Page 15 of Blue Collar Billionaire
He and Lexi walked off the dance floor, hand in hand. Just as they were about to reach the carpeted perimeter of the room, Winston Alderidge stepped into view, along with a woman Jack could only assume was Lexi’s mother. She was of a similar height as her daughter, with the same red hair. Lexi reacted first, her hand dropping from Jack’s. She stepped right between him and her parents, almost like she was trying to block him from view, which was not only an absurd idea, it made things awkward from the start.
“Dad. Mom. You’re finally here,” Lexi said.
Winston embraced his daughter, but he’d narrowed his sights on Jack. “Yes. We are. Are you going to introduce us to your companion?”
Jack tensed up the minute Winston opened his mouth. Memories of their run-in years ago barged into his mind. He had a hard time imagining he would ever like this man, however fond he was of his daughter.
Lexi’s mother smiled weakly. She seemed as uncomfortable as Jack felt. “Perhaps we should go talk over in the corner. Your dad and I have a private table.”
Lexi cast an anxious glance in Jack’s direction then scurried off behind her parents. He hadn’t actually been invited to join them, but he presumed that was the plan, so he followed. When he arrived at their table, Winston turned and thrust his hand at Jack.
“I’m Winston Alderidge, Alexis’s father. This is my wife, Annemarie.”
Jack could admit there was an amusing edge to this awkward scenario. Mr. Alderidge needed no introduction, and he had hoped he hadn’t needed one either. “Jack Bowden. We’ve met, sir. Three years ago.” He made sure to return an especially strong handshake.
“Jack is the owner of Bowden Construction,” Lexi interjected. “We met last week when I went to Appaloosa Island.”
“Bowden Construction. Hmm. I’ve never heard of it.” Winston shrugged. “So many start-ups in these parts. It’s hard for me to keep up.”
Jack wanted to be nothing less than polite and cordial during this interaction, but the truth was that Lexi’s father was so condescending it made it incredibly difficult. “Not a start-up, sir. We’ve been in business for eleven years. We’re the sole contractor for the Soiree on the Bay festival.”
“Ah. I guess it’s good to know Rusty Edmond is supporting the little guys.”
Jack was intent on keeping his cool, but Winston was grating every last nerve. “You don’t remember meeting me, do you?”
Lexi’s dad frowned. “I don’t. But I meet a lot of people. It’s impossible to remember them all.”
Jack wasthisclose to telling Winston that he was a pompous ass. But he decided it would be better to illustrate it and let everyone else reach their own conclusion, rather than say it right out loud. “You don’t remember everyone you personally turn down for a significant business loan? Even when you met with them in your office?”
Winston reared his head back. “Is that how we met?”
“It is. I came in for a multimillion-dollar loan to expand my business. Even though I had the personal assets to guarantee it, you said I was too big a risk. Told me you would rather lend to someone who was better established in the community.”
A hesitant smile crossed Winston’s face as his memory seemed to kick into gear. “Ahh. Now I remember you. Things got a bit heated between us, didn’t they?”
Jack nodded in affirmation. He might have said a few choice words that day, but he’d been justifiably angry. “They did. I’m an extremely hard worker, Mr. Alderidge. I have considerable assets and have built them with my own two hands. I wasn’t asking for charity or a favor that day. On paper, there was no reason to deny the loan. But I have a feeling I know why you did.” Jack took a step closer, doing everything he could to tamp down his temper. The problem was that every minute facing Winston made the memory of that day all the more acute.
He had left Alderidge Bank feeling humiliated and insulted.
“You took one look at me and decided there wasn’t anything in it for you, aside from some interest. I didn’t come from your social circles. I wasn’t acquainted with your cigar-smoking buddies. I was the man who wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. You didn’t see the point, did you?”
“Well, I...” Winston’s voice trailed off. “I can’t grant a loan to someone I hardly know. That’s not how I do business.”
“You don’t need to tell me how business is done. Your competitor across town greeted me with open arms. I now run my entire business through them. Millions of dollars every month, flowing like water.” Jack looked at Lexi. All color had drained from her face and her eyes were like saucers. He reached for her hand, but he wasn’t sure she would take it. Part of him feared she would stay with her parents and tell him to shove off. If that was the case, he’d have to live with the disappointment, but it was going to sting. “Lexi, I’d like to go. You’re welcome to join me or stay. It’s your choice.”
She looked back and forth between Jack and her mom and dad. The wait for her answer felt like it stretched on for an eternity. “No. I’m coming with you.” She slid her hand into Jack’s and gave it a gentle squeeze, then turned to her parents. “Please let Bianca know I left.”
Jack wasn’t about to wait for more. He marched to the great room doors, Lexi in his wake. She caught up to him and took his hand again. It brought him more comfort than he cared to admit. “Jack. Stop,” she said when they’d reached the hall just outside the room. Luckily, they were mostly alone—only a few stray guests were out there. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea that was the reason you knew my dad. Why didn’t you tell me?”
He scanned her face, which was full of sincerity. That made him feel bad, even when his blood was right on the edge of a rolling boil. He prided himself on being the guy who stayed calm and even, but that was no longer possible. “You shouldn’t have to answer for the things your father has said or done.”
“You’re right... I shouldn’t. But I also deserve the chance to make things right, don’t I? I understand everything youdidn’tsay back there. I know how my dad is, how he looks down on people and makes assumptions. I hate it. He did it to Brett all the time.”
Someone stepped out of the great room and Jack caught a glimpse of the crowd of people inside, wearing tuxedos and gowns. Would he ever truly fit in here? Did he actually want to? Jack was proud of his rootsandthe success he’d worked so hard for. And he didn’t need invitations to garden parties and country club golf tournaments as validation. “I don’t want to be a prop, Lexi. I don’t want to be the blue-collar guy you parade around as a novelty. That’s not me.”
She grasped both of his arms, adorably craning her neck to look him in the eye. “You’re not a prop, Jack. I like you. A lot.”
He froze for a moment as her words sank in. He’d told himself he wouldn’t get in deep with Lexi, and here she was, confessing her feelings. The trouble was that he had the exact same feelings. Even when he’d said he wouldn’t go there...that he wouldn’t get involved. “I like you, too, Lexi.”
