Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“I maintain the majority of shares and control over all business decisions.”
“How can you be sure that this Prince is a trustworthy silent partner?”
“I can’t. But I haven’t spent this long by your side and not learned anything.” He patted his briefcase. “Lawyers are good for many things. Besides, anyone is better than you.”
Roland’s eyes turned calculating, and he picked up the check. “Is your family okay with your decision?”
“Don’t threaten my family.”
“The boys are enrolled at Manhattan College, aren’t they? And your sister, she’s still going to daily physical therapy sessions? That has to be expensive.”
“I’m willing to make sacrifices. Are you?” Even if he had to sell everything he owned, his family would be fine.
Roland returned to his office chair and sat. “Is that what you think you’re doing?”
“Giving up shares of my business isn’t considered a sacrifice in your world?”
Roland hummed his disagreement, but the next words out of his mouth took Rafe by surprise. “So, Hopkins is a dancer?”
Scowling at Roland and then at Malcolm, Rafe said, “A very good dancer.”
Malcolm scoffed, but balked when his father sent him another look.
“He never left the city for school.”
For the first time in days, true dread gripped Rafe. “No.” How had he found out? “But he turned his life around. He’s had a steady job for over five years. He’s clean. He’s a member of a dance group and practices diligently. He’s left you alone, hasn’t made waves, there’s no reason for you to punish him now.”
Across the room, Malcolm was smirking.
“And how exactly did he come to work for you?”
“Coincidence.”
Roland’s attention drifted to his son. “I assume you’d intended to use this information at a strategic moment for your advantage?”
Malcolm’s face went pale. “I was only doing as you’ve taught me.”
“Maybe you and your friend need to find out exactly what it’s like living without my backing.”
“Dad?”
Roland shook his head. “You’ll learn humility before you call me that again.” He opened his desk drawer and placed a key on his desk, directing his words to Rafe. “Hopkins came to me this afternoon.”
Rafe couldn’t contain his surprise. All at once, he wished he’d sat when he’d first arrived. Roland continued as if Rafe’s world hadn’t just stopped spinning on its axis.
“He gave me this.” The strangest expression flashed over his face. “It belongs to a safety deposit box at my own bank. Inside is all the money I ever paid them.”
“No way,” Malcolm whispered.
“How?” Hop didn’t have that much cash.
“Marla never spent a cent I gave her. Stubborn woman.” There was so much affection and loss in his voice.
It was hard for Rafe to hear.
“He’s just like her.”
Rafe couldn’t speak, didn’t know what to say, and it seemed like Roland didn’t expect him to reply anyway.
“He believes you are a good man.” Roland pierced Rafe with his steady gaze. It was a look that had brought grown men to their knees, a look that had formed companies and destroyed them.
“I doubt that,” Rafe said. Not after the way he’d handled everything. Hop probably wished they’d never come back into each other’s lives. Rafe couldn’t blame him.
“So do I.”
Rafe wanted to laugh at the irony, but his chest hurt too much.
“There’s over a million dollars in this safety deposit box. It’s all there, I checked it.”
Of course he had—for someone like Roland Lockwood it would seem inconceivable that anyone could have access to that kind of wealth and not use it. He’d never trust someone’s word.
“If you fire Hopkins and stay away from him for good, it’s yours, no strings attached.”
Like liquid steel had been poured down his spine, anger straightened his shoulders. He glared at the old man on his wooden throne.
“Unbelievable. You’re still out to ruin his life?” He pointed at the document he’d handed over a few minutes ago. “That was supposed to be a contract to host the Parker Prince launch party during fashion week. It would have allowed me to pay my debt without worrying about what my family needed. I wouldn’t have had to give up a damn thing to be done with you.”
Malcolm snorted, but Rafe ignored him. This was too important to be distracted.
“The only reason I even had a chance to get it was because of Hop. Despite our past, he tried to save me. He protected my club even when I was doing a shit job of protecting him. And now you want me to fire him? Why? Because you’re ashamed to have a gay son? Because he’s too flamboyant? Because you can’t stand to see him happy? Well, too fucking bad. He’s the most amazing person I’ve ever known. He dances in colors that would blind you they’re so bright. He walks in chaos and gives everything he has to what he loves. He’s passionate and bold and so fucking strong.” Throat tight, he forced the rest of the words out. “He deserves so much better than you. He deserves better than me too, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let you hurt him ever again. Fuck you. I’d give up everything I have and more to make sure Hop is safe and happy. So you can keep your fucking bribe money.”