Conklin's Foundation

By Brooke Page

Becca finally found her courage and faced her tormentors head on to get what she deserved: respect and Tyler Conklin. Becca’s faith in Tyler is solid, but is he willing to completely open up to her? They both have past baggage, and as Becca says, Tyler’s is particularly OLD.
With everything they have been through, Becca and Tyler know that secrets get them nowhere. They have made great leaps and bounds in their relationship, but Becca can’t help but feel he is still keeping something from her. Between the local detective snooping around and asking questions at the Conklin building and Tyler’s evasive answers, Becca remains skeptical about his excuses. Even though the detective seems more interested in RJ’s “projects”, Tyler’s hands seem to be in the pot as well.
Unfortunately, Tyler’s past comes back in his face along with his shady business. Will Becca hold true to her new found confidence and claim what’s hers... including Tyler?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brooke Page
• Release date: Jan 29, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311935960

Brooke Page

Indie New Adult Romance AuthorMother of two, wonder wife, after school art/pottery instructor, self proclaimed runner, and Indie Romance Novel junkie!

Book preview

Acknowledgements

First I would like to thank my wonderful family and friends who have encouraged me to write. You all are my inspiration. Thanks to my wonderful husband Andy, who didn’t mind entertaining our beautiful children so I could write more than during nap times and at all hours of the night (even though that is the best time to write!).

Jennifer Ziesemer, you are the best book critique person ever! Thank you for pushing me to do this and for encouraging me along the way. It’s been a crazy process and you have been there for me helping to figure out how this all works. I can honestly say I would have never gotten this far without you; you are the best!

Mom, you are the best proof reader and proof reader ever! Yes, it was embarrassing to discuss some scenes, but you were a great sport!

I’m blessed to have such lovely beta readers, you all know who you are, and I can’t thank you enough. Thank you for your sincere and honest input and opinion! Get ready for book three ladies because it’s going to be a whirlwind!

Perfect Pear Creative, what can I say, you are absolutely amazing. I am so fortunate to have you design the cover. Thank you for bringing Conklin to life!.

To the most spectacular editor out there, Samantha Hondorp! Thanks for spending the time to help polish my book and make me look good!

Thank you to all of the other Indie authors who helped me along the way! I appreciate every one of you taking the time to answer my emails and put up with my fan girl comments and questions! I consider all of you my family, and I love that you are all only a Facebook message away! Angela, Amanda, Michelle, Melissa, Nickie, Trudy, thank you for always being a message away!

Angela- thank you for taking me under your wing. I know I can go to you with any of my crazy questions and your continual support and faith in me is wonderful. I hope to pay you back one day!

To the many bloggers who took the time to read and check out Conklin’s Blueprints and Conklin’s Foundation and post reviews and snippets on your page. Without you helping to get the word out about Tyler and Becca’s story, this would not have been possible.

Anna and Tiffany- Thank you for all that you do for me with spreading the word and helping me try and organize my crazy thoughts!

Karen- I would be lost without you! Not just because you HTML EVERYTHING for me, but because you are a valued and honest friend. You are amazing and don’t ever let anyone tell you anything different!

Most importantly, thank you to YOU the readers! I am forever grateful for your everlasting support!

Prologue

RJ Conklin

I sat at my desk biting my nail, staring with pride at the brick on my desk. An RJ brick it was called. I invented it when I was 19. Some might say I was egotistical for naming it after myself, but it was a fucking brilliant idea. I didn’t tell anyone about it at first, kept it to myself to hide my personal remedies from Mary and my parents. Mary turned into a real bitch once she got pregnant with Nathan and got pissed that I would partake without her.

I ran my finger along the edge of the brick, trying to find the small nub that would cause the concrete to slide open. It was a pain in the ass to find, but that was the point. No one was supposed to know it opened but would think it was just a slab of cement. I finally found the nub and opened the far side, pulling out two pieces of paper.

The first piece of paper was a note from my father Robert Conklin Sr. It basically said he loved me, that I needed to realize that family was what was important in life, and that I needed to cherish my boys, love and be faithful to my wife… blah, blah, blah.

