New Beginings: Chapter 1
Alexis is in a predicament, her cousin has just divorced Tyler Maintland; the man that holds the key to both their futures. Alexis needs to keep the peace between herself and Tyler, but the more time she spends with him the more she feels herself falling in love with him. To make matters worse it seems as if Tyler's only interested in using Alexis as a way to get revenge on his ex-wife.
Chapter 1
Alexis smoothed away the creases that had begun to form on her suit pants and clasped her shaking hands tightly on her lap. She had been sitting in the lobby of Maitland International for an hour waiting to see Tyler Maitland. What had started out to be a seemingly normal day had quickly escalated into one that she had no control over. Alexis closed her eyes thinking back to meeting she had with her aunt. Stella Lang had stared back at her niece with emotionless eyes; the lines she had fought so hard to keep at bay showing their dominance across her creased forehead. "He's taking everything" she repeated for good effect.
Alexis had blinked trying to comprehend what her aunt had just said. Stella Lang let an exasperated breadth of pent up air gush out of her heavily red-painted lips. "Tyler Maitland is divorcing your wayward cousin and taking back the company Alexis. He found out about the affair, he's furious obviously and has decided to liquidate the company" Alexis nodded numbly still shocked. The company that she dedicated the past six years to was to become the bargaining chip in a divorce settlement. "Are you sure?" she squeaked
Stella threw her a sympathetic look "Listen honey the only reason that Tyler invested in the first place was because of Claudia and now he has no reason to keep financing the company. "But it's not like we haven't being paying him back" Alexis asserted her voice rising as the panic set in. What would she do what could she do?
Alexis opened her eyes blinking the plush interior of the waiting room back into focus. So here she was to reason with the man that was threatening to take it all away. "Ms Lang" Alexis looked up as the assistant approached her "Mr Maitland will see you now" Alexis nodded and suppressed the butterflies in her stomach and followed the woman into the office. Tyler stood bent over a round table, reading a document.
Alexis had always liked Tyler, granted he was her cousin's husband so getting along was mandatory but over and above this she had always respected his ability to rise to the occasion. Being a second-generation rich kid meant that he was supposed to take over the family business and run it to the ground, or alternatively become a notorious playboy. Tyler had done none of these, instead he had studied, served an internship abroad and had returned to take over the family Architectural business. So yes she respected him but she couldn't let her affection for him get in the way of what she had come here to do because one thing was for sure he would not be doing her any favors, Claudia had made sure of that.
Tyler looked up when his assistant cleared her throat 'Ms Lang to see you" she smiled encouragingly at Alexis and propelled her forward with a little shove before closing the door behind her. "Alexis" he nodded indicating for her to sit down at his desk. Alexis swallowed watching as he crossed behind the desk, sat down and leaned back into the chair. "How are you?" Alexis relaxed at least he was being civilized "I am well considering..." she stopped, she had to avoid tricky subjects. "Considering that I am divorcing Claudia and dissolving the company." Tyler smirked
"Yes that" Alexis murmured
He laughed "And you want to know if there is any possible way that I might change my mind and let you keep your company, as well as the free space that you occupy in a building that I own and continue to draw heavily on my financial assistance?"
"Well not exactly" Alexis began
"Not exactly" Tyler interjected irritation flooding his handsome face
"Yes not exactly" she persisted "If you would just let me finish what I was trying to say"
"Yes by all means what is it that you want to say; it's not as if I have anything better to do other than to sit here listening to you sell me some sob story about saving a company that I no longer have an interest in"
"I know she hurt you" Alexis began but the look she received was so cold and menacing that her mouth snapped shut "fine" she rose from her seat "You know I am not her and while she may be my cousin you were also a part of my life and if that means nothing then I'm wasting my time here". With that she spun on her heel and marched out of the office without a backward glance.
