Yes, please.
“Get over here,” he says.
I close the space between us and come to stand between his parted legs. I toss my phone and my handbag on the desk and peer into his gorgeous blue eyes. “I’m here.”
He runs his index finger from my wrist to my shoulder.
I shiver.
He reaches out and grabs me by the back of the neck, bringing our foreheads together until they touch. “I missed you too.”
I take a step back and cross my arms across my chest. “Oh yeah, prove it.” So much for not being cheeky.
“I will in a minute,” he says, placing his hands on my shoulders. His expression turns serious. “But before that, I want to give you an update on a few things.”
The past five days have been intense. The König men have been bouncing from their lawyer’s office to my father-in-law’s mansion, strategizing a plan of attack. To say they were angry with Ripley Madigan and his puppets would be putting it mildly. They were breathing fire. As a result, Phoenix was out the door early in the morning and he wouldn’t come back to the penthouse until late. As much as I missed him, I didn’t complain. The enormity of what he was dealing with was all-consuming.
“I haven’t opened up much about this shit fest because I was protecting you.” The sincerity in his words is touching.
“I understand,” I say.
“Dad, Slate, Wilder, and I are going for the kill. Roman supports our decision.”
“You’re going to sue them?”
“We’re going to annihilate them,” he says. “We have the best lawyers money can buy on our team. We’re going to sue the hell out of Ripley, Potter, Brock, and Mrs. Pisier-Litoris. By the end of this ordeal, those crooks won’t have much left to their names. Ripley might still have a cushiony stash of cash, but he’s going to learn the hard way, he isn’t untouchable. Contrary to popular belief, not all publicity is good publicity. Our PR company will play an important role in his demise. With enough bad press, Ripley will be exposed for the callous monster he is. I’m not sure it’s enough to crumble his kingdom, but the blow will peg him down by several notches and damage his reputation. All that bad press will trickle down to his hotels, and ultimately, his wealth. That should wipe the permanent smug smirk off his fucking face for good.”
“I’m sure a lot of people will think twice before choosing one of his hotels.”
“Let’s hope so.”
Once the security guards detained an infuriated Potter, they called Phoenix and the police. The three König brothers arrived on the scene like warriors ready to declare war. Phoenix was so enraged, he lunged at Potter, pure hatred shinning bright in his eyes, fists flying, and cursing up a storm. Both Slate and Wilder had to hold their older brother back. Giving Potter leverage would be detrimental because the asshole would find a way to turn it to his advantage. There’s no way out for him. He’ll have to pay for his crimes.
The recording from my phone was too faint to make out much of Potter’s conversation with Ripley. I was devastated my efforts were in vain. It turns out, it didn’t matter. Millionsof dollars’ worth of art require a twenty-four-seven high-tech security system that includes video surveillance with sound. The second Potter started talking, every word was recorded. There’s no way he can dispute that kind of proof. Same for Ripley.
“It’s going to be a long legal battle ahead, but I’m confident things will turn in our favor,” Phoenix says.
“I have no doubt they will.”
“Have you talked to your father?”
I nod. “Yes, we talked this morning before my lunch meeting. Thank you for doing that. You’ve been so generous, but this takes the cake.”
“Thana handed us everything we needed on a silver platter. The hotel needs a publicity campaign to ward off any potential bad press by association. It’s irrefutable, your father and you had nothing to do with Thana’s pedophile enabler lover. Plus, now that the public knows you were jilted by her callous and criminal actions, they have sympathy. No one will dare to cast the first stone.”
“Daddy is so grateful––and elated––we get to keep the name intact. So am I. The Villiers Grand Hotel lives on.”Thank God.
“Just the way it’s supposed to be.”
I shake my head as emotions bubble up.
“A little less than six weeks ago, Daddy and I were on the verge of losing everything.” I let out a loud sigh. “And now, there’s hope. Mom must be throwing a big party up in heaven. Our family hotel gets a happy ending after all.”
“Speaking of happy endings, I need to show you how much I’ve missed you these past few days,” he says.
“That’s an abrupt change of subject.”
“Not really. It falls right in line with our conversation.”
