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)
He turns to me. “You trust me, right?” I nod. “I told you, I’m never leaving you in the dark again. Go get dressed. We’re paying a visit to Charles Hill. This ends today.”
Chapter thirty-two
Fay
Two weeks later. . .
I stand next to Theo in a simple Chanel dress, compliments of Fredrick, while Theo greets people and shakes hands. The line is still over a hundred deep—which doesn’t include the other hundred who have already offered their condolences.
Theo reaches out, shaking another hand. “Theo, son, your father was a great man.”
“Thank you, Steve.”
With all the praises for how honorable Alfred Monroe was, one might believe he actually was a good man. I know better. In the past two weeks, Theo opened up about his childhood. Growing up under his father’s thumb and who his father really was. His stories made me angry. Made me cry. No one should be treated so poorly by a parent. I also learned his mother died in childbirth.
He talked about the pressures of college. Europe. And Claire. It’s the first time he’s been able to open up to someone, and the moment he began talking, he didn’t stop. From the outside looking in, Alfred Monroe was set on destroying his son.
Power was mistaken for privilege. He wasn’t granting Theo power and wealth. He was chaining him to a life he never truly wanted.
I steal a look at Theo, but his face is blank of any emotion. In fact, he wears the business scowl I’ve grown to love. I squeeze his forearm. “Hey, you doing alright?”
“I just want this to be over with.”
I secure my crutches and lean forward, looking down the line. “Well, since the line is out the door and backed up into the next county, it looks like you only have four, maybe five hours to go.”
Theo grabs my hand and squeezes. “They have forty-five minutes, then you and I are leaving.”
“You can’t leave your father’s wake.”
“Watch me.” He tugs me closer. “Then I’m going to call Fredrick. Not sure whether to knock him out or thank him for his dress choice.” His eyes graze down to the dip between my breasts.
“You can’t leave early. People will talk.”
When the news about MIC goes public, they will anyway.
In three days, the news of Theo Monroe stepping down as CEO of MIC and walking away from a two-billion-dollar company will spread throughout the country and world. I’ve never seen him so at peace.
Dealing once and for all with Charles Hill was his first step in moving on. Seven years ago, he made a deal with a man out of desperation. He would sacrifice his values as a businessman for the promise of power, wealth, and safety of his only daughter. He would alter his ethics to salvage a dying company and save his marriage to a woman ready to leave him because of his financial mistakes. He would secure a future for his daughter and bury the guilt that instantly began to fester at his choices.
When Theo stormed into Charles’ home to destroy every ounce of his being, the defeated man broke down and confessed his guilt. He explained how he was forced into this web of deceit by a man who convinced him it was his only option.
Theo had no pity. Everyone has a choice. Charles Hill chose to steal and lie. Cheat honest businessmen out of millions to get ahead. His hands were just as dirty, conjuring up a lie so awful it made Theo carry this horrible guilt on his shoulders. Deep down, Theo knew he would never do such heinous things, but as the years went on, his mind started to second guess himself. Did he do it? Was that night with Alana all in his head?
Charles confessed to everything, placing heavy blame on Alfred. As Charles told him his father was behind the rape allegation, Theo showed no emotion. Alfred supplied the drugs. The forged images. Over the years, Charles tried to put a stop to it, but there was no going against a man who craved such power. The deceit they created within their companies was his ticket to success.
Theo made some heavy threats. Charles Hill was destined to a fate he deserved. Charles was to shut down his business completely, and if Theo got wind of a single sale, deal, or business meeting, he would expose him for fraudulent activity and being an accessory in the rape setup. He was a dead man walking, but it was up to him if he went down quietly. And that was just Theo’s threats for Charles. When he moved on to his loathsome daughter, even I trembled slightly from his fury.
Charles cried and begged for forgiveness for his daughter. He proclaimed Alana’s innocence in all of it, but it was seven years too late. There was no way Theo was letting her walk away unscathed.