Bella smiled all the way back to her room. Mrs. Poole wouldn’t make Adam do the dishes, although it would probably be good for him. But she’d give him a talking-to. That would probably be good for him too.
She checked her email on her phone as she walked, finding her way around the castle as if she’d grown up here. There was an email about the remodeling project she’d taken on without telling Adam. She’d started it shortly after being caught in his room, looking at his father’s will. The email was from the general contractor outlining his bid for the project. She needed to run it past Adam before she approved it. She marked the email as important and then shut her phone down. She was officially off the clock and needed to focus.
Once in her room, Bella settled in on her giant four-poster bed and did as much studying as she could between remembering the feel of Adam’s arm around her and the way he’d looked injured that she might want to leave.
She didn’t. She just didn’t know how to tell him without making a fool of herself. If he didn’t love her back, then she’d be forced to work alongside him until the contract was up, humiliated and embarrassed at every turn. The sad thing was, she had a frame of reference in this area. Working with her ex-fiancé would be the absolute worst.
But … if she could hold off until the contract was over, then if he didn’t love her back, she’d never have to see him again. Having a plan of action in place, she drifted off to sleep, the deep smell of Adam’s cologne lingering on her skin.
Chapter Nineteen
Martin
Martin buried his face in the crook of his arm as he coughed. The woman on the other side of the elevator took another step away. That was her third step in the short ride to the top floor of Wolfe, Wolfe & Wolfe. Probably a smart idea. Martin knew he looked terrible. His skin was clammy and his temperature up, but he needed to stop Charles.
The longer he lay in his sickbed, the clearer things became. He hadn’t put two and two together because he’d been so wrapped up in his failure at breaking the contract and freeing Bella. But hearing Bella’s voice last night, he realized there was a light there that hadn’t been there before. She was happy, truly happy working with the Beast—er, Adam, as she so tenderly called him. If he didn’t know better, he’d think his daughter was in love.
He had no real reason to object to her and Adam together. Except for the fact that Adam was emotionally closed off to the world. Or, he had been when Martin worked for him. Men could change. He’d changed. When his wife died, all that he’d thought was important fell away like bricks off an old building. What remained were two pillars, his daughter and the law, and he’d built his life around those two pillars and had been happy. Perhaps Adam had a similar experience because of the attack. It wouldn’t surprise him. Bella was worth changing for.
The elevator doors slid open and the woman darted out as if she could outrun his germs. He wasn’t contagious, or at least that was what the doctors told him, since he’d been on an antibiotic for 48 hours.
One of the things he’d noticed since the heart surgery was that he wasn’t in a hurry anymore. The sense of urgency that chased him most of his life had disappeared and been replaced with a concentration onlife. Living life. Cherishing his daily phone calls with Bella. Missing her smile.
And doing the right thing.
When the cashier accidentally gave him three dollars extra in change, he turned around and went back to the grocery store, despite the cold weather and his slight cough, to return the money. He’d always been a good man, but before, he would have shrugged off the mistake and went on his day. Now, he cared because he didn’t want to meet his God with small smudges on his soul.
Which was what brought him to the offices of Wolfe, Wolfe & Wolfe this afternoon. He knew that Charles was up to no good, and he needed to warn someone, someone who could take action.
He’d thought about telling Bella, but she had so much on her plate already that adding this was a last resort. No, he’d try a professional meeting, be civil. Besides, Philip had already tried to warn the Beast and was run off the property. His father’s heart didn’t want Bella in the same position.
Zeke Wolfe was his best shot. The oldest of the three Wolfe brothers, Zeke was also the most likely to take action on his own—the other two followed the pack. Martin wasn’t looking to create a storm; he only needed to make a small storm cloud. He and Zeke had collaborated together more than once, and each time had been successful.
“I’m Martin Creer. I’m here to see Zeke Wolfe,” he told the receptionist with the round face and disinterested look. He wondered what brought her to this office, this job, if she didn’t love it, and he fought the urge to grab her hands and tell her life was too short to spend eight hours a day at a job you didn’t love.
The young woman typed quickly and nodded. “He’ll meet you in the small conference room. First door on your right.”
“Thank you.” Martin followed her pointed finger and found himself in a glass room with black chairs made from some type of wire. He grabbed the arms and shook the chair to test its sturdiness before sitting down.
Just as he was about to relax, the door swung open and Charles strode in. He stood with his hands on his hips, blocking the doorway. His brow was low and his jaw tight. “Martin, what are you doing here?” He must have seen him through the glass. Didn’t people believe in privacy anymore?
“I—” Martin barely held back his curse. He’d purposefully made this appointment when he thought Charles would be in court. He’d checked the case list just this morning.
Before he could answer, Zeke Wolfe strode in. Zeke wore a dark gray suit that matched the patches of gray at his temples. His smile was guarded at best and he didn’t show his teeth. He offered his hand, and they shook. “It’s good to see you again, Martin. I hear you’ve been under the weather.”
“Heart surgery.” Martin tapped his chest, feeling the weight inside. They sat down, the relief at being off his feet spreading through Martin’s body. Perhaps he should get back to the doctor and try another round of prescription meds. Standing shouldn’t be this taxing. Then again, his heart had been taken out of his chest, rearranged, and put back in; that was bound to have some side effects.
Charles took up the position of sentry by the door. Zeke didn’t ask him to leave. Maybe he thought Charles was invited. Martin’s head pounded and he rubbed his temple as he tried to think of the best way to handle the situation.
“That’s too bad. What can I do for you?” Zeke asked.
Martin glanced at Charles. With a resigned sigh, he pressed forward with his mission, treading lightly. “It’s come to my attention that one of your associates is poking the bear, so to speak.”
Zeke ran his thumb along his jawline. “You’re going to have to be more specific.”
Martin wondered if he wasn’t the one poking the bear now. But there was no going back. The right thing was protecting an innocent man from ruin. Did he think Charles was capable of taking down the Beast? Not on his own, but he’d scored a major weapon when he’d gotten that will. “It’s Charles.” Martin gestured to him. “He’s gotten it in his head to take down the Beast and make partner. But he’s not just after a courtroom win; he wants to ruin the man completely. I tried to warn him off this fool’s task, but he won’t listen to me. I’m hoping, as his boss, you’ll have a little more sway.”
Charles glared daggers when Zeke wasn’t looking, but the moment Zeke turned, he was all smiles. “I don’t know what he’s talking about.” He lifted his hands and then refolded them, the picture of innocence.