Once outside she let the cool autumn air wash over her. It was then that it hit her. It was all over, she would have to start from scratch what would she do now? She contemplated putting her accounts degree to use but she had little experience and had been out of the game for six years who would possibly hire her? The buzzing of her phone distracted her 'Alexis...Thank God" Claudia shrilled "I have been trying to get hold of you for the past hour"
"Sorry I was just busy" Alexis lied biting down on her lip. "Well anyway" Claudia continued in the same tone "I need you to go over to the house and pick up some of my stuff"
"No way" Alexis bit out she had done a lot for Claudia in the past but this was too much how could she go snooping around Tyler's house when he had basically told her he wanted nothing to do with her or her family.
"Do you expect me to go" Claudia whimpered "what if he's there" she sounded almost frightened but Alexis knew her cousin well enough to know that it was a lie. Everything about Claudia was a lie including her feelings for Tyler. "Alexis are you still there?"
"Yes I am" Alexis droned out making her way to her car "Where do you want me to drop it off"
"Oh thank you Alexis just drop it off at Carl's place I'm staying with him now" Alexis rolled her eyes why was she not surprised that her cousin was staying at her new boyfriend's house. Pride was not high on Claudia's list of priorities it would seem. "Fine" she hung up and began the long drive out of the city and into the suburbs.
As she drove the houses grew further apart, indicating that she was entering the more affluent areas. She finally turned into a tree lined driveway and slowed to a stop underneath a vine covered carport. The double story mansion rose menacingly above her as she ascended the porch steps and rung the doorbell. The elderly woman that opened the door frowned when she saw Alexis. "Mrs Grenning" Alexis greeted "How have you been"
"Well enough" the woman grunted moving aside to let Alexis enter "You may get Mrs Maitland's things then you must leave" No Alexis thought I think I might take a stroll in the garden and then maybe Tyler and I can have a nice dinner and reminisce about the good old days. But she nodded and leapt up the stairs making her way quickly into the master bedroom. She paused tapping her mouth with a finger. She would need a bag or at least some packets depending on how accommodating Mrs Grenning was feeling. Alexis ran back into the hallway "Mrs Grenning" she yelled "Mrs Grenning is it possible for me to have a suitcase or some packets to pack Claudia's things in?" She heard some commotion downstairs and decided that Mrs Grenning would bring it upstairs rather than have her snooping around the rest of the house.
Alexis re-entered the bedroom and marched into the closet. "Wow" she breathed her cousin had managed to collect an entire department store in the six years that she had been married to Tyler. Alexis began pulling out items that she recognized. She pulled out a drawer and gasped when she saw the glittering jewels set neatly in little velvet lined boxes. She pulled out a diamond ring and tried it on and frowned not really linking the look of it against her skin. Too big she decided.
"Enjoying yourself?" an all too familiar voice drawled from behind her
Alexis spun around "Tyler...I was just picking up some stuff for Claudia" she tried to explain
"Of course" he shrugged "it is after all her stuff" he emphasized. He watched as she put back the necklace she had been about to try on. "It's a lot" she mused. "At the time they all seemed like good investments" he entered the closet to come and stand beside her and frowned down at the assortment of necklaces, bracelets, and rings "not so much anymore" he picked up an emerald ring "This I will keep she will understand". Alexis doubted that very much the emerald ring was by far the most beautiful piece in the entire collection. "I am sorry Tyler" He brushed off what she said with a laugh "Everyone keeps saying that but it means nothing really" Alexis grew silent contemplating what a shallow gesture it seemed. Tyler cleared his throat "I want to apologize for this afternoon" he began looking intently down at her judging her reaction "You're right we have known each other for a long time and while Claudia may have treated me like last season's winter coat you never did"
Alexis stared back shocked at that revelation she knew how difficult that must have been for someone as proud as Tyler to admit "Thank you"
He smiled and she noticed what a nice smile it was, warm reaching all the way to his eyes. How come she had never noticed that before? Maybe it's because he hardly smiled before. "Was it all bad" she ventured
He considered her for what seemed like ages "Not all the time at least not for me it wasn't" Alexis winced feeling bad that Tyler had had no clue what Claudia had been doing and how long it had been going on for. Claudia had never respected the vows she and Tyler had exchanged and while Alexis had disapproved she owed her allegiance to her cousin. "I should get going...I'll come back for the rest later"
"Why do you do that?" He asked suddenly "I mean do whatever she wants you to do?"
