are you sure you're—”

“I think I just need some time alone, Alex.”

The quiver in his voice destroyed the dam that held her tears and she quickly turned before they fell as she rushed back into the house.

T
here was something different about the early Sunday morning sunrise. Jordan's gaze bounced from the vibrant colors of the estate's landscape to the beautiful azure sky. The picturesque view stole his breath and filled him with a sense of peace.

Leaning against the windowsill, he crossed his arms and allowed his thoughts to transport him back to the party. Christian. He'd recited her name a million times since last night. When he closed his eyes, the scent of jasmine seemed to saturate the air.

The kiss. A slow smile curved Jordan's lips. The memory of their kiss haunted him. He could still taste her sweet mouth, could still feel her compliant body.

“Good morning,” Rosa sang, entering the dining room.

Jordan jerked from the window. “Good morning.” He coughed to clear his throat.

Still dressed in her silk robe and despite the early hour, Rosa looked as if she'd just stepped out of a salon. “Is there something wrong, dear?”

“No. I was just thinking, that's all.”

His mother studied him for a moment longer, then shrugged her shoulders. “So, where's everybody?” She took a seat at the table.

“Pop's in his office and Malcolm left sometime during the party last night.”

“Humph. No doubt he's out drooling over his fiancée.” She rolled her eyes heavenward.

Jordan held his tongue and joined her at the table.

“I swear, I don't know what's gotten into that brother of yours. He can have any woman he wants.” She leaned forward to pat Jordan's hand. “As well as you can, sweetheart.”

He smiled and shook his head. “Actually, I met Miss McKinley last night. She seemed nice enough.”

“She's a gold digger!” Rosa bit her lower lip, then narrowed her gaze. “The problem with you men is that you're constantly thinking with the wrong head. Christian is a pretty woman, I'll give her that.”

Beautiful was more like it, Jordan mentally corrected his mother.

Rosa forged ahead, “But what type of background does the child come from? That's what I want to know.”

Jordan sipped his coffee, then frowned when he realized that he'd added too much sugar.

“Don't make that face with me, young man.” Rosa mistook his expression. “Wasn't I right about that little number you introduced to the family two years ago? She tried to pass herself off as a relative of General Colin Powell. She didn't fool me. I knew that she was an impostor the minute she waltzed in here wearing those Steven Tyler knock-offs.”

“She is a relative of Colin Powell, Mama.”

“Humph!”

Jordan's shoulder shook with suppressed mirth. He kissed his mother's cheek, then stood from the table. “I think you need to learn how to let go. Malcolm and I are more than able to pick our own dates.”

“That's a matter of opinion.” Rosa refused to allow her son to have the last word. She picked up a plate and chose what she wanted for breakfast from the silver trays placed in the center of the table.

“What's a matter of opinion?” Noah asked, entering the room.

Father and son locked gazes.

“Your son is trying to convince me that he and his brother are able to make their own decisions.”

Noah broke eye contact. “I see. Well, they're grown men, I suppose.” He greeted Rosa with a kiss.

Disappointment curled inside Jordan at his father's dismal reply. “It wouldn't hurt if this family could show a little more support.” His voice mirrored his mood.

“Support?” Rosa flicked her linen napkin open with a snap, then placed it in her lap. “I absolutely refuse to even pretend that I don't know what that woman's up to. I can't believe you think that I would do otherwise. If you and Malcolm want to throw your lives away, that's fine, but it won't be because you didn't get a fair warning from me.”

Noah cleared his throat. “I don't think that's what Jordan's referring to.”

Rosa turned a questioning look to her husband.

“Your son informed me last night that he's leaving Opulence. He's pursuing a career in computers.”

“What?” Horror struck Rosa's features.

Jordan held up his hand, knowing it was a weak barrier to buffer the storm from his mother.

“Why? When did you decide this? Weren't you going to tell me?” Her face reddened with each question she fired at him.

“Yes, I was going to tell you.” Jordan sat opposite his parents and gathered control of his emotions. “I know that you're both disappointed. I—”

“That's an understatement,” Rosa shot back.

“Mama, hear me out. I've thought about going into this field since college.” Jordan caught the twitch along his father's jaw. “This decision is what's right for me.”

“Of all the ungrateful…” Rosa pushed back her plate. “I've lost my appetite. I swear I don't know what's wrong with this family. Don't you think you could have said something sooner?”

Silence permeated the room and nearly choked Jordan. He couldn't fault his parents' reactions. “I'm sorry.”

“Well, that fixes everything, doesn't it?”

“Now, Rosa, calm down.” Noah patted her hand. “It's not going to do any good to get yourself all worked up.”

Jordan shook his head. It didn't seem fair how they put so much pressure on his shoulders. When Malcolm told them that he had no interest in joining Opulence, no one had said a word.

True, Jordan realized, he could have said something sooner. He'd led them to believe that he wanted to be a part of Opulence's future. In a sense, he'd lied. However, this business venture had sparked a fire that consumed him. He had to follow his heart.

Noah's gaze centered on something beyond Jordan's shoulders for so long that Jordan turned to see what had drawn his father's attention.

Clarence stood silently at the door's entrance.

Noah met Jordan's gaze. “If this is something you really want to…” Noah finally said. Jordan faced his father. “Then, I wish you the best of luck.”

Mother and son stared incredulously at Noah.

