Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 112701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“I find it interesting that you failed to tell her about us. About all the times we fucked.” She giggles. “Sorry to be crude.”
“She’s not my anything. You managed to spoil that.”
“Me?” Her hands raised to her heart like she was offended.
“Your lies. Your manipulations. The way you ruin everything you touch.” I take a heaving breath, trying to rein in my temper. “You made me distrust every woman who dares to get close to me. You’ve ruined me.”
When Raven hadn’t returned my sentiments, the poison seeped in, surrounding me with memories of Tabitha and how she’d only been interested in my wealth.
“Oh, come on. Don’t act like I didn’t do you a favor. The best thing I did was saddle up with Daddy Warbucks.”
“You’re vile.”
“Think what you’d like, but I do care for him.”
“You don’t care about anyone but yourself.”
“So hostile. Did you really love me that much?” She blushes. “I’m flattered.”
I laugh sardonically. “It has nothing to do with you. For all I care, you could’ve bloody well shacked up with the pope. It was my father who destroyed me.”
“Yes, that did break him, too. I must say, you men are quite the tender hearts. I wasn’t prepared for that.”
“Get the fuck out of my office!” I yell, and she has the common sense to jump.
“Calm down, Charles. I only came to warn you that your father is ill.”
My breath hitches.
“You came all the way here to tell me that? Like I care.”
Tabitha would never take time from her busy life to drop in and warn me that my father’s ill. It’s just another one of her sick games. She hasn’t been able to pit us against each other in some time, so I have no doubt she’s been concocting something.
“It’s his heart.” She says it like it’s not really a big deal. As though she were really just in the area and thought she’d drop a bomb on me and watch it explode.
I won’t give her the satisfaction.
“You bitch,” I seethe.
“Sir, is everything okay?” Shelby asks, rushing into the office, eyes wide.
When she gets a look at Tabitha, her eyes narrow to slits.
“You,” she grinds through her teeth. “I didn’t realize we were entertaining Satan today, sir.”
I snort, and Tabitha’s eyes cut to Shelby. If looks could kill, Shelby would be on death’s door.
“Everything is fine. She was just leaving.”
Shelby nods. “There’s a call for you on line two, sir.”
I nod, picking up the phone but never moving my eyes from the snake in front of me.
“Cavendish.”
The voice on the other line speaks, but I hardly hear a word. Instead, I’m watching, and I don’t miss the small smirk.
She’s pure evil.
Her warning wasn’t a lie for once, and I’d wasted my time fighting with her.
Fuck.
I don’t know how to feel. I’m running, but my legs feel like lead. For as angry as I am, and for all the resentment I’ve harbored, those words felt like someone stabbed me in the heart with a dull blade.
Your father’s had a heart attack.
It doesn’t look good.
My father’s attorney told me my father was ill, but I sent him away.
Stuart told me that Tabitha was gunning for more inheritance, blackmailing my father with something that had him considering lifting the prenup.
I’ll strangle her.
I booked the first flight I could manage, but it left me with little time to make it to the airport. They’ve already called last call over the speaker, but I’m not giving up.
Not until that door is slammed in my face.
My feet pound against the floor, and my arms pump as I weave in and out of people in my way.
I don’t offer apologies, and I don’t look back. My mind is set on my father.
If he dies, our unfinished business will haunt me.
I have too many questions. Too many things I want to say.
He can’t die. Not before I can tell him that I forgive him.
That it was never about her, but the sting of my father choosing her over me when I needed him most.
Thankfully, I make it just as the attendant is closing the door. She lets me in, seating me in my first-class chair.
“Can I get you anything, sir?”
“Double scotch on the rocks, please.”
I need something that reminds me of him.
A memory to hold.
I check my phone once before we take off, and I find that I have no calls and no texts.
What was I expecting?
The things I’d said to Raven are unforgivable.
She can’t understand the trust issues I have due to my past.
It wasn’t fair because I know she’s nothing like Tabitha.
At some point along the way, I’ve fallen for her. I don’t know when or how, but I did.
It’s been a whirlwind, and for someone who doesn’t believe in love at first sight, I’m starting to think that’s exactly what I experienced the moment my eyes found Raven across the room at Silver.