“Nicole, you didn’t trust me when we first met. Remember? If I’d told you that day... who knows what you would have done.”
She wiped the tears out of her eyes, swung toward the lawyer, and stood. “Fine. Whatever. Give him the company.” She maneuvered around her chair as she limped toward the door.
Mick’s heart was breaking, and if he didn’t do something now, he’d lose her. “What if I don’t want the company?” Mick asked.
Nicole stopped at the door, looking over her shoulder at him. Her watery eyes were wide with surprise.
“Uh, well... if you don’t want it...” the lawyer muttered, “the company will go to Nicole.”
Mick shook his head, still holding Nicole’s gaze. “I don’t want it. It’s yours.”
More tears filled her eyes as he patiently waited for her response. But he couldn’t see gratitude as being the emotion that held her stare. That wasn’t a good sign.
She expelled a shaky breath. “No. Grandfather wanted you to have it. He didn’t think I could handle the company, which is why he gave it to you.”
Her voice broke and she rushed out of the room. Mick followed, but she glared at him from the office’s main door.
“Please, Mick. Leave me alone now. You got what you wanted. Leave me in peace.”
As he watched her leave the building, his heart finished shattering. There had to be a way to get her back, but right now, he was hurting too much to think clearly.
SEVENTEEN
It had been three days. Three very long and miserable days since her grandfather’s funeral. But now Nicole needed to go back to work to her job as the HR Manager. As far as she knew, that was still her job.
The sting of rejection from her grandfather continued to sting her pride. All these years she believed the company would be hers. Her grandfather had verbally promised it to her. And then... this! It hurt that he didn’t trust her to keep the company from being taken over by the Remington empire. And yet, what did he do? Hegaveit to Mick Remington.
Mick had tried to see her and had even called her several times, but she refused his visits and didn’t answer his calls. But now she had to put on her big-girl panties and face him – as her boss. Her stomach clenched from the thought.
It was hard to admit that he was the best man for the job, but maybe her grandfather knew what he was doing by giving Mick the company. Still, it hurt.
She tried not to blame Mick. He was just as surprised as she was during the reading of the will, yet, he’d lied to her by not telling her he had already visited with her grandfather. Did Mick really love her? Or was he only after the company?
She drove to work earlier than usual, mainly so that she wouldn’t have to see everyone’s pitying gaze when they looked at her.
Her insurance company let her lease a car until the money came in to buy a new one. Carefully, she steered it around the bend where the black truck had run her off the road. Her heartbeat quickened and her limbs shook from the memory. Thankfully, the truck wasn’t on the road this time.
