On both visits to the hospital, Ellie claimed to have acquired the injuries after a fall.
Which Knox didn’t believe for a moment. Especially considering the STD test and Ellie refusing to elaborate on how Day’s behavior behind closed doors since their separation had been unpleasant.
Unpleasant!
Knox had absolutely no doubt the type of injuries Ellie had suffered had been caused by deliberate pressure, possibly a vicious twist, applied to the delicate bones of her arm and wrist. The bruised and broken ribs were, in all probability, delivered by Day’s fists.
Fucking bastard!
Knox now knew the exact reason Linus had issued that warning in regard to revenge. Because Knox’s first instinct was to pay Day a visit, right now, and beat the ever-loving shit out of him and see how he liked it.
Only a coward would physically hurt a woman. In this case, Ellie. The woman Knox was falling in love with.
Linus had also provided the information that Ellie’s first visit to the hospital had come shortly before she went to her lawyer and drew up a contract that gave Andrew Day half the value of the business and the apartment they had shared for nine years.
The second visit was immediately after Ellie had told Knox she had realized she was losing clients to Day’s newly opened agency. Knox could only assume she must have confronted the other man with that information, and the bruising and broken ribs were the result.
Knox’s hands were clenched into tight fists. He really, really wanted to hit something.
Someone.
And he knew exactly who that someone was.
CHAPTER NINE
“Mr. Wilder!” Andrew Day stood up to move out from behind the desk in his office at the Day Executive Recruitment Agency, offering his hand to Knox in greeting. “Thank you for making an appointment to see me today. Can I say what a privilege it is to meet someone from a company as prestigious as Wynter Security, and not just here in New York but around the world.”
Knox didn’t return or acknowledge the overeffusive verbal pleasantry, but instead fixed his gaze on the other man’s hand. Anger exploded inside him at the knowledge that the same hand had been used in the not-so-distant past to hurt and try to break Ellie, and not just her bones.
Knox had spent the previous evening trying to do what Linus had advised: calm down and remain his usual controlled self until he was able to arrange an appointment to see Andrew Day today.
Unfortunately, Knox had slept badly. Meaning the cool calm he’d tried so hard to maintain had only lasted for as long as it took him to make this appointment and be shown into the other man’s office by the young and attractive redhead who had introduced herself as Day’s PA and receptionist.
Knox could be wrong, but going on Day’s past history, and the warm smile the receptionist had given her boss when she showed Knox into the room, he wouldn’t be at all surprised if the receptionist was more than just the other man’s employee.
Day looked puzzled by Knox’s refusal to shake his hand as he finally allowed his arm to drop back to his side. With a shrug he went to sit back down in the chair behind his desk.
As if that piece of wood would stop Knox from beating Day to a pulp if he wanted to. And he really wanted to!
“Please, do sit down.” Day gestured toward the chair on the other side of his desk. His expression showed even more confusion when Knox continued to stand unmoving and silent in the middle of the office. “Dare I hope that Wynter Security has decided to move your business to DERA?” he suggested happily. “I have heard from several clients who have swapped over to my company in the past few months that HERA is no longer the well-run and thriving agency it once was.”
Knox decided there was an English phrase for men like Andrew Day, and it was smarmy git!
Day was someone who would smile while he stuck a knife in another person’s back.
Just as he was smiling now at the thought of Ellie’s company possibly about to lose another client.
Knox was sure that the other man’s looks might appeal to some women. Ellie had obviously thought so at one time. Although Knox doubted Day had been this polished when the two of them met at university ten years ago. As far as Knox was concerned, the years since had succeeded in rendering the other man’s appearance and manner as being too polished.
Day looked very like he had on the website photograph for HERA. His blond hair was perfectly styled. He was wearing an obviously expensive and bespoke tailored suit with a pale gray shirt and darker gray, perfectly knotted silk tie. His fingernails also looked professionally manicured. His tone and manner were overly gracious and charming, so much so, they grated on Knox’s already frayed nerves.
There was also that overconfident but slightly smug smile on the other man’s too-handsome face.
Definitely a smarmy git!
“No, you may not assume that,” Knox finally bit out. “This isn’t a business appointment.”
“It isn’t…?” Day looked even more puzzled.
