Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
I know there’s no more trying to deny her. Now, I need to figure out how to fully have her without ruining her.
Chapter sixteen
Theo
“I don’t care. Make it go away.”
“Alfred, it’s not that simple. There’s a paper trail. Documents. Things that will eventually lead to us—”
“Then get rid of it—”
“Get rid of what?” I enter my father’s study, interrupting a heated conversation between him and Charles.
“This is none of your concern, Theo,” Father snaps at me. “Where is the Williams contract?”
“Waiting on signatures. Couriered the contract this afternoon. And I have the right to know if something is happening with the company. Is this because of the audits?”
My father slams his fists against his desk. “Are you deaf? This doesn’t concern you. Focus on the tasks you were given.”
“It does concern me if it’s about MIC. That’s my future. If there’s an issue, I should know about it.”
“And if you want any of that future to be possible, you will mind your own goddamn business.”
“Evening, Jeffries. Is my father in?” I pass Clifford Jefferies, the Monroe family lawyer, as I walk through the foyer of my father’s estate.
“He is. I just left him in the study.”
“Thanks.” I’m curious why he’s meeting with my father this late, but I guess I’m about to find out. When I enter his study, he’s on a call; from the looks of it, it’s not a good one.
“Just push it through.” He hangs up. “What’s this nonsense I hear about you voiding the Geller and Geller deal?”
“It’s exactly how it sounds.”
“Do you know what a headache you’ve caused me today? I’ve spent the last hour on the phone with lawyers holding Bill Geller to his contract.”
“Well, then retract it. It’s done.” I toss the land report on his desk.
“What the hell is this?”
“I’m sure you know. It’s the bogus land survey. Geller’s land isn’t uninhabitable. It never was.” He barely acknowledges the report or what I said. “You hired the Hill Group to do a land survey, and they came back with a falsified report. That land is and never was contaminated.” He waves me off and stands, walking over to his mini bar. “How many more of these are there?”
“Are of what? Theo, it happens. Not all reports are accurate.”
“This doesn’t just happen. Jesus, how many more fake land reports are there like this? All those projects you’ve insisted we use the Hill Group for.”
“Son, I don’t know what you’re getting at, and I don’t like it.”
“How many?” My voice rises. “The audits. The cover-ups. Is this why? You can’t get the goddamn merger to go through because you can’t bury all your fucking scandals deep enough?”
“That’s enough.”
“I want the truth. I won’t be a part of this.”
He turns to me, his expression cold and emotionless. “You already are, son.” He takes a sip of his scotch. “You think you get to just walk away from this? You always seem to forget what power Charles Hill holds over you.”
“He holds a lie over me.”
“He’s the reason you are where you are and not in jail for rape. Shall I remind you of that night? You need to be more appreciative. Especially to Alana. Speaking of Alana, how was the charity event?” He stares at me with those beady eyes, waiting for a reaction. “I must say, you never did take direction well. Always wanting to flout the rules laid before you. I thought you would have gotten the point after Claire. Or Breanne. Every pathetic little fling you’ve tried to have behind my back. But now your assistant?”
His words hit their mark. A chill radiates down my spine. “Leave her out of this.”
“You should have. Taking her to an event like that. What were you thinking?”
That I want to be free of you and all your evil scheming. “It was convenient.”
“Was it now?”
“It was a one-time thing. You’re looking into things that aren’t there.”
“Then forget this nonsense.” He picks up the report and tosses it in the trash. “Dinner is set for the day before your birthday. You will propose, and then we’ll go public with news of the merger.” His words turn my stomach sour. “Is there anything else you wanted to discuss?”
Too much is swirling inside my head. Fury and resentment boil inside me, and I can’t trust myself to speak. I turn on my heel and leave.
One thing’s for certain; I’m done playing his game. I’ve finally found a reason to fight. Now I have to figure out a way to stay on top.
Chapter seventeen
Fay
“Oh, thank God you’re back.” Amy throws her hands around my neck before I’m through the doors. “These have been the longest two days of my life.”
I laugh and pull away. “Uh oh. That bad?”
“Almost unbearable. You’d think someone took his favorite toy away.”
A rush of warmth spreads across my cheeks, and I hope Amy doesn’t notice. “Oh boy. Maybe I should have waited another day or two to return.”