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“No.” She shook her head.
“She needs a decent car,” Atlas spoke, drawing her attention.
“It will be delivered tomorrow.”
Jasmine whipped her attention back to his grandfather. “I’ll pay you back. I promise.”
He shook his head. “Being a part of my great-granddaughter’s life will be enough payment. You haven’t seen a very good representation of my family. But for as long as I’m alive, the Remingtons will never shirk their responsibility and they will always take care of what’s theirs.”
Jasmine glanced back to Atlas as if she needed his assurance. The realization was like a sucker punch to his stomach. Some part of her still trusted him—at least more than she trusted his family. “My grandfather has many faults, but he’s true to his word.” Unlike me.
She smiled, eyes shiny with tears. “Thank you so much, Mr. Remington.”
“Call me Great-Grandpa Remington.” He chuckled.
Jasmine nodded towards the door, and spoke to Bridget. “Can you give me a minute?”
Her lawyer said, “Of course.”
After she’d exited the room, Jasmine walked over to Atlas. He stood, holding his breath. This woman had every right to hate him. He’d promised her he’d face anything with her and then at the first sign of difficulty he’d left her alone to weather the storm herself. He’d succumbed to his own insecurities rather than trusting in the love between them. But they were still living in two different worlds. He was a part of the Remington empire and she lived in a small town running an inn that she’d never give up.
“Atlas?” Jasmine’s voice trembled slightly.
“Yeah?” I’m sorry, my love.
“Thank you.”
Of all the things he’d expected her to say, that wasn’t one of them. She must have read the confusion on his face because she continued, “You gave me and Zoey an amazing couple of weeks. And I wanted you to know I’m sorry for any pain I caused you.”
His heart broke all over again. Regret over the hurtful words he’d muttered to her at their last encounter burned his neck with shame. “You don’t have anything to be sorry about. I’m the one who owes you an apology.” He wanted to reach out and hold her. But they had an audience.
“I’d better go.” She gave him one last lingering glance before she nodded to his grandfather and walked out the door.
“That one’s got gumption. Don’t see that much these days. She’s a fierce protector of that little girl,” his grandfather said.
Atlas nodded. “She’s doing the right thing keeping Zoey away from all of this.”
“You don’t meet a woman like that every day, son. Believe me, I’ve spent a lifetime trying.”
“She’s the most genuine person I’ve ever known,” Atlas agreed. And I love her.
“Too bad she isn’t Remington-marriage material.” His grandfather shook his head.
Atlas tensed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“She’s not from our social status. She’s an innkeeper for Christ’s sake. She isn’t Remington material, but she’s the mother of that child and there isn’t anything we can do about it now.”
Rage burned hot, slicking over his skin. Atlas shook his head. “I quit.”
Joseph’s mouth dropped open. “No, you don’t. You’re the only one in this family I can trust.”
“I can’t do this anymore. I don’t want it.” He pulled out his tie as he stalked towards the door. If he hurried, he could still catch her.
“Ha! Since when is business about what you want? You weren’t complaining when it paid for that penthouse or the jets that flew you and your friends all around the world. You sound like a whiny, ungrateful child.”
Atlas opened the door and turned. “I quit, effective immediately.”
“You won’t get another dime from me! You really want to forfeit shares in a billion-dollar company? All for a woman?” His grandfather was fuming. He’d never seen him so angry.
“You said yourself—a woman like that doesn’t come around every day. She’s worth more than my inheritance. She’s worth . . . everything.”
“Atlas, don’t be rash. Let’s think this through—Atlas!” His grandfather’s shout echoed as he slammed the door shut on his past and sprinted to the stairwell towards his future.
He was done letting others decide what was best for him while he tried to live up to everyone else’s expectations except his own. He needed to find the woman he loved, beg her forgiveness, and hope by some miracle she’d give him a chance to make things right.
