Chapter 4 - Annie's Secret
Alexander waited until Derek left.
Then he closed the study door.
“Who was he?”
“My brother.”
“What does he want?”
“Money.”
“For?”
Annie hesitated.
“Gambling debts.”
Alexander's expression changed.
“How much?”
“That doesn't matter.”
“It matters when he enters my home.”
“I didn't invite him.”
“Does he know my children live here?”
Annie looked offended.
“I would never put Jordan or Justin in danger.”
“I didn't say you would.”
“You thought it.”
Alexander didn't deny it.
Annie removed her housekeeping apron.
“What are you doing?”
“Leaving.”
“No.”
She stared at him.
“You don't trust me.”
“I don't trust your brother.”
“You hired me. My problems came with me.”
“No. They didn't.”
Annie looked confused.
Alexander continued.
“Your brother is responsible for his problems. You are responsible for yours.”
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
Annie looked down.
“Our mother died when Derek was seventeen and I was twelve. He raised me.”
Alexander's anger softened.
“He quit school. Worked two jobs. Made sure I ate.”
“What happened?”
“Life.”
She gave a tired laugh.
“Derek started betting. Small things. Sports. Cards. Then bigger things.”
“You've been paying his debts.”
“For years.”
“Stop.”
Annie looked at him.
“That's easy for a billionaire to say.”
“No. It's easy for someone who spent fourteen months trying to solve grief with money.”
That stopped her.
Alexander stepped closer.
“You can't purchase someone else's recovery.”
Annie's eyes filled.
“He was there when nobody else was.”
“And now you're destroying yourself because you're afraid leaving him alone makes you ungrateful.”
Annie stared.
“How do you know?”
“Because guilt speaks several languages.”
Silence settled between them.
Then Alexander said, “You're not fired.”
“I didn't ask—”
“Good.”
“Mr. Morrison.”
“Alexander.”
She stopped.
“What?”
“My name.”
“I know your name.”
“You never use it.”
“You're my employer.”
“And you're the woman who told me I was technically a father.”
Annie almost smiled.
“That was inappropriate.”
“It was.”
“Sorry.”
“You weren't wrong.”
Their eyes met.
Then footsteps raced down the hallway.
Jordan burst inside.
“Dad!”
Alexander turned.
Justin followed, holding something.
A photograph.
Lauren.
The twins stood beside her at a pumpkin patch.
Justin handed it to Alexander.
“Can this go in our room?”
Alexander crouched.
“Absolutely.”
Jordan looked at Annie.
“And Annie gets one.”
The adults froze.
Justin nodded.
“So she remembers Mommy too.”
Annie's eyes filled.
Alexander looked at his sons.
Then at Annie.
For the first time, he understood what was happening.
The twins weren't replacing Lauren.
They were expanding the circle of people they trusted.
And perhaps he was too.
Two months later, Alexander received a call from the twins' therapist.
“Mr. Morrison?”
“Yes?”
“I wanted to discuss Jordan and Justin.”
Alexander braced himself.
“What's wrong?”
“Nothing.”
He blinked.
“They've made extraordinary progress.”
Alexander sat back.
“Both?”
“Both.”
The therapist paused.
“Whatever changed at home, keep doing it.”
Alexander looked through his office window.
Annie was outside with the boys.
Jordan was chasing leaves.
Justin was laughing.
Alexander smiled.
“I intend to.”
But that evening, Annie placed an envelope on his desk.
Alexander stared at it.
“What is this?”
“My resignation.”
His smile disappeared.
“Why?”
“Because I need to leave before your sons become more attached.”
“They're already attached.”
“That's the problem.”
Alexander stood.
“Explain.”
Annie looked at him.
“I'm becoming part of this family.”
“Yes.”
“And I'm an employee.”
“Then don't be.”
Annie's breath caught.
Alexander realized what he'd said.
Neither spoke.
Finally, Annie whispered:
“What exactly are you asking me?”
Alexander didn't have an answer.
May you like
Not yet.
And that frightened him more than any boardroom ever had.