I knew I wasn’t a good husband to Mary, but she wasn’t the best wife either. We never should have gotten married in the first place. We were too young, and although we thought we were in love, we weren’t ready for the ultimate commitment. The best thing we had was sexual chemistry, and we rarely partook in activities between the sheets anymore. Occasionally it would happen if we were at our Chicago home, but I typically bounced around from city to city, dealing with business and building my empire.

Conklin Architecture, Construction, and Design was growing at an exponential rate, and my name was front and center. I was already filthy rich, but I wanted more. Money gave me power and control, and I needed to be in control.

As for cherishing my boys… it was a hard task for me to show. Yes, I loved them. I wasn’t going to get the father of the year award, but I was young when we had them, and I wasn’t ready to be a role model. I think we have come a long way though. Mitch and I get along; we share the same interests for the most part. He doesn’t have a lick of common sense, but he is smart around the construction site and has helped me redraft the RJ brick to make it more efficient. I pushed him to use these skills, just as I pushed my other two boys to use their special gifts as well.

Nathan and I got along fairly well also. We mainly talked business, and he was good at talking. He knew how to make deals and gain clients. My company would always be in good hands with Nathan around. He was loveable and could be manipulative, which is exactly what I needed for my marketing. He wasn’t worth a shit when it came to numbers and finance, and my head spun as well whenever account sheets were put in front of me. That is where Tyler came into play.

Tyler was the quietest of the bunch and showed the most animosity and resentment towards me. I didn’t fucking care. I made him a successful financial guru by pointing out his talents and forcing him to enhance them in college. He probably wouldn’t ever forgive me for making him give up his dream to play baseball. He was making me millions. The kid could read numbers and knew where and how to cut costs and invest like a Wall Street maniac. He was my biggest asset, and I would do everything in my power to keep him.

Tyler wasn’t always an ice block towards me. It was mainly after he graduated from college that he brought the chill on. But lately he has been an arctic blizzard and very easy to rile. It was fun to get Tyler going, to see the steam practically pour off his face. He reminded me of Mary; she was easy to rile as well, and she was a turn on when she was fuming.

The little Miss Becca Stine seemed to get him all flustered. I never saw Tyler with a girl, and he seemed to think I hadn’t caught on to his infatuation with Max Stine’s, the key holder to Grand Rapids, daughter. Nothing got by me, ever.

I noticed his eyes follow her every move when Becca came up to meet with me in my office for the first time. She was a very pretty girl, and she blushed easily, another expression I enjoyed making women show. But I wouldn’t take her too far. I wasn’t going to fuck around with our main client’s daughter, and none of my boys better fuck with her either. But then I saw the look in Tyler’s eyes as he was chasing after her at Stine’s Christmas party.

He loved her.

I knew that feeling for one woman, and it unfortunately wasn’t my wife. I opened up the other folded piece of paper and brushed it with my fingertips, leaning over my desk holding my other hand under my chin gazing at the few words on the crumpled paper.

RJ,

I’m sorry, I can’t run away with you. I can’t do that to your family. But know that I do love you. If things were different we could be together.

Love Always,

Margo

I wasn’t going to mess with Tyler and his swooning over Becca Stine anymore. Hell, I’m rooting for him. Tyler being with the city’s dominating successful business owner’s daughter would guarantee every large building in the city to be contracted out by my company. And I would need more Conklin blood to continue on my empire when I was gone. Nathan wasn’t into that, and Mitch probably had a few bastard children but would never settle down and become a father. Tyler and Becca might be my only hope to spread on the name.

Even though I wasn’t a perfect father, I wouldn’t mess with my son being in love. Well, not too much at least. I still enjoyed making steam roll from his ears.

I sighed as I folded up the papers and put them back into the RJ brick. I would give anything to live on an island with Margo. I stood up and lifted it to put the brick back on my shelf. The fucker was heavy as a normal brick too. Cops would never figure it out. At least they hadn’t yet.

