Fairytale Christmas with the Millionaire

He couldn’t believe he’d put this conversation off for so long. “Mom, I’m sorry it’s been so long since we talked.”

“I’m sorry, too. I should have tried harder to understand how important the business is to you.”

“Are you saying that you now understand?”

There was a pause. “I didn’t want to, not at first. Your father always told me when he retired he’d make more time for us—that we’d travel the world. And then we lost him—and his promises died with him. I was so angry that I blamed the business. And because I loved you, I didn’t want to lose you to the business, either. But I pushed so hard that it’s exactly what I did.”

“I should have been more understanding. I’m sorry. I was so caught up in proving to myself that I was good enough to fill Dad’s shoes that I didn’t realize what you were going through.”

“And now?”

“Now, I have the biggest dilemma of my life.”

And so he told her about Toliver Tower—tying the past to the future. It was meant to be Graham’s mark upon the company, pulling him out from behind his father’s shadow. And then he mentioned how it was destroying his relationship with the woman he loved.

Yes, he loved Alina. The problem was he’d figured that important bit out a little too late.

“If you love this woman as much as you say you do, you’ll find a way to work things out,” his mother said.

It wasn’t the solution he’d been hoping for. In fact, it wasn’t a solution at all. It left him in the same position he’d been in at the start of this conversation.

“I’ve been trying to find a compromise to make everyone happy, but I don’t think there is one.” He’d barely slept for days, trying to find a way to fix things with Alina. “No matter what I decide, people are going to be disappointed and angry.”

“Then it sounds to me like you might as well follow your heart.”

Or follow Alina’s heart. If she were to know all of the details of the Stirling’s physical condition and the projected plans for the new building, would she make the same decision?

He wasn’t sure, but a plan was starting to form. “Thank you, Mother. You’ve been a huge help.”

“Can we get together over the holidays?” she asked with a hopeful tone in her voice.

“I’d like that.” He thought of Alina and hoped she’d be a part of it, too.

“Graham?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you for calling. It means the world.”

“I’m just sorry it took this long.”

And he meant it. He’d let his pride get in the way of their relationship. It wouldn’t happen again.

Now, he had a very serious decision to make. Because through it all, he’d learned that he was a better man with Alina in his life. She made him see the bright side of life even on the darkest day and she made him laugh, even at himself. He needed her. He just hoped she needed him, too.

So his big decision really wasn’t such a big decision, after all. It didn’t matter how many times he considered the proposal, he’d choose Alina every time.

And it wasn’t just Alina that he’d grown fond of. It was also the people of the Stirling—well, most of them. Thankfully he’d given Alina’s stepmother and stepsisters a strong enough incentive to move out. Hopefully they’d moved far away.

So how did he make Alina and the Stirling residents happy? By keeping their building standing. But even if he wanted to do that, there were problems. The whole building needed to be replumbed, rewired, new windows...the list went on. It would cost more to fix than to rebuild.

But the more he thought about it, the more he felt certain his plan would work. He rushed to grab his coat on his way to the door. He didn’t care how late it was. He started dialing his employees. He had a plan and he needed their help. This couldn’t wait.

&n

bsp; CHAPTER TWENTY

SHE’D MISSED HIM.