Alexis smiled "I suppose that's what family do for each other"
"Yes but in this case its only one way, you keep giving and Claudia keeps taking"
"I'm not sure what you mean?"
"For instance, when was the last time Claudia actually designed something for the business?" It was true Claudia had stopped making contributions years ago and preferred the more glamorous job of attending parties, being the face of their business "I guess it's been a while" Alexis murmured half to herself.
"You guess right" he grimaced, an almost apologetic look on his face
"But I suppose it doesn't even matter now" Alexis added shifting her gaze away from him to stare at some invisible spot on the wall
"Hmm" was all Tyler said before his phone rang and he left the room to answer it.
Alexis found a kit bag at the back of the closet and began packing as much as she could fit. Finished she closed the bedroom door behind her and made her way back downstairs. She opened the front door and kicked the bag out the door. "Interesting method" Tyler commented coming up behind her; he effortlessly picked up the bag and waited for her lead the way to the car. "I don't know why you didn't buy yourself a more reliable car" he scrunched up his nose at her old ford "You know take advantage of my financing"
"I love this car" Alexis defended
"Seriously? Is this really the car of the city's top up and coming designer?" He was teasing her but she was having none of it because all of a sudden talking about designing was making her chest heavy
"It's not like I can call myself that anymore, or at least not until I decide what I'm going to do and anyway I was never in the public that was always Claudia's territory"
He quickly sobered after that "Yes Claudia always knew how to dazzle them"
Alexis touched his cheek sure that it was better than the sorry that was on the tip of her tongue. He instantly turned his face into her palm and then jerked away. Alexis pulled her hand away not sure why his reaction hurt so much. "I'm"
"Don't you dare say you're sorry" he snapped
"I wasn't going to" she lied
Tyler raised an immaculately shaped brow "Why do I find that hard to believe"
"Why do I don't really give a damn whether you believe me or not" she tossed back
"Play nice Alexis; don't forget I'm the guy holding your future in the palm of my hand"
Alexis glared up into those smoky gray eyes "A fact that you refuse to let me forget" she spat back "Well I don't need your money, not anymore thank you for giving me my freedom Tyler Maitland I can't wait to finally do what I want to do, design what I want to design..." she trailed off her chest heaving
"Finished?" he inquired his tone expressionless his gray eyes vacant of any human emotion.
"Yes" she fumed "I hope you're quite happy because we are officially through" she swallowed "the day I see you again will be too soon for my liking". He smiled an almost cruel smile and she shivered "I will see you next week for the settlement meeting Alexis" he all but explained "Until then keep safe for me and save a bit of this anger for the lawyers you're going to need it if you expect to have a fighting chance against me".
Tyler's Pov
She gasped and Tyler felt like kicking himself. What had made him say that to her. She was Alexis, not Claudia he had no right to take his anger out on her no matter how appealing that notion seemed. He watched as she rocked back on the balls of her feet as reality set in and he cursed out loud "Alexis" he began reaching out to her but she stepped back and out of his reach. He narrowed his eyes "come here Alexis I didn't mean it" he attempted to apologize. She stared back at him her amber eyes blank and expressionless. God she wasn't going to make this easy but she never did. She had always fought him every step of the way in the business and she was doing it now only this was personal and he had hurt her. "Goodbye Tyler" she murmured and got into her car.
He watched her speed out of the driveway. Damn it she had done it again. Gotten him all wound up and gone storming off with the last word. It would mean he would have to apologize again or at least have a decent conversation with the woman so that she got the picture that he was sorry. He had always liked Alexis she was smart, beautiful, funny when she wanted to be and she had always been nice to him and his family more so than Claudia now that he actually thought about it. Right now she hated him and he wanted to hate her because she was the only one standing between him and Claudia and he wanted to have his say until now he had yet to have his say.