There was one problem my supposed glorified father created for this company. He sold the RJ bricks to the biggest drug dealers in each city where we broke ground. Yeah, it is a good idea, but now they were causing me a headache, coming into my office demanding my bricks. We had to keep them on a low profile or else the pigs were going to catch on, and then it would be my ass at stake. Although I don’t think they could ever pin anything on me. I’m not dealing with the drugs; I just sell the drug dealers bricks that double for safety boxes and key holders. How am I supposed to know what people put in my bricks?

All I know is that if Lee Chino comes into my office making more demands, I might have to put a kibosh on the whole scheme and retire my lovely bricks.

Chapter 1

I sat frozen in the middle a circular room, unable to move my feet. When I looked down I couldn’t see them. They were sunken into the floor which happened to be sand. A panicked breath escaped me as I jerked my head upward, staring at myself in a large mirror. My eyes spun, and I was surrounded by mirrors, but each mirror held a different image.

The first image was of Jamie, my best friend. She was wearing a leather dress as though she came right out of a Native American exhibit. She had her head bent down, her eyes narrowed and demonic, shaking her head back and forth. Her eyes went red as she clenched her jaw. I gasped and turned to the next mirror, afraid of her heartless expression.

When I turned I saw my virginity holder and friend, Gage, shirtless and wearing dark leather pants with frayed beading. His eyes were red as well, and he was tutting and slowly shaking his head back and forth while licking his lips. His hand came out of the mirror, and I scurried back, only to ram into another set of mirrors. I quickly spun then took steps backwards in the sand that was devouring me, now to my knees. I saw Ashlynn, my ex best friend, barely clothed with Connor, my ex-boyfriend, caressing her stomach, staring intently at the side of her face while she brushed his cheek, keeping her eyes on me. Her eyes turned from green to red as she stared intently at me, cocking her head to the side then grasping Connors hair, pulling him to her mouth while she kept her eyes locked with mine, kissing him seductively.

I quickly turned in another direction, afraid to open my eyes to another mirror. I looked down at my feet which were now buried deeper into the sand, up to my thighs. I saw my mother, looking immaculate with her baby blue eyes and perfect light brown hair. Her body was flawless for being the 50 year old woman that she was. Both of my siblings, Heather and Michael, were on either side of her, basked in beautiful dark brown hair and perfect face structures holding their deep chocolate eyes. All three of them were beautiful, dressed in dark leather with beads and feathers. They all turned their eyes on me at once. Their cold stares turned into stones, and their beautiful chocolate and blue eyes turned blood red. I spun around, now waist deep in the sand, trying to find another mirror to look into that didn’t hold red eyes and disappointment. As I turned to find anything else, they all started to come out of the mirrors, slowly creeping towards me. I panicked as I was sinking deeper into the sand.

Then I looked up and saw Tyler. His stunning eyes were blue and green as he stared down at me with a broken expression. His dark brown hair was a perfect mess, and his chest was smooth and glistening with sweat. He wore faded jeans and his hands were limp at his sides.

Tyler, help me, please! I screamed in my head, but the words wouldn’t come out. I grabbed my throat. I couldn’t breathe; I was buried to my neck, and my arms were heavy as I tried to pull them from the sand. Tyler just stared at me with sad, beautiful blue-green eyes and slowly shook his head.

I jerked my eyes open, sitting up and throwing my hands to my chest, gasping for air. I frantically searched the room, my breathing harsh. Blinking my eyes rapidly, I took in my surroundings. I was in Tyler’s room at Union Square, sitting on his bed alone, naked and half covered in his tan satin sheets. Light was beating through the skylight as I sunk back into the bed, putting my hand on my forehead.

What an awful nightmare.

Too bad it was only sort of a nightmare. Last night at my father’s Christmas party, I had faced my tormentors without shame, and this nightmare was the direct result of my encounter. The only problem was, I took down the people I loved along with them, and the fear of losing Jamie, my mother, Tyler, and even Gage was wrapped around my heart. But I knew I wouldn’t lose Tyler. Last night proved it.

Tyler and I couldn’t keep our hands off of each other. We had never been as intimate or as connected as we were last night. Maybe it was partially because we hadn’t touched each other for damn near a month, but his hands delicately stroking my body everywhere etched my feelings for him deeper into my heart.