Rosa slapped her napkin on the table. Her face completely flushed. “Y-you can't be serious.”

“More coffee, sir?” Clarence asked Jordan.

Looking up, Jordan caught a conspiratorial gleam in the butler's eyes. “Thank you,” he whispered the double-meaning reply.

“You're welcome, sir.”

 

Christian stood in front of the bathroom mirror. The steam from the shower had managed to fog most of the room. She wiped the glass so she could get a better view of her reflection. She recited her morning affirmations, but after two years, the words no longer had the same effect.

Her gaze lowered as she studied her body. Almost instantly, tears pooled in her eyes. She took a deep breath. It wasn't fair, her mind screamed. But she knew from life's experiences, that nothing was ever fair.

“Save some hot water for me,” Alex yelled through the door.

Christian blinked and a few drops trickled from her eyes. “I'll be out in a minute.” She sniffed, then dried her face.

Turning from the mirror, she stepped into the shower. The hot water stung as it slapped her skin. She tolerated the torture as a means to punish herself. Over the past couple of years, she'd convinced herself that she deserved it.

The wave of depression conquered her as she lowered her head beneath the showerhead and allowed her tears to mingle with the water. She reached for the soap and scrubbed her skin raw.

When she stepped out of the shower, she dried off without chancing a second glance in the mirror.

A few minutes later, she joined Alex in the kitchen. “It's all yours.”

“Yeah, right. I think I'll wait awhile before I go in. For the past week, the water turns ice-cold right after I lather up.”

“I'm sorry,” Christian sighed. “I should have been more considerate.”

“Frankly, I don't see how you can stand the water being so hot.”

“You get used to it.”

Alex looked up at Christian's desolate tone. “I don't understand why you insist on punishing yourself.”

“Please, let's not go into that this morning.”

Alex poured another cup of coffee and set it in front of her best friend. “How are you holding up?”

“As well as can be expected, I guess.” Christian leaned her elbows on the table and stared down into her coffee cup. “I feel like a convicted criminal.”

Taking the chair opposite her, Alex reached out and touched Christian's hand; the women locked gazes and without words, Christian drew encouragement.

“Maybe it's a good thing that I'm going home tomorrow.” The thought of home lifted her spirits.

Alex shook her head. “I'm sure going to miss you around here. But, please give my love to Bobby.”

“Why don't you do it?” Christian brightened with an idea. “Come with me.”

“I would love to get back to Texas, but I've already committed myself to model Opulence's new jewelry line this month.”

Christian's shoulders slumped as she jokingly poked out her bottom lip. “I'm going to miss you, too. Do you realize it'll be the first time since we've met that we'll be apart so long?”

Alex smiled. “Yeah. It's going to be strange.”

Christian returned the smile. Where would she be had it not been for Alex's love and support through the years, especially after the death of her parents? “What about at the end of the month?” she suggested.

Shrugging, Alex answered, “I'm still going to Paris. I think it would be the perfect chance for me to boost my career.”

“So you're actually going to get on a plane?”

“I'm trying not to think about it.”

Christian took Alex's hand. “You'll be fine and you're going to be great. I just know it.”

“Thanks.”

When Christian fell silent, Alex guessed where her mind had wandered. “Malcolm is going to be fine.”

Christian crossed her arms and shook her head. “I wish I had handled it better. Confusing Jordan with Malcolm didn't help matters either.”

“What
did
happen out there in the gardens?”

“You don't want to know.”

“Try me.”

“I made a fool of myself. The moment I saw who I thought was Malcolm, I started with this speech on how much his proposal had overwhelmed me, then gave him a ‘let's be friends' speech.”

Alex frowned. “Didn't he try and tell you who he was?”

“I think so, but I kept asking him to let me finish. I must have looked like an idiot. But then he asked me for a good-bye kiss.”

“What?” Alex's eyes widened, but then an amused smile curved her lips.

Christian shook her head. “I still don't understand why he did that, but that's when Malcolm found us together.”

“He found you kissing his brother?” Alex turned serious. “That must have devastated him.”

“Enraged is more like it.” Christian's thoughts returned to the kiss. Even if Malcolm hadn't discovered them together, her mind had registered the difference in the kiss the moment their lips had touched. She remembered how her body had come alive, stirring emotions she had long denied herself.

“Was it that good?” Alex broke into her thoughts.

“What?”

“You should see the look on your face.” She studied her friend. “If I didn't know better, I would say that you enjoyed kissing Jordan. A lot.”

Christian stood. “Don't be ridiculous.” She refilled her coffee cup. “You know the last thing I need or want right now is a relationship, especially one with my ex-fiancé's twin brother.”

“Technically, you were only engaged for about an hour.”

“And that's another interesting question. Why on earth did Malcolm propose to me?”

“I've been trying to tell you for months he was in love with you.”

“I have never encouraged him.”

“Maybe he thought you were playing hard to get.”

Christian returned to the table. “Marriage? We both know he's not the settling-down type. There isn't a faithful bone in that man's body.”

“Come on, Chris. Don't you think that you're being a little harsh?”

“I'm being honest. Don't get me wrong. I love Malcolm like a brother. The man is a player to his heart. When I first met him, I remember him bragging to some friends of his that he had received a Ph.D. from PITT University.”

“What's that?”

“Players' Institute of Terminology and Technique.”

Alex laughed as the phone rang. She jumped up. “I'll get it.”