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)
She pulls away from her mother. “What happened? Are you okay?”
“Oh, hell. I’m fine,” her father says and tries to sit up.
“Gerald, the doctor said you need your rest.”
“Woman, he said you need to relax. I’m fine.”
“Dad, you had a heart attack.”
“Mild.”
“Still a heart attack. You need to listen—”
“Who the hell are you?”
“What?” Fay turns to where her father is glaring. Right at me. “Oh, this is. . . uh. . . Theo. My boss.”
His eyes widen and then narrow.
Her mother releases Fay. “Well, you’re much more handsome in person.”
“Seriously, Mom?”
“Boss, huh—”
“Dad! Can you two just not?” She looks over her shoulder at me, her cheeks red with embarrassment. “Ignore them. Side effects of a heart attack.”
I nod and reach out. “Mrs. Evans, Theo Monroe. A pleasure to meet you.”
Her mother blushes and shakes my hand. Fay doesn’t hide her theatrical eye roll.
“Mr. Evans,” I address her father, who’s sporting a scowl.
“Dad!” Fay turns to me. “Sorry. Loss of manners must be a side effect too. Hey, do you mind giving me a moment with my parents?”
“Of course not. Glad to see you’re doing well.” I nod to her mother and excuse myself to find an open seat in the waiting room.
I spend the next hour searching for any deal in the last five years the Hill Group was attached to. My stomach turns at the long list. How many deals has my father pushed through behind my back? How many are the cause of a fraudulent land report?
“Fuck,” I hiss under my breath. “What have you done, you bastard?” All this time, the position I worked so hard to obtain. And for what? To be railroaded by my father.
I shoot off an email to my father, demanding a face-to-face meeting. My phone rings with the name of a man I haven’t spoken to in five years.
“Theo, I was surprised to see your message. It’s been a while.”
“I know. But I have new evidence.”
“About the girl?”
“Against my father. It seems our focus was on the wrong person. I have new information and want the case reopened. I’m not giving up this time until I’ve put a stop to this.”
“Okay. Well, shoot me over the new details. I’ll review it and get back to you as soon as I have more intel.”
Fay emerges through the doors, and I stand. “I’ll call you back.” I hang up. “How is he?”
“It was minor, thank God. But hopefully this is a wake-up call for him. It really scared my mom.”
I can’t help it. I reach out and cup her cheek. “How are you doing?”
Her shoulders lift. She suddenly looks tired. “Fine. You didn’t have to stay. I know you have meetings—”
“Fuck my meetings. What do you need?” She looks up at me. Her gaze grabs at my heart. She nestles into my palm, and my chest tightens. I want to scoop her into my arms and guard her against the world and anything that brings her sadness.
“Honestly, I’m fine. But if you don’t mind, I’m going to stay with my mom for a couple of days. In case she needs me or anything.”
“Take as much time as you need.”
There’s a beat of silence before she speaks again. “Are you sure? I know you have—”
I don’t know what comes over me, but I slide my hand to the back of her neck and kiss her. My lips are gentle as they press to hers. Her soft, pillowy lips remind me of our first stolen kiss in my office. The benefit dinner. Fuck, I’ve opened myself up to this new world with her, and there’s no way I’m ever walking away. I won’t go back to the life I was living before her. A collection of lies and deceit.
Having her in my arms and just getting a small taste of her isn’t enough. I wasn’t strong enough five years ago with Claire, but I won’t make the same mistakes again. My father may have the power to destroy me, but with this new information, I realize he doesn’t hold all the cards. And the ones I do hold give me the power to fight back.
I pull away to her dazed eyes. “Just don’t take too long. You’re the only one who knows how to make my coffee how I like it.” I want to tell her I can’t fathom being away from her. Be selfish and force her back with me right now. But I hold my tongue.
“I won’t.” Her somber tone is my demise. I drop my hand and step back before I decide to never let her go.
“If you need anything, call me.” She nods, and I walk away, knowing I need to keep my head on right. I grab my phone and call my contact back. “That meeting needs to happen today. Be at my office within the hour.”