Choice Matters (Southern Heat Book 1) (14 page)

When
Apolo
showed up a
pre-determined time later, Mother, of course, leaned on his arm, leading him
through her guests like an old pro. She knew when a good thing had landed in
her front yard and knowing her as well as I did she would be a staunch advocate
for
Apolo’s
and my relationship. After all, what
mother wouldn’t want
Apolo
Choice for a son-in-law?

What the hell am I thinking? Marriage to
Apolo
?

I nodded at him as he and my mother approached a group of
anxious guests. The gesture didn’t go unnoticed by her, either. She pulled
Apolo
my way for a quick second, locking her other arm in
mine, dragging us both to her admiring visitors.

An hour later,
Apolo
nodded, our
signal that our time here was up. I found
Izzie
and
said good-bye. The plan had been all along that we would arrive together, and I
would leave with
Apolo
. It might not have been the
smartest idea, but everyone knew from the reports that I was accompanying him
to Washington as much more than his number two in charge of Choice Enterprises.

We discussed the possibility of my running the company with
him in Washington, but decided it would be a conflict of interest. This way,
everything was on the table and everything was being done
Apolo’s
way.

Mother was not pleased, even after I assured her we’d see
her soon. Putting down my half-empty glass of wine, I walked with
Apolo
as he led me out the door to Jacob and his waiting
Bentley.

We slid in and made ourselves comfortable for the ride to
his
Buckhead
mansion.

“I’ve called an early morning meeting tomorrow.”

“On a Sunday?” I blurted out, raising my hand to cover my
mouth.

“I want to lay everything out for everyone. That way there’ll
be no surprises when the Governor makes his announcement Monday. I don’t want
anyone saying they assumed this or that.”

“Good idea. What do you need me to do?”

“Right now? Just be there when I have the meeting.”

“You know this is going to come up,” I said reaching my hand
across and patting his knee. “Someone’s bound to want you to address it, want
to know why you’ve never disclosed this.”

“First off, it’s not one’s damn business why I’ve never
discussed my injury. It does not affect my running of Choice Enterprises. But
yes, you’re right, someone is going to ask, and I intend to speak about it.”

“Only tell them what you’re comfortable disclosing. It’s a
private matter, and you’re right, it doesn’t affect running your business.”

“I’m going to tell you about it this evening. I want you to
know what happened, how it happened. You more than anyone else deserve to know
the truth, especially now…” I cocked my head and noted him winking in my
direction. A seductive jester.

“Especially now, what? What,
Apolo
?
Oh, you mean now that we’re moving to Washington and outing ourselves as this
new power couple?” I teased.

“Yes, something like that. I will say you keep me on my
toes, Caitlyn. Just another thing I admire about you.”

“Oh God, don’t go getting all mushy on me now, Choice. Save
it for the bedroom.”

A low throaty laugh, emerged from his side of the car—the
one I loved. It meant he was truly amused. I turned and gazed out the window,
noting we were about to pull up the long driveway to his mansion. My life was
certainly about to change.

Settling into one of my favorite rooms in this monster of a
house, I slipped off my shoes, leaving them, along with my purse, next to a
chair. The room was warm and inviting, reminding me of pictures I’d seen in
palaces. Only this was on a much smaller scale. And while the furnishings were
luxurious, they weren’t over the top, fitting the room with an elegant flare.

Apolo
, in the meantime, removed
his jacket and tie and headed over to the bar, which was cleverly disguised in
a Bombay chest. He stood there pouring brandy into two elegant snifters, a smug
look on his face. I suppose I should actually call it smirk. As though he was
thinking of something naughty. Because I doubt if he were thinking of what he had
indicated he wanted to speak with me about he’d have such a look on that
perfect, god-like face.

Not knowing whether to sit or not, I slowly walked in his
direction, meeting him halfway in the center of the room. Passing me the brandy
snifter, he leaned over and dusted a kiss on my lips.

“Come, let’s sit over on this sofa and get comfortable.”

