Free True Love (Volume 4) (Now and Forever) by Melissa Johns Page A

now.”
    Patty laughed and playfully hit his arm. “You love me. Come on Dan. Let’s go see how talented Eve is.”
    Alex laughed as he nervously looked at Eve. She smiled back at him. “Looks like you have been talking about me?”
    “Just a little bit, don’t let it go to your head.”
    Eve chuckled as she reached for his hand and pulled him into the exhibit room. “I’m really happy with my exhibit tonight. The turnout has been wonderful and everyone seems really into my work. I would love to have some things on permanent display here.”
    Alex smiled and looked at her. “Absolutely, we would love that.”
    “I will have Steve work out the details with you.”
    “Oh good, Steve,” Alex said unenthused.
    Eve chuckled. “You have nothing to worry about, Alex.”
    Alex mumbled. “We will see about that.”
    Beth ran into the room and lightly grabbed Alex’s arm. “I need to speak with you, Mr. Smith.”
    “Of course Beth, excuse me, Eve. I will be right back.”
    Alex walked behind Beth into the front lobby. She pointed towards the parking lot and he saw Becca pacing back and forth behind his car. “How long has she been here?”
    “About five minutes. She came to the door but I wouldn’t allow her in, she lost it and now has been pacing.”
    Alex looked at Beth. “Thank you, I will go see if I can talk some sense into her and allow her to leave before we call the cops.”
    He stepped out the front doors and slowly walked down the front pathway. Becca spotted him and stopped pacing. “Alex.”
    “Becca, I clearly told you that were fired and weren’t allowed anywhere near this building. I will ask you calmly to leave. I don’t want to call the police.”
    “Alex, please listen to me. I can’t stop thinking about you. I loved this job. I never wanted to hurt you. I did everything for you and you always complimented me. I made a mistake but that doesn’t mean this has to end.”
    Alex sighed. “Becca, our relationship was purely professional. You never went over any lines. I just don’t understand your obsession.”
    “I told you, I tried to keep it to myself. I wanted to earn your trust and then your heart.”
    “Becca, you are wasting your energy on me. You are a beautiful girl but there is no future for us.”
    “That’s because of her , isn’t it?” Becca shouted. “You are so in love with Emily. She’s married, Alex! When are you going to accept that fact and move on?”
    Alex approached her slowly and noticed her right arm behind her back. He glanced around her back and gasped. “Becca, do you have a gun? Have you lost your mind?”
    “Apparently so, that’s what the police have said and my parents were supposed to be watching me until my hearing but I don’t see any problem. I’m just in love with you, Alex.”
    Alex looked behind him as he heard the front door open and close. He yelled back towards the building. “Get back inside and lock the door. Call the police!”
    The guests ran back inside and Alex turned his attention back to Becca. “You are smarter than this, Becca. Put the gun down and just take a deep breath.”
    “Just when I thought that maybe you had moved on from Emily, I saw her enter the gallery and kiss you. All my hard work of getting your attention was destroyed.”
    “Becca, I don’t want to see you get hurt. Please drop the gun and we will talk all night long, if you want?”
    “No we won’t, why? Because you meet someone else and it’s my fault. I found Eve Matthews and brought her here. I was trying to show you how I could find top of the line exhibits to help your gallery and I find your next girlfriend.”
    Alex noticed the bushes behind Becca move as a policeman slowly approached her. He tried to keep her attention on him as they did their job. “Becca, I’m sorry that everything has happened this way. I thought we had a great working relationship.”
    At that moment, the officer took the chance to bring Becca down to the pavement and kick the