“Not a chance,” she said, sitting on the corner of my desk. “What’s going on with you two? It’s like I’m caught in one of those reality shows where they’re all awkward after they startscrewing each other. Are you two fighting again or did you have sex?”
I rolled my eyes and fell back into my chair. “I didn’t sleep with her. She gave me an ultimatum.”
Her brow arched as she waited for me to explain. I dropped my eyes to my desk.
“I’m waiting,” she snapped.
“You’re a pain in my ass,” I grumbled, looking back up at her.
“I know. Now tell me what she said.”
Wiping my face, I said, “If I don’t tell her the truth, she’ll leave.”
“So just tell her. You had responsibilities and the trust guidelines to meet. She can’t hate you for that.”
“For leaving her for money and never telling her about it? I beg to differ.”
“Well, when you put it that way. But you were doing it for me, too. That should count for something.”
With a sigh, I turned my attention to the window, watching thick clouds coast overhead. “I did it for both of you.”
“What does that mean?”
“Dad called me right before I left. He knew, just like you’d warned, and he threatened her and her family.”
Her mouth fell open as she stared at me. “What did he threaten?”
“To destroy her career and ruin her family’s business. Remember the resort Mom loved, The Haven? Tori’s parents own it.”
“The one he was dying to buy but Mom made him promise not to touch it?”
“That one.”
“Holy crap. I can’t believe he’d go that far…never-mind, I can believe it. What an asshole.”
“He knew about Reid. He’s been watching her all these years, waiting to see if I went after her. I don’t know that he won’t do something still.”
She scratched her head before pushing off the desk. “What can he do? She works for you. You won’t fire her, and he’s in no position to do anything to her parents. Tell her. She deserves to know the truth.”
My phone buzzed, and I glanced down to see it was Bruce from the lobby front desk. Putting him on speakerphone, I answered.
“There’s a Carl Bradman here requesting to see you, sir.” His voice went lower, like he didn’t want anyone to hear him. “Made a fuss when I told him no. He’s still going off about how we should know who he is.”
I glanced up at Liv, but she shrugged.
“Thanks, Bruce. Please have someone escort him up.”
Standing, I pulled my jacket on, fixing my sleeves as I questioned Liv. “What does Bradman want?”
“No clue, but better yet, what’s he doing here? He’s a long way from home.”
“Guess I’ll find out.” I opened my office door and gestured for Liv to leave. A hop from the desk and she sauntered out.
“Tell her,” she said as she walked by me.
Snapping my lapels, I headed to the elevator, thinking just maybe I would. Liv was right. My father could no longer hurt Tori, and I could protect her this time if he did. But would she believe me? Believe that I’d had no choice but to go, even if I’d continued to look back since that day.
“Carl,” I said, extending my hand as he exited the elevator. I gave a nod and a quick ‘thank you’ to the security guard, who had escorted him.