I forgave him for telling RJ I was an easy lay, for saying he could fuck me whenever he wanted. I knew now that he didn’t mean it, and he was only afraid of RJ taking me away from him. Of course this was ludicrous; I would never let RJ touch me, but Tyler was haunted by his father’s every needing urge to get under Tyler’s skin and was paranoid because of his father’s affair with Margo.

Margo was Tyler’s old nanny who stole his virginity and had a leash on his heart for 10 years. He told me he didn’t love her, but whenever her name was brought up, his eyes turned cold with malevolence as though he despised her. Or as I saw it, his heart was still broken some from her betrayal with RJ. But Margo and Tyler never had an actual relationship, which made the entire situation one big mess that I had yet to completely grasp.

I took another deep breath and was startled by a large clanking noise coming from downstairs. Then I heard the faucet turn on and more clanking. Tyler must be in the kitchen. I stood up and was surprised by how my legs trembled.

Probably from all the make-up sex.

I smirked at my inner monologue. I picked up Tyler’s t-shirt off the floor and grabbed my black lace panties that he so quickly stripped off of me last night. I probably had only worn them for 10 minutes. I padded my way out of Tyler’s vast bedroom. The large wall was partially pulled to the side as always. I walked through the loft where all of Tyler’s plans and blueprints laid scattered amongst the floor and workspace. I found my way to the black spiral staircase and winced with every step down I took.

Wow was I sore! We were going to have to take it easy tonight or maybe keep the creativity to a minimum.

I looked out into the kitchen and saw Tyler standing at the stove attempting to flip an omelet. He turned his head slightly and saw me out of the corner of his eye. Once he flipped the omelet, he turned to face me; a huge grin was plastered on his face.

Good morning. I was going to bring you breakfast in bed. Sorry if I woke you, he said, leaning against the kitchen island holding a spatula.

I walked up to the island and sat down on the stool across from him. You didn’t have to make me breakfast. My eyes grew wide as my stomach grumbled at the two large plates filled with mixed fruit, bacon, and now veggie omelets that Tyler placed in the open spot on each plate. I hadn’t eaten a real meal in a long time.

Tyler pushed the plate over to me along with a fork and napkin. He turned to grab the tea pot and poured the hot water into a coffee mug that held a tea bag. Of course I did. Making breakfast in bed for my girlfriend on a Sunday should be a given, Tyler said, putting the mug in front of me and grabbing his plate to come sit next to me. He kissed my forehead as he walked by.

Hmm and why haven’t I had this luxury before? I said with an arched brow. His face fell. Shoot. I didn’t mean to upset him. I’m kidding, thank you. It looks great. I smiled, putting my hand on his forearm while picking up my fork. I dug into the omelet first. From what I remembered, he made great omelets.

A smile played on his lips as he picked up his fork, never taking his eyes off of me. We ate in silence, mainly because I didn’t want to take a break from eating. It was delicious. I pushed my plate away after eating half of it. I was stuffed. Tyler’s face scrunched when he noticed.

Aren’t you going to eat more? he asked.

I put my hand on my stomach. I already ate too much. Tyler flexed his jaw and turned back to his plate, scrunching his eyebrows.

I stood up and took my plate to the sink and began to clean the other dishes. While the faucet water ran, my mind drifted to Jamie. I was going to have to talk to her. Today. I couldn’t stand the thought of her being mad at me. I didn’t even have my phone to call her, not that she would answer. I turned off the faucet after I loaded the last pan and felt Tyler’s hands on my hips. He briefly kissed the back of my neck. How are you feeling this morning? he asked.

I leaned back into his chest. Sore. I sensed his grin on my neck. He slowly turned me around so we were face to face, my lower back pressed against the counter.

He lifted his finger and made a circle motion on my chest and gave me an unsure smile. What about here? he whispered, his eyes becoming concerned. I frowned and my shoulders fell.

Letting out a deep sigh, I said, It still hurts. His face fell even more. But last night helped a lot. Thank you, I said, tilting my head up to kiss him on the cheek. He gave me a lopsided smile and wrapped his arms around me.

His smile quickly faded into distress. Hesitantly he looked down at me. Are we okay? Tyler whispered, giving me a firm squeeze.

