“After marrying your mistress, did you then move across the country because your new wife had a better job opportunity thousands of miles away?”
Philip threw his arms in the air with exasperation.“Yes, but that’s just economics.Carys has to understand that.”
“No, she doesn’t need to understand your side of the story.You moved to another state and left Carys all alone.You abandoned her.Despite your stupidity and callous actions, Carys has grown into an intelligent, beautiful woman.And she wants nothing to do with you.It doesn’t matter how many frivolous lawsuits you throw at her.She won’t let you back into her life.”
The man’s bushy eyebrows lowered over his blue eyes.“She’ll change her mind if I could just talk to her!”
Rafi shook his head.“Did you seriously think that a lawsuit would force her to have that conversation?”
Phillip sighed.“Yes.I couldn’t get her to talk to me.So, I hired a lawyer.He thinks the courts will force Carys to sit down and listen to my side of the story.”
“That won’t happen,” Rafi stated firmly.“The lawyer you retained is a scam artist and nothing more.But by all means, keep on convincing yourself that forcing your daughter into a court ordered conversation will end all of the hatred Carys holds for you.”
“Now see here!”the man sputtered.
Rafi waved him into silence.“You need to focus on your family, Philip.Your wife is about to be arrested for breaking and entering and theft.Your home will be searched by the police.She’s probably going to be charged with more crimes too.”Rafi shoved his hands into his pockets.“I’m going to ask the district attorneypersonallyto charge your wife with every possible crime she thinks will stick.”Rafi leaned forward, using an almost conspiratorial tone.“I’m very good at getting people to do what I want, Philip.”
“But…Beth didn’t…!”
“She did.Her break-in was captured on video.So, you need to get a good lawyer.”He tilted his head slightly.“Oh, right.You already have a lawyer.”
Phillip looked panicked now.“It’s just–”
“You wanted to drag Carys through the courts because she refused to listen to your pathetic, sad, miserable excuses about how your treatment of her isn’t your fault.”
Phillip shook his head.“That’s not how it is!”
Rafi was beyond disgusted.“Here’s what’s going to happen.You’re going to focus on your family.I’m going to marry Carys.The wedding will be in the news because Carys is going to become my wife, which will make her a princess.”
“Huh?”
“That’s right, Mr.Remington.I’m Prince Rafi Al-Sintra of Lativa.And Carys will be a royal princess.She’s going to be my wife.”His voice dropped.“And if you, or any member of your family, give even a hint of an interview to any reporter, if you say one bad thing about my fiancée, ever, for the rest of your life, then I will ensure that you lose your house, your job, and everything you hold dear.”He moved closer.“I will sue you for slander and I will use all the power and resources of the Lativa publicity department, an incredibly well-funded agency, to ensure that you and your wife are portrayed as the very epitome of a horrible family.I will ruin your reputation in this country and any other country in which you try to escape.”He was almost whispering now.“So you’re going to drop the lawsuit you just sent to my fiancée a few days ago.You’re going to stay completely silent on your relationship with Carys.You’re never going to speak a word to her or about her.You’re going to forget that you have a daughter named Carys.”
“But I’m her father!”he gasped.“I have arightto be in her life.”
“No, Philip.You gave up that right when you abandoned your daughter in order to be with your mistress.And now Carys doesn’t want you in her life.”Rafi pulled back, looking into the man’s terrified eyes.“Don’t worry.I have aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews that are all eager to welcome her into their lives.She will have a real family.”Rafi looked around at the drab office.“She’ll have a family that is warm and caring.Not a pathetic little man who is too fickle and insecure to see reality.”Rafi walked over to the doorway just as the doorbell rang.“That will be the police with the search warrant.You’re going to be very busy for a while, Mr.Remington.Too busy to stalk and harass Carys.Take care of the family you have.They’re going to need you in the next twelve to fifteen months.And however long your wife is in prison.”
Rafi walked out, nodding to the police detective who was conducting the search.
Twenty minutes later, standing on the front stoop of the obnoxious woman’s townhome, Rafi could barely control his irritation with Tanya.His former marketing assistant director was wearing a barely-there silk negligee.He sighed impatiently, wishing he hadn’t had his assistant call ahead to ask for a moment of her time.“Tanya, when I asked to speak to you, it wasn’t for a seduction scene.”
“But, Rafi,” she teased, running a hand down over the lace barely covering one breast, “why not?”
He stepped back, making more space on the stoop.“I just came by to let you know that your assault on Carys was sent to the police,” he informed her, noticing that her fingers froze while her face turned an unflattering shade of white.“Turns out, there were several businesses with video cameras that caught you knocking into Carys several weeks ago.”
“I was just going for a run,” she claimed, shifting her hip.
“You parked your car two blocks away, waited for Carys to come out, then started running.”He watched her carefully.“You altered your running path specifically so that you could run into her, shoulder-checking her in a move that any hockey player would be proud of.”
“No, I was just…!”
“You assaulted a co-worker, Tanya.And I’m personally terminating your employment.Your office has been emptied of all personal items.Your security badge has been deactivated.If you enter the building, you will be arrested immediately for trespassing.”He shoved his hands into his pockets, watching her features shift from smug confidence to horror.“Do I make myself clear?”
Tanya’s glossy lips went slack, but the woman rallied quickly.She pulled the sides of her silk robe closer.“Perfectly clear, sir.”
Rafi didn’t say anything more.If he was reading the woman correctly, Tanya wouldn’t cause any more trouble.But if she did, Rafi would follow through on his threat.Carys would never have to deal with that kind of bitchiness again!
Epilogue
