Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
“Rick. Let it rest, will you?”
“Okay.”
I shook my head. “My sister had to choose a man as pig-headed as she is. You’re both like damn bulldogs when you’re holding on to a point.”
“Now who’s going back to it. I’m done!”
“You know damn well you’re not.”
He grinned. “Yeah, I’m not. But I will let it rest for today. It’s good having you out, Max.”
The tension flowed out of me. “It’s good to be out.”
“Now let’s get on with the business of really putting this company on the map. If Robert thought he was in trouble before, he’s going to think hell has been let loose by the time we’re done with him.”
I nodded in agreement. Revenge had kept me warm in my cold prison cell. “I’m taking him for every penny he’s got, and that still won’t be enough.”
“By the way, Michelle wants you to come to dinner tonight. Seven good?”
“Perhaps tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow it is,” he said with a smile.
I looked at the door as it closed behind him, then I swiveled back to face the window. The afternoon had slipped away and the evening sun bathed the sky with a golden light. Memories of sunsets on beaches, her naked skin bathed in pinkish light, her swollen mouth whispering, “I love you, Max… forever and ever,” rose up before me. With a frown, I pushed them away hurriedly. I could not afford to wallow in childish memories any longer, not when I had my revenge to exact.
They had to pay for their betrayal. Both of them.
I thought about the conversation with Rick and instantly dismissed his defense of Savannah. My family had loved her to pieces and clearly still did, if Rick and Michelle defending her was any indication. But I would not entertain such foolish ideas. No, I knew better.
I took one last look out of the window before getting up and walking towards the filing cabinet. Outside my room I could hear my staff begin to leave. I was just beginning my first official day as CEO. And sometime after I had everything exactly how I wanted it, I would pay a visit to Robert.
Then to Savannah.
By the time I got back to my apartment, it was close to midnight.
I showered quickly and got into bed. As I allowed my brain to wind down, I scrolled through my phone. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the email address connected to the school where Savanah taught. I stared at it in amazement. The world felt as if it had come to a grinding halt.
“Calm down. It’s not actually from her. Anyway, remember you’re angry with her. She left you for Robert. Actually, you’re fucking furious,” I muttered to myself.
Still, I could not help but burn with curiosity at what was in the message. I opened it and felt a bit disappointed to see that there were over thirty addresses the email had been sent to. I skimmed through and realized instantly these were familiar names of old classmates. Robert’s name was there as well. The mystery was solved when I read the body. So, they were having a fundraiser and wanted the alum to participate.
Did they now?
I leaned back in bed and stared at the ceiling. I had not planned to hunt down Robert and Savannah just yet, but this invitation to an event at which they would both be present, just seemed like a gift from the heavens telling me to strike the iron while it was hot. I did not have to be told twice.
With a few taps, I sent a brief message.
I’ll be there.
4
SAVANNAH
We could not have asked for a more beautiful day for our Spring Fair. The chilly winds of early spring were gone and after a week of rain that had seen vendors and rides calling in to query if the fair would still take place, had given way to one of the warmest April days yet.
Birds were singing and flowers were blooming everywhere. Spirits were high as were the expectations for what the day would bring.
We had debated long and hard whether or not to sell tickets for entry and had voted not to as we would anticipate that the activities and food would be supported and an entry fee might be a turn-off.
By our count with the treasury, we were a little over twenty-five percent towards our target. Projections for sales for the rides and food put that figure closer to the fifty percent mark. So, we needed every cent we could collect in sales and pledges today.
Stacey’s idea about contacting alumni had borne fruit and we’d collected pledges via bank transfers from all over the world. There were others who promised to be there in person with their checkbook and to support in any way they could. I pushed away the thoughts about one particular response as I drove to the school field where the fair was being held.