Chapter 8 - The Confrontation in the Rain
The autumn rain had turned into a steady, freezing downpour by the time the gala concluded. The flashing lights of limousines lined the curb outside the exhibition hall. I had changed out of the ruined gown into a simple wool sweater and trousers, holding my trophy securely in its leather case.
Noah was fast asleep inside Julian’s town car, his small face peaceful against the leather upholstery.
Julian rolled down the window, looking up at me as I stood under the building's awning. ""Are you getting in, Claire? We have a celebration banquet booked at the Drake.""
I looked across the street.
Standing beneath a streetlamp in the pouring rain, without an umbrella, without his coat, was Vincent. His white dress shirt was plastered to his broad shoulders, his dark hair soaked and dripping onto his face. He wasn't trying to approach me. He wasn't commanding me to return home. He was simply standing guard, watching the car, making sure his son and I were safe in the dark city streets.
""Julian,"" I said softly, my voice catching. ""Thank you for everything. For giving me a workshop when I had nothing. For believing in my work.""
Julian smiled gently, understanding passing through his intelligent eyes. ""I gave you a bench, Claire, but the brilliance was always yours. And as for that stubborn bull across the street... he spent the last three hours buying out every debt Marcus held over my European supply lines just so my company wouldn't face retaliation from this scandal. He didn't ask for a finder's fee. He only asked that I make sure you were happy.""
My heart squeezed painfully. ""He did that?""
""Go talk to him, Claire,"" Julian chuckled, gesturing toward the street. ""Before Chicago’s most terrifying billionaire catches pneumonia on a public sidewalk.""
I shut the car door and stepped out from under the awning into the freezing rain.
The sound of my heels clicking against the wet asphalt made Vincent look up. As he saw me crossing the road toward him, his entire body stiffened in shock. He took a hasty step forward, then hesitated, as if afraid that moving too quickly would cause me to vanish into thin air.
""Claire,"" he called out, his voice competing with the roar of the rain. ""Get back under the roof! You'll get sick!""
I didn't stop until I was standing inches from his chest, looking up into his rain-streaked face. His dark eyes were wild with emotion, his chest heaving under his soaked shirt.
May you like
""Why are you still here, Vincent?"" I demanded, my hands trembling at my sides. ""You cleared my name. You destroyed Sophia. You could have walked away and kept your pride.""
""I don't have any pride left, Claire!"" Vincent shouted over the storm, stepping closer until I could feel the radiant heat radiating from his body. ""I haven't had pride since the day you walked out of my door! I don't care about Moretti Shipping. I don't care about the board, or the money, or the power! The only thing in this miserable world that ever made me feel human was you! And every breath I’ve taken for three years has felt like glass in my lungs because I let you believe I didn't love you!""
