Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
She smiled. “Poor guy.”
I glared at her. “Don’t freaking pity him. He’s a monster.”
“You know he’s not. He’s one of the good guys. I like him. I like his house and I liked the way he looked at my little girls. He’s a good guy.”
“But it’s over. I could never trust him again.”
“I’m sorry, Lillian, but if I was him and I had to choose between a business that I’d spent the best part of life building and some come lately PA, I know which one I’m prioritizing. He had no choice. Don’t you see that?”
She didn’t understand. She didn’t understand what had gone on between us. Of how deeply we had bonded and yet the whole time he’d kept this massive secret from me. I could never trust him again.
But God, how I missed him. I missed his laugh, his scent, even his grumpiness. Oh, to have those strong arms around me. The pain in my chest expanded with every thought.
We stayed for an hour, then Rose had to go.
That night, I fell into bed physically and mentally exhausted, but I couldn’t sleep. Then the crying started and I couldn’t stop. I ugly cried, burying my head into the pillow.
Once, I’d vowed that whatever happened, I would never regret my affair with Max. Now, I wished we hadn’t started it. It wasn’t worth the unbearable pain I was feeling now.
Somehow, in the early morning hours, I managed to fall asleep and when the phone alarm woke me up the following morning, the first thing I saw was a message from Max.
I need to talk to you. Please, Lillian, it’s important.
I did the only thing I could do. I blocked his number. That door must remain closed forever.
What he did was unforgivable.
Chapter 56
Max
Iwalked into Elizabeth Bates’s outer office. Immediately her PA looked at me and asked if she could help.
“Not really,” I said and strode past.
“Hey, you can’t go in there,” she wailed, but I’d already opened the door and walked in.
Elizabeth was on the phone, but when she saw me, she abruptly ended her phone call.
“I’m sorry, Miss Bates, but he barged through. Should I call Security?”
“No, that will be all, Susan.”
Susan left and I went to sit opposite Elizabeth.
“I like what you’ve done with your father’s office,” I said.
“Thank you. What can I do for you?”
“You can sell La Zaire back to me for the price you bought it for.”
For the first time she looked unsettled, but she didn’t back down. “Why would I do that?”
“Because if you don’t, you’ll be selling it back to me for half the price next year.”
She frowned. “Is that a threat?”
I smiled slowly. “No, it’s a promise.”
“What makes you think that would be the case?”
“Because I’ve locked Jed Burner into a ten-year contract with Frost Industries, and without him, you haven’t got a hope in hell of turning that company around, especially when you’ll have me as a competitor.”
She looked at me defiantly. “I’m not selling. I don’t need Jed. I can find someone else.”
“The only reason you’re sitting here and not in a police station is out of respect for your father. I like him, he’s a fair man. We did good business together and I know he wouldn’t want me to destroy his favorite daughter, but if you’re smart you won’t count on my benevolence lasting much longer.
She bristled. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I stood and walked to the window. The view was a sea of skyscrapers. Each one shining in the morning light.
“Your father built this company from nothing with his bare hands. He based it on honesty and hard work. If he knew what you’ve done, he would be embarrassed and ashamed. He’ll tell you, you won’t get far going the way you’re going, but worse you’ll ruin everything he’s spent his whole life building.”
I turned away from the window and looked at her.
“I’m the biggest fish in this pond, Elizabeth, and believe me, you don’t want to cross me. We had a one-night stand that didn’t work out, so fucking what? Get over it. Before I leave this office, you’ll have to decide. Are you against me or are you with me? Once I walk out of here, there will be no second chances. You will have to reap the consequences of your decision whatever it may be.”
She swiveled her chair around to face me. “Are you saying you will help me run my father’s company?”
I laughed. God, she was naïve. “No, I’m not saying that. I’m saying, choose between me leaving you alone to run your business in peace, or prepare to be crushed under my heel like a cockroach.”
She swallowed, then blurted out, “You can’t bully me.”
I walked over to where she was seated and stood over her. I could smell her fear.
“I have no more to say. Make your choice.”