His unsure look was sobering and tore at my heart. Our bodies definitely connected last night, but he needed verbal reassurance. I reached up and ran my hands along his clean shaven jaw. Yes, I said, pulled his face down to mine. Thank you for not giving up on me, I murmured across his lips, giving him a gentle kiss.

Tyler’s shoulders relaxed as he kissed me back, wrapping his arms around me tighter. He stopped the kiss and put our foreheads together. Giving up on you wasn’t an option. He kissed me again, but then bit his lip as though he needed to say something. Don’t be mad, Tyler said pulling slightly back from my face, still keeping his arms wrapped around me, but I think Jamie feels awful. She has been texting and calling my phone. I haven’t looked at them. I did, however, send her a text saying that you were home safe with me and asked her to grab your stuff from the party. His face was scrunched as though I were going to yell at him.

I bit my lip. I didn’t want Tyler to think I was going to lash out at him, I wasn’t that type of person, until last night. I guess it might be a while until Tyler won’t feel like he has to walk on egg shells around me.

I’m not mad, I murmured, still touching his face. There was no need for me to be jealous of him talking to Jamie. Will you take me home? I need to talk to her and tell her I’m sorry.

Tyler frowned. I think she should be the one to apologize.

Maybe, but I can’t lose her. I was pretty harsh last night; I could have said how I felt in a lot nicer way. I closed my eyes, trying to dry up the tears that were threatening.

"You won’t lose her. From what I’ve gathered, she is afraid of losing you," Tyler said, kissing my nose.

~

I threw on my favorite jeans, which I missed dearly since I hadn’t had them in a month because I left them at Tyler’s. They didn’t fit as flattering as they used to. They were baggy and hung lower on my hips than usual. I frowned when I looked in the mirror. They probably hadn’t been washed since I wore them last. I put on a button up long sleeve shirt and headed downstairs to drive to River House and face Jamie.

I was scared and fidgety, biting my nails and bouncing my leg. Tyler put his hand on my knee soothingly and kept his eyes on the road. He didn’t say anything, which was good, because I needed the silence during the whole three-minute ride.

Do you want me to come in with you? Tyler asked, rubbing his thumb along my knee.

I nodded my head as I got out of the car. He might help as a buffer; at least if Jamie freaked out on me, I could pull Tyler into my room and cry on his shoulder.

I slowly opened the door, peeking in trying to notice if Jamie was in the living area. I sighed when all was silent, and I crept into the kitchen. It was after 11:00am, but she was probably asleep. I didn’t think about that. She probably had a late night with Sean. For all I knew, he was in bed with her. I was going to look past their relationship. Even though it hurt me, I couldn’t judge Jamie for how she wanted to live her life.

Where did these come from? Tyler asked as he ran his finger along one of the flower petals in the vase on the island counter.

I gulped as my eyes widened to the flowers. Tyler picked up the note card that was attached to one of the flower stems. I didn’t even realize Gage had written a note with the flowers he brought over before picking me up for the Christmas party last night.

Bs,

Thank you for letting me escort the most beautiful girl attending the party. No promises about what we talked about in the Chevelle.

Gage

Tyler’s jaw flexed as he read the small card, his brows furrowing as he scowled down at the flowers. I slowly walked around the counter until I was a foot away from Tyler. He stared down at the ground, attempting to rein in his anger, hurt, betrayal. I couldn’t tell which emotion he was displaying.

They’re just flowers, I mumbled. Tyler sighed and clenched his jaw. Just as I was going to say more, I heard a bedroom door open and turned to look down Jamie’s hallway.

This was it. She would ignore me, start shouting, or act like nothing had happened. Jamie and I never fought, so I had no idea how she was going to react. My eyes instantly started to water when they met her light brown eyes. I bit my lip to stop it from quivering.

She was taken aback when she saw Tyler and me standing next to the flowers in the kitchen. She gulped as she studied me. Her expression was blank and unreadable. I wrapped my arms around my chest, as though that would stop me from shaking, waiting for her wrath.

Jamie, I… I choked.

