Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
I was just sipping my morning decaf and considering what a mostly peaceful family-ish getaway this had been when all hell broke out. Remington’s voice boomed from the study, and Hale snapped back in an irritated tone.
I took a deep breath and exhaled, looking up at the ceiling as if some supernatural force up there might send me strength. “Well,” I said to Elara, “It’s been a while since we’ve had a good ol’ family brawl.”
“Shit,” she said.
I twisted my lips. “My thoughts exactly.”
Right on cue, Marta appeared with Elara’s coat. “I thought I should take Princesa for a walk.”
“Good idea.” I lifted her from the high chair and dusted the cheerios off her clothes.
As soon as they were gone, I went to investigate the situation. Those two could fight about the most ridiculous things. It was anyone’s guess what triggered this argument. Unfortunately, I had a hunch about the cause.
“He was my target!” Remington blared. “You knew that, and you worked him over anyway.”
“I didn’t work him over. I listened to him. Something you never learned to do!”
“You listened to him,” Remington muttered disparagingly, swatting his words away. “You saw an opportunity, and you took it, knowing full well that I had my eye on his company first.”
“What if I did?”
Uh-oh. I stepped into the room hoping if they saw me they’d act more civilized toward each other.
“Are you going to tell me you would have done differently if the shoe was on the other foot?” Hale challenged.
“When are you going to let this rivalry go?”
“My disapproval of how you live your life and conduct your business is not a rivalry. It’s a direct result of your selfish behavior!”
“Everything I did, I did for my family.”
“Is that what you told yourself when you fucked over your own son, Dad.”
“I made a mistake but your life is still better for it!”
Hale scoffed. “You’re unbelievable. The way you twist your shitty behavior so you can take credit for any positive outcomes...” He threw up his hands. “Sometimes I think even you believe your own lies.”
“It’s not a lie if it’s true.”
“And I did nothing, right?” Hale stormed. “It was all you? You hired her. You brought her into my life.”
Remington held up his hands in surrender. “Do you expect me to argue? I did hire her.”
“All right, you two, that’s enough,” I said, knowing the next accusation would likely involve Elara and that would not go over well.
“You,” Remington said in a tone he’d never taken with me before, “betrayed me.”
I drew back. “Excuse me?”
“I had you research a potential buyout, and you told a known competitor what we had planned.”
“I told Hale, your son.”
“You told him, knowing full well he’d take the first opportunity to fuck me over!”
“Hey, take it easy,” Hale snapped.
“Remington, I did no such thing.”
“Did you tell him about Xander Landry?”
“Yes, but only because we talk about our day—”
“And did you share that I wanted to buy out his company?”
“I mentioned that his company was in trouble—”
“Then you betrayed me!”
The lash of his temper was so sharp tears pricked my eyes.
“Hey! Take it down a notch,” Hale growled, coming to stand protectively in front of me. “Xander was at the dinner party on Wednesday night. I approached him after he approached Rayne. This had nothing to do with you.”
“This is my house!” Remington bellowed, slamming his fist on the desk. “It has everything to do with me!”
“Remington, settle down—”
“Do not tell me to settle down, Meyers!”
I drew back again, shocked he would speak to me that way. My chin trembled as I stared at his red face. My main concern was for his heart and his blood pressure. “Don’t yell at me.”
He shook his head and dropped his volume. “I always knew this would happen.”
My vision blurred. “What are you talking about?”
“Your interests are divided. I can’t trust you.”
I gaped at him. I would have been less shocked if he’d slapped me. “Remington, stop. You’re being ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous? That buyout would have made this family millions, but you and your husband—”
“Enough!” Hale stormed. “Rayne had nothing to do with my actions. I approached Xander. I heard him out, and he and I came to an understanding. Rayne wasn’t even there. She’s blameless in this.”
A tear fell past my lashes as I stared at Remington in shock. “How could you?” I rasped. My chin trembled, but I said what I needed to say. “Is that what you honestly believe, Remington? That you can’t trust me?”
He knocked a box of tissues forward with his knuckles and turned away from me. “Pull yourself together, Meyers.”
“No, you look at me and answer me. Is that what you believe?”
Remington slowly met my stare but didn’t have the guts to answer. Hale stood protectively by my side but didn’t interrupt.
I took a step closer to his desk. “I would never knowingly betray you or do anything to hurt you, Remington. I have put you before my husband and child more times than I can count. The fact that you can make such an accusation—” My throat closed around my words, and my heart seemed to shake in my chest. “I just can’t believe you.”