Semua Bab Bound by Desire : Bab 31 - Bab 35

Alexander's POV"Corner Brew, Atlantic Avenue, nine AM."Sarah's words replay in my head as I pull up to the small coffee shop in Queens. It's eight forty-five, I'm fifteen minutes early, my hands won't stop shaking.I check my reflection in the rearview mirror, put on a dark suit today, and actually try to look like myself again instead of the broken mess I've been.I sit in my car watching the door, rehearsing what I'll say.Elena, I'm sorry. Please give me a chance.Nine o'clock passes, and I'm starting to think she's not coming when I see her.Elena, walking down the sidewalk holding Julian's hand, she's wearing jeans and a sweater, her hair down, and she's laughing at something Julian is saying.My chest aches watching her; she looks lighter somehow, freer, happier without me.They walk into the coffee shop, and I'm about to get out of my car when I see someone else approach their table.A man, maybe my age, casual clothes, friendly smile, he's carrying a muffin.He sets it in fr

Elena's POV"You got the job, congratulations."David Chen's voice on the phone makes me want to cry with relief. I got it, I actually got the job."Thank you," I manage to say, "when do I start?""Next Monday, nine AM, come to the fifteenth floor."We hang up, I look at Julian playing with his blocks on Sarah's living room floor, and we're going to be okay."I got it," I tell Sarah, "I got the job at Sterling Media."Sarah hugs me, "I told you, I knew you would."The salary is good, really good, benefits include health insurance for both me and Julian Monday arrives faster than I expected, and I'm standing in front of my closet trying to decide what to wear.Navy blue dress, professional but not too formal, I pull my hair back into a low bun."You look beautiful, Mama," Julian says from the doorway.The commute to Sterling Media takes forty minutes; the building is impressive, all glass and steel.I walk into the lobby, my heels clicking on the marble floor."Elena Martin for Davi

Alexander's POV"Where is Julian Harrington?"I'm at the nurse's station, out of breath, my tie is loose, and I don't care how I look.The nurse types on her computer, "Are you family?""I'm his father," I snap, "where is my son?"She looks at me, her expression softens, "Room 304, third floor, but sir, he's stable, the doctor is with him now."Stable, that word should comfort me but it doesn't. I need to see him.I run to the elevators, punch the button repeatedly, like that will make it come faster.The ride up feels endless, my hands won't stop shaking.Third floor, room 304, I'm running down the hallway, nurses are staring but I don't care.I push open the door to room 304 and freeze.Elena is there, standing next to a hospital bed, talking to a doctor in a white coat.Julian is lying in the bed, his eyes closed; there's a bandage on his forehead."Elena," I say, my voice breaking.She spins around, her face is tear-stained, exhausted, and when she sees me, her expression hardens.