I nodded, heading toward the beige damask overstuffed couch.
As soon as I sat down, I understood why he’d chosen it. My body melted into the
cushions elegantly. This had to be one of the most exquisite pieces of
furniture I’d ever placed my derriere in.

Apolo
appeared uncomfortable,
sniffing the essence of his brandy before taking a long swallow. I thought
perhaps if I lightened the mood, it might make things easier for him.

“Come now, Choice, out with it quick. I’m sure I’ll fall
asleep sitting here from the decadence of this fine sofa if you don’t hurry.”

“You look good sitting there, Caitlyn. I look forward to
many a night of the two of us sitting here chatting.”

Okay, what’s going on?
Is this a proposal or a warm up?
I thought we were here to discuss how he’d
lost his leg, not how fine my ass looked in this fine piece of furniture,
although I had to admit, it probably did look good.

“Take your time,
Apolo
. I get the
sense this isn’t an easy topic to discuss.”

“That’s putting it mildly, because I’ve never really discussed
it with anyone outside the family.”

“Just who knows outside your family?”

“Only Jacob. Now you. That, of course, isn’t counting a
couple of freaked out young women from my past.”

“Not even Renee?”

“No. I’ve seen no need.” He took another swallow of his
brandy as I shifted to face him from a better perspective. “It happened right
as I graduated college. My parents owned a place outside of Savannah on one of
the islands. Had for years. We’d go down there in the spring and fall before it
got too hot.”

“I know the area. It’s beautiful, although stifling in the
summer.”

“Yes, it is stifling. Anyway, there was an old cabin in a
wooded area that Anthony and I used as our secret hideout. We would spend hours
there, even sneak out of the main house in the middle of the night and do
things, things that boys do.”

I kept my eyes focused on him as I took a sip of my drink. “Go
on.”

“We had returned for a visit after my college graduation
ceremony. I was to go on to Europe the following week, a graduation present
from my parents. I woke up one night. Anthony was nowhere to be found and
figuring he was out at the cabin making mischief, I decided to join him. Sort
of one last time for old times’ sake. Boys being boys and all.”

“And was he at the cabin when you got there?”

“I don’t remember much of the incident, Caitlyn. What I do
recall is sneaking through the woods. The moon was out, making it easier to see
my way. Tony had always been quite territorial about the cabin. Why, I have no
idea. I suppose he thought since I’d been away, it should be his and his alone.
Anyway, the last thing I remember is him shouting something at me. The next
thing I remember after that is being in the hospital.”

“That’s it? What the hell happened there,
Apolo
?”

“My brother has always had a fascination with weapons. It
seems he had done his research and protected what he thought was his with
homemade land mines. He hadn’t had the chance to let me in on his secret.”

“Fuck,” was all I could say. I shook my head in disbelief at
what I was hearing.

“Exactly. I managed to step close enough to one that it set off
the charge. Blew my leg off, and damn near blew off my—”

Here he was telling me this, vulnerable and shaken, as he
recalled something that, even to this day, was a nightmare to him. Something he
had never shared. “Oh, my God,
Apolo
. He must have
been terrified.”

“Terrified? The fucking bastard damn near killed me. Lucky
for me, my father was awake and heard the blast. Saw it actually. He was
outside on the porch when it went off. Having served in the war, he
instinctively knew what it was and came running. Anthony immediately took off,
scared. If my father had not found me and done what he did, I wouldn’t be here
today. No, my brother chose to be a coward.”

Stepping around Anthony’s involvement, I asked him for more
details. “So, your father saved your life. How long were you in the hospital?”

“Months. I already knew what course my life would take. This
tragic turn of events simply propelled it quicker. Thus, the
Apolo
Choice, billionaire, you see before you.”

“You forgot soon to be senator.”

“That, too. So, now you know the sordid little secret of how
I lost my leg.”

“Anthony was never charged?”