Alexis smoothed away the creases that had begun to form on her suit pants and clasped her shaking hands tightly on her lap. She had been sitting in the lobby of Maitland International for an hour waiting to see Tyler Maitland. What had started out to be a seemingly normal day had quickly escalated into one that she had no control over. Alexis closed her eyes thinking back to meeting she had with her aunt. Stella Lang had stared back at her niece with emotionless eyes; the lines she had fought so hard to keep at bay showing their dominance across her creased forehead. "He's taking everything" she repeated for good effect.
Alexis had blinked trying to comprehend what her aunt had just said. Stella Lang let an exasperated breadth of pent up air gush out of her heavily red-painted lips. "Tyler Maitland is divorcing your wayward cousin and taking back the company Alexis. He found out about the affair, he's furious obviously and has decided to liquidate the company" Alexis nodded numbly still shocked. The company that she dedicated the past six years to was to become the bargaining chip in a divorce settlement. "Are you sure?" she squeaked
Stella threw her a sympathetic look "Listen honey the only reason that Tyler invested in the first place was because of Claudia and now he has no reason to keep financing the company. "But it's not like we haven't being paying him back" Alexis asserted her voice rising as the panic set in. What would she do what could she do?
Alexis opened her eyes blinking the plush interior of the waiting room back into focus. So here she was to reason with the man that was threatening to take it all away. "Ms Lang" Alexis looked up as the assistant approached her "Mr Maitland will see you now" Alexis nodded and suppressed the butterflies in her stomach and followed the woman into the office. Tyler stood bent over a round table, reading a document.
Alexis had always liked Tyler, granted he was her cousin's husband so getting along was mandatory but over and above this she had always respected his ability to rise to the occasion. Being a second-generation rich kid meant that he was supposed to take over the family business and run it to the ground, or alternatively become a notorious playboy. Tyler had done none of these, instead he had studied, served an internship abroad and had returned to take over the family Architectural business. So yes she respected him but she couldn't let her affection for him get in the way of what she had come here to do because one thing was for sure he would not be doing her any favors, Claudia had made sure of that.
Tyler looked up when his assistant cleared her throat 'Ms Lang to see you" she smiled encouragingly at Alexis and propelled her forward with a little shove before closing the door behind her. "Alexis" he nodded indicating for her to sit down at his desk. Alexis swallowed watching as he crossed behind the desk, sat down and leaned back into the chair. "How are you?" Alexis relaxed at least he was being civilized "I am well considering..." she stopped, she had to avoid tricky subjects. "Considering that I am divorcing Claudia and dissolving the company." Tyler smirked
"Yes that" Alexis murmured
He laughed "And you want to know if there is any possible way that I might change my mind and let you keep your company, as well as the free space that you occupy in a building that I own and continue to draw heavily on my financial assistance?"
"Well not exactly" Alexis began
"Not exactly" Tyler interjected irritation flooding his handsome face
"Yes not exactly" she persisted "If you would just let me finish what I was trying to say"
"Yes by all means what is it that you want to say; it's not as if I have anything better to do other than to sit here listening to you sell me some sob story about saving a company that I no longer have an interest in"
"I know she hurt you" Alexis began but the look she received was so cold and menacing that her mouth snapped shut "fine" she rose from her seat "You know I am not her and while she may be my cousin you were also a part of my life and if that means nothing then I'm wasting my time here". With that she spun on her heel and marched out of the office without a backward glance.
