Chapter 10
SHELBY DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO feel as she slid her hand into Wade’s, and they turned around. Shang Junior nodded his head toward the lobby and signaled with his revolver that they should go ahead of him.
TheShangswere behind this. She tried to get her still-wobbly head around it all. It seemed as though she hung from a tree, her world turned horribly upside down. Like she had when Alan and Philip had showed up at her mother’s funeral and told her the identity of her father.
She was finally going to meet him.
They came around the corner into the reception area. Shelby scanned the faces, not recognizing the men who stood on either side of Philip, both armed. One turned to point his rifle at them while the other held his at Alan. She wanted to rush to him. When she released Wade’s hand he put his arm around her and held her close to him, almost as though he thought she’d need support. Where was her father?
Then realization hit her, and her sense of reality wavered, everything turning fuzzy. A sharp pain in her chest made her gasp.Alan? Her knees went weak, and she understood why Wade held her so close. He must have known Alan was Charles Grantham. Had theyalllied to her? White-hot anger hit her.
“You?” Shelby spat, no longer unsteady. She tried to lunge toward Alan; she wanted to hit him. Wade held her back. She whirled on him, pulling away from him. “You knew too.”
“No, no, Shel.” Wade held up his hands, his expression frantic. “I only figured it out just now in the hallway.”
“And you didn’t say anything?” Her breathing came out in gasps, her energy sagging again.
“I was trying to get you to safety.”
“While your little family drama might be entertaining to you,” Philip drawled in a bored voice, “we need to move on.” He turned to his son. “Where’s Conti?”
Shelby jerked her attention away from Wade to Philip. Conti, the previous project manager. Her gaze met Alan’s, and the fury blazing there matched the one growing in her chest. For the moment, they were of one mind.
“He’s already upstairs,” Shang Junior said. “He’ll text when he’s ready for Grantham. I’ll have to go check his status since the system’s down. Ava is somewhere in the building.”
“So it wasn’t sabotage?” Shelby asked, unable to restrain the question.
“Let’s just say there are different kinds of sabotage.” Philip gave a smug grin. “The storm, however, while creating a complication, has also provided us with some additional camouflage. And how ironic that Charles Grantham should become a victim of one of his own business ventures.” His tone went flat. “Seems fitting, doesn’t it, Alan?” Philip looked at his son. “Lock these three in the office until we need him.”
Shelby didn’t wait for the men holding the rifles but went straight into the office manager’s workroom. Her hands shook again. She hoped the older secretary had found safety in the dorms and wouldn’t try to come back. Setting the bag of food on the desk, she kept her back to the door and refused to look at either Alan or Wade. She tried the phone and found it dead. No surprise there.
“Shel, I—” Alan began but stopped when she spun around to face them.
“Why?” Shelby’s throat closed up, preventing more words. Her eyes stung. It had taken so long for her to trust.Solong. She felt sick. Why did everyone lie to her?
“I had no idea you existed until the obituary came out.” Alan’s faced contorted for a second, and he rubbed at his jaw. For the first time that she could remember, he seemed old. He sank into one of the chairs in front of the desk. “My secretary saw the notice in the paper and recognized the name. She said she wouldn’t have bothered me about it except for the mention of a teenaged daughter.”
Shelby said nothing. Her emotions jumbled around inside her, taxing her still-woozy brain. What could Alan say to make this right? Her father. It was too much. She stepped into Wade’s arms. He didn’t hesitate but wrapped them around her. With her head against his chest, she let him support her, grateful she didn’t have to face this alone.
“I’m glad to see you two have reconciled,” Alan said. “It’s what I’ve hoped for.”
“Don’t you dare.” Shelby lifted her head and shot him her worst glare. “Don’t you even dare try to take credit for this.”
“I’mnottrying to take credit,” Alan snapped and then squeezed the bridge of his nose. He heaved a sigh. “Your mother—”
“Don’t compare me toher.” Shelby snapped back.
“Let him explain,” Wade said softly. “You know you want to hear him out.”
Did she? Shelby took a deep breath. “But can I believe anything he says?”
“Have you ever seen him lie without a good reason?”
Did she even know Alan? As she studied him, he accepted her scrutiny. Was this a good reason to lie? Her gut told her it was not.
“Look, I don’t know how much time we have.” Alan glanced at the door before looking at her again. “What can I tell you?”
“Besides the truth?” Shelby didn’t try to keep the bitterness from her voice.