She shook her head at me as her eyes started to water. She practically sprinted over to me and pulled me into her chest. Becca, stop it, she hushed.

I wrapped my arms around her and let the waterworks fly. I… I never… I never should have said those things about you. I… I… I was stuttering like an idiot while I tried to apologize. Tears were flowing down my cheeks and there was no way I could hold it together anymore.

Shh… stop. I needed to hear it. I can’t believe I never thought about how my dating a technically still married man would affect you. I was being stupid and careless… I said I wasn’t going to do that anymore. I moved here with you so we could grow up, not fuck up.

I snorted at her last confession. We were both bound to fuck up no matter what. Jamie let out a muffled laugh as she pulled back to look at me.

I never should have said you used me. I’m sorry, I just went a little crazy, I added, wiping my eyes.

Yeah that was pretty harsh… Jamie pursed her lips. I thought about that a lot, and honestly, maybe I did? But I never intended to. We just get along so well, and I wanted us to stay friends. If I ever made you do something you weren’t comfortable with I’m so sorry, she croaked, her eyes watering. I knew she was talking about our year off in Florida.

Jamie, I’m an adult. I make my own decisions. It’s my own fault if I get upset about something from my past. I gulped as I started to say my next sentence. But I buried my past last night, and I was so scared I threw the dirt on you, too.

Jamie let out a laugh. You are going to have to say something a hell of a lot bitchier to get rid of me, Becs.

I laughed and hugged her. We were going to be okay. I didn’t destroy my relationship with Jamie. If anything, my outburst may have made our friendship stronger.

Jamie looked past me over at Tyler who was leaning back on the kitchen island with his arms crossed, smirking at the two of us. He looked so young in his faded blue jeans and black North Face hooded jacket. We hadn’t been in the house long enough for him to take it off.

Probably because he was distracted by the flower arrangement from Gage.

Jamie looked in my eyes after noticing Tyler, trying to read whether or not we had made up. I blushed at her stare as a slow smile spread across her face.

How about tomorrow we have a girls’ night? We can order some Chinese; I will even refrain from giving you shit about that boring chicken and vegetables you always order. She smiled. I’m sure you already have plans tonight, Jamie smirked, looking from me to Tyler. I blushed again at the thought of Tyler and me continuing making amends this evening, if his mood wasn’t soured by the flowers from Gage.

Thanks for taking care of my Becs last night, Tyler. I would have pounded down your door to come after her once I kicked Sean to the curb, but I thought I should let Becca cool off. Jamie took a step to the side of me so we were making a triangle between the three of us.

Jay Rae, you didn’t have to break it off with Sean. You are in charge of your own life. I won’t let it bother me, I said feeling guilty.

Jamie shook her head and narrowed her eyes at me. No way! Not when my best friend got cheated on. I can’t do that to someone else. I can’t be part of a reason why a marriage fell apart. We were never really serious anyway. I’m ashamed I never put it all together. I know I’m not anywhere near as morally correct as you Becca, but I’m trying.

Tyler pulled me to his side and kissed my temple. I’m trying, too. You are a great example, baby.

I wrapped my arms around Tyler’s waist, grateful that he had softened a bit from the note Gage left me. I’m no saint, I whispered, thinking about all of the random men I had slept with. Gosh I would give anything to erase that part of my life.

Stop selling yourself short. You are being way too hard on yourself, Jamie scolded. Although, you did spit some mean venom towards that bitch last night. She finally got what was coming to her. I’m not sure if it sunk in that you are done with her. You and I both know not a whole lot is going on upstairs when it comes to Ashlynn. Hopefully she won’t call you in a few weeks asking you to make blueprints for her. Jamie rolled her eyes. I hope Connor has come to his senses and gives her the boot.

Tyler let out a chuckle under his breath. You didn’t even hear the best part of it. You walked in after she finally confronted her.

Jamie smirked. Oh, I heard it. Nathan and I took the long way to the exhibit. You would be surprised how much sound carries against glass display cases.

I scrunched my eyes and squeezed Tyler even tighter. I didn’t want to think about last night anymore. I wasn’t proud of how I acted. I didn’t like that I turned into a fire breathing dragon, even if Ashlynn and Connor deserved my wrath. Tyler sensed my uneasiness with the conversation.