Once outside she let the cool autumn air wash over her. It was then that it hit her. It was all over, she would have to start from scratch what would she do now? She contemplated putting her accounts degree to use but she had little experience and had been out of the game for six years who would possibly hire her? The buzzing of her phone distracted her 'Alexis...Thank God" Claudia shrilled "I have been trying to get hold of you for the past hour"
"Sorry I was just busy" Alexis lied biting down on her lip. "Well anyway" Claudia continued in the same tone "I need you to go over to the house and pick up some of my stuff"
"No way" Alexis bit out she had done a lot for Claudia in the past but this was too much how could she go snooping around Tyler's house when he had basically told her he wanted nothing to do with her or her family.
"Do you expect me to go" Claudia whimpered "what if he's there" she sounded almost frightened but Alexis knew her cousin well enough to know that it was a lie. Everything about Claudia was a lie including her feelings for Tyler. "Alexis are you still there?"
"Yes I am" Alexis droned out making her way to her car "Where do you want me to drop it off"
"Oh thank you Alexis just drop it off at Carl's place I'm staying with him now" Alexis rolled her eyes why was she not surprised that her cousin was staying at her new boyfriend's house. Pride was not high on Claudia's list of priorities it would seem. "Fine" she hung up and began the long drive out of the city and into the suburbs.
As she drove the houses grew further apart, indicating that she was entering the more affluent areas. She finally turned into a tree lined driveway and slowed to a stop underneath a vine covered carport. The double story mansion rose menacingly above her as she ascended the porch steps and rung the doorbell. The elderly woman that opened the door frowned when she saw Alexis. "Mrs Grenning" Alexis greeted "How have you been"
"Well enough" the woman grunted moving aside to let Alexis enter "You may get Mrs Maitland's things then you must leave" No Alexis thought I think I might take a stroll in the garden and then maybe Tyler and I can have a nice dinner and reminisce about the good old days. But she nodded and leapt up the stairs making her way quickly into the master bedroom. She paused tapping her mouth with a finger. She would need a bag or at least some packets depending on how accommodating Mrs Grenning was feeling. Alexis ran back into the hallway "Mrs Grenning" she yelled "Mrs Grenning is it possible for me to have a suitcase or some packets to pack Claudia's things in?" She heard some commotion downstairs and decided that Mrs Grenning would bring it upstairs rather than have her snooping around the rest of the house.
Alexis re-entered the bedroom and marched into the closet. "Wow" she breathed her cousin had managed to collect an entire department store in the six years that she had been married to Tyler. Alexis began pulling out items that she recognized. She pulled out a drawer and gasped when she saw the glittering jewels set neatly in little velvet lined boxes. She pulled out a diamond ring and tried it on and frowned not really linking the look of it against her skin. Too big she decided.
"Enjoying yourself?" an all too familiar voice drawled from behind her
Alexis spun around "Tyler...I was just picking up some stuff for Claudia" she tried to explain
"Of course" he shrugged "it is after all her stuff" he emphasized. He watched as she put back the necklace she had been about to try on. "It's a lot" she mused. "At the time they all seemed like good investments" he entered the closet to come and stand beside her and frowned down at the assortment of necklaces, bracelets, and rings "not so much anymore" he picked up an emerald ring "This I will keep she will understand". Alexis doubted that very much the emerald ring was by far the most beautiful piece in the entire collection. "I am sorry Tyler" He brushed off what she said with a laugh "Everyone keeps saying that but it means nothing really" Alexis grew silent contemplating what a shallow gesture it seemed. Tyler cleared his throat "I want to apologize for this afternoon" he began looking intently down at her judging her reaction "You're right we have known each other for a long time and while Claudia may have treated me like last season's winter coat you never did"
Alexis stared back shocked at that revelation she knew how difficult that must have been for someone as proud as Tyler to admit "Thank you"
He smiled and she noticed what a nice smile it was, warm reaching all the way to his eyes. How come she had never noticed that before? Maybe it's because he hardly smiled before. "Was it all bad" she ventured
He considered her for what seemed like ages "Not all the time at least not for me it wasn't" Alexis winced feeling bad that Tyler had had no clue what Claudia had been doing and how long it had been going on for. Claudia had never respected the vows she and Tyler had exchanged and while Alexis had disapproved she owed her allegiance to her cousin. "I should get going...I'll come back for the rest later"
"Why do you do that?" He asked suddenly "I mean do whatever she wants you to do?"