“No, my father had it swept under the rug and sent Anthony
to a military school. He was supposed to have gone on to West Point, but he
managed to make sure his grades and behavior would keep him from getting the
appointment. No one knew it ever happened. And what few people did thought I’d
stepped on a civil war era land mine, of which there were many still around.”

I reached across and took his hand, squeezing it. “Thank you
for sharing that. I can tell it was difficult.”

“I had to tell you, Caitlyn. I felt not doing so was being
dishonest. I knew you had to be wondering things…”

“Does your brother know you’re planning to reveal the nature
of your injury?”

“No, but he knows I’d never implicate him.”

“But don’t let him run you over, thinking he has the upper
hand.”

“I don’t know where he’d get off thinking he has the upper
hand. He would be the one answering questions. I don’t intend to dredge up the
past.”

“I think it will be an asset to you in the long run, coming
out about your experience. People are going to look up to you and respect you.
They’ll know how painful it is for you to relive this, and you can dismiss any
inquiries simply as you not wanting to bring it up.”

“Exactly. That’s what I intend to say. That it was a
horrible accident, it’s in the past, and I only want to be an inspiration to
other disabled persons out there.”

“Not changing the subject, but when are we leaving for
Washington again?”

“After the governor makes his announcement. Monday afternoon
or Tuesday morning at the latest. There are a lot of things to get started. I’m
going to need your help with some of this, Caitlyn.”

“And I told you I would. Relax,
Apolo
.
It’s all working out. Just get through the meeting tomorrow, the governor’s
announcement, and it’ll be downhill after that. The hardest will be done.”

At some point, after hours of discussion, we finally made
our way to bed, exhausted.
Apolo
had just revealed to
me a very personal and still painful tragedy. The man was indeed human and
vulnerable like any of the rest of us. He had a façade, and I certainly had no
intention of dismantling what he had fought so hard to obtain and maintain. But
would others leave the past in the past?

* * * *

Waking the next morning to an empty bed, I wandered through
the upper halls of his mansion, admiring the elegance surrounding me. I
eventually found him in the library downstairs, dressed and ready to go.

“Good morning, angel,” he greeted me as he rose from his
massive, mahogany desk. Kissing me on the lips, he flicked a grin meant only
for me. “We leave in less than an hour. Time to get ready.”

“Less than an hour?
Apolo
! You
should have gotten me up ages ago.”

“I didn’t have the heart to wake you. You looked so peaceful
laying there sleeping. But on with you. Go get ready.”

“Can I at least have a cup of coffee or tea?”

“I will bring one to you. Renee will have breakfast at the
office. Now go. Hurry up.”

Shaking my head, I leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. I
turned to leave, mumbling something about how men didn’t understand the art
involved for a woman to make herself presentable. It was going to be a long,
interesting day.

Jacob had us to the office in plenty of time, as we were the
first to arrive. Renee greeted us as she came out of the conference room where
she had been overseeing any last minute details. Coffee and breakfast being one
of them.
Apolo
stopped her.

“I would like you to sit in on this meeting as well, Renee.
Everything I will be announcing and discussing today concerns you just as much
as anyone else.”

Sensing she was hedging, uncomfortable with something new
and outside of her perfect, organized little world, I nodded toward her. “He’s
right, Renee. You need to hear this from Mr. Choice and not anyone else.
Besides, I hate always being the sole woman in the room.”

“Of course,” she relented. “It would be a privilege to sit
in on your meeting.”

I wasn’t sure if she was mocking me or what. The words she
chose were not what I would have expected. Still, she seemed to be happy in her
career choice as an executive administrative assistant. Who was I to judge?

Fixing a cup of coffee for myself and
Apolo
,
I turned to give him one. He was deep in thought, staring out the windows at
the Atlanta skyline. I placed it at his designated spot at the conference
table. Sitting down in my chair, I observed him as he continued to look out the
window.

Slowly, the men began to appear one by one. He turned around
and joined us. He shuffled through a sheaf of papers before he started. The
room was quiet. Every man there knew why he’d called this meeting. Well, part
of the reason.