Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“This was your father’s legacy,” Edward says. “He wanted you here, Sebastian.”
“He wanted to control me,” I reply coldly. “And this company was just another way to do that. It was never his legacy. My mother was the true Carter, and my father was just along for the ride.”
In the reflection of the glass, Edward scratches at his beard, obviously at a loss with this truth bomb. He’s only worked for my father for the past three years, so he wouldn’t have any knowledge on the subject.
“Elena Carter was the heiress to the Carter fortune,” I explain. “This company, the hotels, everything belonged to her. They were never my father’s. After they married, he changed his name. He wanted everyone to believe he built this empire, but he inherited it, same as me.”
“I’m sorry,” Edward replies. “I wasn’t aware.”
I don’t answer him because there’s nothing left to say. I already made my decision, but I know Edward will try to talk me out of it. He’s a business minded man, and I can’t fault him for that.
“You could let the board run the company,” he suggests. “There’s very little you’d have to do. But that way, the legacy will remain intact.”
“I don’t want the legacy to remain intact, Edward,” I answer dryly. “That’s the problem.”
For this, he has no rebuttal. He probably assumes that I’ve lost my goddamned mind. And who wouldn’t? Why would anyone give up a sure thing?
Walking back to the desk, I reach for a pen and scribble my signature across the paperwork while Edward watches with certain disappointment.
“How long will it take?” I ask.
“As it stands in the current market?” He shrugs. “Not long at all. As soon as knowledge goes public, you’ll have offers rolling in.”
I nod and leave the pen, and the memories of this place, on the desk.
“Let’s get the process started then.”
MEGAN MEETS me at my father’s penthouse in Manhattan, efficient as ever as she greets me with a glass of my favorite whisky.
“How did it go?” she asks.
“About how I expected it.” I drain the whisky from my glass and study the woman I dated for three years in college. She looks the same. In fact, her face hasn’t seemed to age a day at all. She’s still the tall, gorgeous brunette who caught my eye in my soccer playing days. But we’re both different people now, and I don’t know if she realizes that.
There’s still a spark in her eyes for me, and though she offered this favor out of the kindness of her heart, she has another motivation. For reasons I can’t fathom, she still sees something worth salvaging in me. Even after I dropped her cold when Katie died. No phone call, no text, no explanation. I ghosted her and never looked back.
“I’ve donated most of the items to charity as you asked,” she informs me. “But there were a few things I found you may want to look through.”
“There’s nothing of his that I want.”
“Sebastian, they aren’t his things,” she says softly. “They were your mother’s.”
I choke back the rest of the whisky in my glass and pour another one while she retrieves a file box and sets it on the counter. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t even tempted to look, but I owe my mother that much. After she died, my father locked away every visible reminder of her. At the time, I thought he’d done it to punish us, but now I know that as heartless as he was, he did it because he missed her so much.
Inside the box, I find one of her scarves, her favorite book, and a ring. My grandmother’s ring. I’d completely forgotten about its existence until now. My mother always loved this piece, and for whatever reason, my father wouldn’t allow her to use it as her wedding ring. He insisted on buying her something new because he had something to prove. Always something to prove.
“Thank you, Megan.” I place the items back into the box and seal the lid. “I will take these after all.”
“I thought you’d like them.” She smiles at me warmly as her fingers graze my arm. “I’m so glad, Sebastian.”
During our last few meetings, Megan has used every opportunity to touch me. And the way she’s looking at me right now, I don’t doubt for a second she’d let me bend her over right here and fuck her. That’s what she wants, and she probably thinks it’s what I need. But Megan doesn’t get it. Stella ruined me for anyone else. She’s the only one who can make me well again.
“How long do you think it will take to sell?” I redirect her attention back to the only business we have between us.
Her lips pinch together, but she remains as professional as ever. “Not long at all. This place is gorgeous, and the location is prime.”