Alexis smiled "I suppose that's what family do for each other"
"Yes but in this case its only one way, you keep giving and Claudia keeps taking"
"I'm not sure what you mean?"
"For instance, when was the last time Claudia actually designed something for the business?" It was true Claudia had stopped making contributions years ago and preferred the more glamorous job of attending parties, being the face of their business "I guess it's been a while" Alexis murmured half to herself.
"You guess right" he grimaced, an almost apologetic look on his face
"But I suppose it doesn't even matter now" Alexis added shifting her gaze away from him to stare at some invisible spot on the wall
"Hmm" was all Tyler said before his phone rang and he left the room to answer it.
Alexis found a kit bag at the back of the closet and began packing as much as she could fit. Finished she closed the bedroom door behind her and made her way back downstairs. She opened the front door and kicked the bag out the door. "Interesting method" Tyler commented coming up behind her; he effortlessly picked up the bag and waited for her lead the way to the car. "I don't know why you didn't buy yourself a more reliable car" he scrunched up his nose at her old ford "You know take advantage of my financing"
"I love this car" Alexis defended
"Seriously? Is this really the car of the city's top up and coming designer?" He was teasing her but she was having none of it because all of a sudden talking about designing was making her chest heavy
"It's not like I can call myself that anymore, or at least not until I decide what I'm going to do and anyway I was never in the public that was always Claudia's territory"
He quickly sobered after that "Yes Claudia always knew how to dazzle them"
Alexis touched his cheek sure that it was better than the sorry that was on the tip of her tongue. He instantly turned his face into her palm and then jerked away. Alexis pulled her hand away not sure why his reaction hurt so much. "I'm"
"Don't you dare say you're sorry" he snapped
"I wasn't going to" she lied
Tyler raised an immaculately shaped brow "Why do I find that hard to believe"
"Why do I don't really give a damn whether you believe me or not" she tossed back
"Play nice Alexis; don't forget I'm the guy holding your future in the palm of my hand"
Alexis glared up into those smoky gray eyes "A fact that you refuse to let me forget" she spat back "Well I don't need your money, not anymore thank you for giving me my freedom Tyler Maitland I can't wait to finally do what I want to do, design what I want to design..." she trailed off her chest heaving
"Finished?" he inquired his tone expressionless his gray eyes vacant of any human emotion.
"Yes" she fumed "I hope you're quite happy because we are officially through" she swallowed "the day I see you again will be too soon for my liking". He smiled an almost cruel smile and she shivered "I will see you next week for the settlement meeting Alexis" he all but explained "Until then keep safe for me and save a bit of this anger for the lawyers you're going to need it if you expect to have a fighting chance against me".
Tyler's Pov
She gasped and Tyler felt like kicking himself. What had made him say that to her. She was Alexis, not Claudia he had no right to take his anger out on her no matter how appealing that notion seemed. He watched as she rocked back on the balls of her feet as reality set in and he cursed out loud "Alexis" he began reaching out to her but she stepped back and out of his reach. He narrowed his eyes "come here Alexis I didn't mean it" he attempted to apologize. She stared back at him her amber eyes blank and expressionless. God she wasn't going to make this easy but she never did. She had always fought him every step of the way in the business and she was doing it now only this was personal and he had hurt her. "Goodbye Tyler" she murmured and got into her car.
He watched her speed out of the driveway. Damn it she had done it again. Gotten him all wound up and gone storming off with the last word. It would mean he would have to apologize again or at least have a decent conversation with the woman so that she got the picture that he was sorry. He had always liked Alexis she was smart, beautiful, funny when she wanted to be and she had always been nice to him and his family more so than Claudia now that he actually thought about it. Right now she hated him and he wanted to hate her because she was the only one standing between him and Claudia and he wanted to have his say until now he had yet to have his say.
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