“That’s awful,” Fleur whispers.“Then what happened?”
“He fired her.”
“I can’t believe this is real.It sounds like a fucked up movie.”
“It’s real.He fired my mom, so she could no longer work there and we couldn’t live there.”
“The bastard.”
“He wanted her gone, so that she wouldn’t report him, or sue him, or whatever.We left immediately.But it didn’t end there.He made it difficult for her to get a job.As if humiliating her wasn’t enough, he spread rumors.She couldn’t get work with any of the wealthy families.She was ostracized her and that’s why we had to move far away.She couldn’t work in Westchester, or in New York.His reach went far.We moved to Scranton, but the money wasn’t great and we didn’t have staff lodgings anymore.Mom had to pay rent.I changed schools.She was a single mom working long hours.Life was hard.So hard back then.”I blink back tears.
Fleur comes over, crouches awkwardly by my side and wraps her arms around me.As awkward as it is, I still feel the warmth of her embrace.
“I had no idea, hon,” she murmurs.
“I didn’t tell anyone.You’re the only person I’ve ever told.”I wipe my eyes.Keeping it all in was hard, and I feel a little lighter now.
“Your mom is a brave, smart woman, and she loves you so much.”
“She’s my rock.She really is,” I say through sniffles.Fleur sits back down in her seat.
“Mom cried as she told me, but it made everything fall into place.I was angry and upset that we were leaving.I had no idea then what Paul Knight had done or accused her of.All I could think about was Zach, and that I was leaving him without saying goodbye, and not even letting him know where we’d be staying.I understand it now, why my mom wanted to break all contact with the Knights.Paul Knight did this to her.He changed our lives and made them worse.He’s evil.He’s vicious.He’s a predator.And he’s Zach’s dad.”
I look at Fleur.
“Do you see now why I can never be with him?”
Chapter 11
ZACH
I’m sitting in a quiet, upscale bar near the Knight offices, with a half-finished dry Martini, my tie loosened, trying to think things through.I haven’t slept much since that dinner with Maya a week ago.
I have a sense that she’s grappling with something, but I don’t know what.I’m worried that she’s dealing with stuff alone and I don’t want her to be alone.Now she says she’s thinking of leaving because she’s stuck at work.Her boss is a nasty piece of work.She mentioned something about a promotion that’s been dangled before her for months, and she’s certain it will never come.She talked about relocating because “being in the city” isn’t all that.I want to help her, because I can.
I keep replaying every moment, every reaction, every time she flinched, every time she dodged a question.She pushed me away in so many ways and my mind’s been in overdrive, trying to figure out what could have happened to her.
Something did happen, of that I’m convinced.I just don’t know what.
One thing is clear; she’s not interested in continuing our friendship.She doesn’t care that we reconnected, but at least I can do something right for her.
I don’t know how, other than to inveigle my way into the company.Tell Cecil I want to help him develop a strategy, tighten the numbers, fix the leaks.Look at supply chains, vendor contracts, inventory flow.Cut waste, refocus the brand, and give the business room to breathe again.
I can try to fix the company, but I have no access, no authority, no bridge into her world.She’s not interested in me, and I’m not expecting anything from her.Not a romance or a relationship.
But she’s the housekeeper’s daughter and I’m a billionaire’s son.I’m a privileged man, with more money than I know what to do with.I’ve never had to worry about rent or the cost of living.I’ve never had to think twice before making a purchase.Hell, I still feel bad for suggesting we had dinner at Dali.I never thought she’d demand we split the bill.Had I known that, I would never have suggested it.
“You look like you’re grappling with your demons.”
I turn to find Enzo standing beside me.He looks like a quiet storm bottled in a classic, tailored suit.With his chiselled jawline and dress sense, this dude always looks like a male model.
I sigh.“A Knight’s life is never easy.”
“The old man say something to you?”Enzo piles onto the stool next to me.
“No.”
“What are you drinking?”he asks, then, to the bartender, “I’ll have whatever he’s having, and he’ll have another one.”