Intentionally changing the subject, Tyler asked, Since when do you know Nathan?

A wicked grin spread across Jamie’s face. Oh, your brother and I shared the same concerns. Besides, we met through work. You are looking at Conklin Architecture’s newest marketing coordinator.

You’re kidding? I snorted with a puzzled look.

Nope. Nathan and I met to talk about you two. Jamie pointed between the two of us with her index finger. And he clearly saw my mad skills and offered me a job, and since my current job blows, I took his offer. Besides, now we can carpool! she exclaimed, clapping her hands.

A huge smile spread across my face. I loved seeing Jamie this happy. But then I frowned and furrowed my eyebrows as I looked at Tyler. He had the same expression on his face. What do you mean you met with Nathan to talk about us? I asked, pulling my hands from Tyler’s waist and crossing my arms. Tyler set his hands on the kitchen island while he looked intently at Jamie.

Jamie rolled her eyes and sighed. Well Becca, you were miserable, and YOU wouldn’t stop blowing up my phone, she grumbled, glaring at Tyler. I was sitting at The Woods with some people from work for lunch, and I happened to notice some guy talking loudly on his phone by the bar. I was rather irritated with him, because honestly, he acted like he was the only one in bar, she scoffed.

Tyler and I exchanged glances. We both were picturing Nathan exactly as Jamie described him.

So after 10 minutes of him barking at whoever was on the other end of his phone, I got up to tell him to either quiet down or leave. Just as I came up to him he ended his call and turned to look at me, full blown Conklin scowl--Yes, exactly like that, Jamie chided, pointing at Tyler’s expression that was plastered on his face after Jamie said Conklin scowl. I let out a laugh and leaned up on my tip toes while wrapping my hands around Tyler’s bicep to kiss his cheek. He deepened his scowl when he looked down at me, causing me to laugh again.

Rolling her eyes at our display of affection, Jamie continued. Anyway, I knew who he was then, and my intentions changed. We talked about how miserable you both were, and we were planning on forcing you back together at the Christmas party, but clearly we didn’t need to.

Tyler wrapped his arm back around me and kissed my hair. Yes, we finally came to the conclusion of meeting each other’s demands because we were miserable without each other. We still needed to talk more, but I felt we were headed in the right direction.

I guess he liked how my mind worked because he offered me a job. I start the beginning of January.

Good thing you will be eight floors apart, Tyler teased. Otherwise you probably wouldn’t get any work done.

Jamie raised an eyebrow at him. And how many floors are you from Becca?

Tyler became serious. Becca and I are very professional at work. That won’t change, he said turning to look at me. I shook my head in agreement. Yeah, I wanted to walk into work with him and kiss him goodbye once we got off the elevator, but I still wanted people to take me seriously and not think I was only there because my boyfriend practically owned the company. Yes, I was used to being able to get what I wanted because of my father’s notability, but I never took advantage of his capability to get anything he demanded. I tried to hide from the fact that my dad practically owned the city, but it was an unfortunate shadow that was constantly cast upon me; therefore, it would never matter how hard I worked for something because there would always be doubters. My mother and siblings were always okay with this. I, on the other hand, wasn’t.

Speaking of my mother, I wondered if Jamie had talked to her, if she seemed different after my outburst. Did you, um… talk to my mom last night after I left? I asked, biting my lip, gripping Tyler’s bicep a little tighter.

No, why? Oh no… did you say something to her, too? Jamie asked.

Tears threatened my eyes. Why did she have to cross my path last night? She never meant to talk to me the way she did, and I’m sure she never realized the way she had talked to me my entire life was so damaging, but she didn’t need to feel bad about how I perceived her comments.

Becca, you told your mom exactly what she needed to hear, Tyler spoke in a soothing tone. I bit my lip harder, shutting my eyes, remembering exactly what I said to her.

"I’m never going

Reviews for Conklin's Foundation

[Deanna Carruthers · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I wanted to like this. The dialogue wasn’t quite natural enough, and I didn’t really feel like much happened. I like the characters though and feel like it has potential.