Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85565 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85565 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
“Not necessarily, not if you didn’t lose money on the deal,” I pointed out.
He didn’t appear convinced in the slightest. He frowned. “Does this have anything to do with the Gilley kid you brought to the gala last night?”
“He’s not a kid,” I protested. “He’s only a couple of years younger than you are.”
“You say that as if I haven’t overheard you referring to me as a kid on numerous occasions.”
I rolled my eyes. “You are still a kid,” I reminded him.
“Hey,” he said, his outrage only partially mocking. “I’m trying to make changes in my life. Why do you think I started working for my father?”
He had a point. When we’d been together, Richard had told me on many, many occasions that he would only join the family company when hell froze over. Which meant he had to be facing some serious pressure to have given in.
Maybe I ought to cut him some slack. I blew out a breath. “You’re right, I’m sorry.”
He nodded, accepting my apology. “So does this have to do with your new boyfriend?”
I resumed fiddling with my coffee cup, unsure how much to tell him about my situation.
Richard leaned across the table, placing a hand gently on my forearm. “Look, I know I wasn’t always the easiest boyfriend, and I’m certainly not the easiest ex, but I do still love you.”
I glanced up at him, alarmed that he might be turning this conversation into another opportunity to convince me we should try getting back together.
He laughed at my expression. “Relax, I’m not trying to win you back. What I was about to say was that I still love you, but we’re not good together and we both know it. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to see you happy, and if I can help make that happen, then I will.”
It sounded like an incredibly healthy and mature thing to say. Two qualities I’d never really associated with Richard on a regular basis. But I could tell from the way he was looking at me that he meant it, and I decided to take him at his word. “Thank you,” I told him honestly. “And yeah, this does have to do with Sawyer. He’s… not exactly my boyfriend right now.”
“That was quick,” he remarked.
I shot him a glare.
“And you want him back.”
I nodded.
He wrapped his hands around his coffee cup and leaned back in his seat. “Okay. So how can I help? Other than tanking the Cape deal, that is. I’ve just barely eked my way into my father’s good graces, and the last thing I need to do is piss him off.”
This was where my plotting from the night before came in. “It won’t piss him off if you end up getting a better deal and making more money in the long run.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I’m listening.”
“The deal I negotiated is a ‘right to buy’ contract. It basically gives anyone who holds it the right, but not the obligation to buy that property. I happen to have a handful of investors who are interested in purchasing that contract and are offering a substantial amount of money to do so. Basically, at the end of the day, you end up making more money for the family business. And if there’s one thing I know about your father, it’s that he loves money.”
He looked interested but skeptical.
“There’s another angle to this as well,” I continued. “Last night I basically implied that your father had been taken for a ride on that deal. If you end up flipping it for more money, it’ll save face and bolster his reputation.”
He sat back, sipping his coffee and considering me. “And you think all of this will help you win your boyfriend back?”
I told him the truth. “I have no idea. I just know it’s the right thing to do.”
“And you still plan on following through on your threat to fire Dunning Capital as a client?”
“Already done. I sent the paperwork in this morning.” It had been terrifying to hit Send on that email, but the moment it was gone, I’d felt an enormous sense of relief. Until that moment, I hadn’t realized just how much of a stressful burden that job placed on my shoulders.
He pursed his lips and shook his head. “You’re throwing your life away.”
“Just the opposite,” I told him. “I’m getting my life back.”
He shrugged. “If you say so.” It was clear he wasn’t convinced.
“You know, Richard, I understand why you’re doing this, but trying to be the man your father wants you to be means living a lie. You might be able to pull it off for a few years, but it’s not going to make you happy in the long run.”
“I’ll drown myself in piles of cash.”
“I’m serious. Money doesn’t buy happiness.” I should know.