Page 164 of In Love and Revenge

‘You’re saying you would have helped?’ I snort.

‘I’m saying I could have come back as CEO. You weren’t ready.’

I shake my head in disgust. I was more than ready. Like my father told Aurora, I was head of my field of expertise in financial fraud cases, and I understood corporate insurance just as well as my father, if not better, by the time I took over as CEO.

But I understood people better than my father. How to get the best out of them; even if some of my staff think I’m an arsehole with the standards that I set, I know what they can achieve. Fairfax Guardian have the best people in the industry. A fact that is only further evidenced by the number of awards we’ve won, and the scale of clients we’ve taken on since I took the helm.

But my father can never forget that one client.

Wyndham.

And if he wasn’t so bloody blind, then he’d see that part of the reason for the way that went is him. I knew he didn’t think I could close that deal and sign Montgomery Wyndham. He expected me to ask him to come along and help me. He wanted me to understand that I might be the new CEO, but that I’d never be as good as him, no one would.

But a lifetime of living underneath my father’s reign, added to the scalding memory of that day on the balcony, and he was right ... I ballsed up. Big fucking time.

And for a while, I thought losing two hundred and forty million meant I’d done it again. But it wasn’t me who fucked up that time. It was Dominic. Bloody Dominic, who’s now done agoddamn runner, refusing to take responsibility. The bastard could be anywhere right now.

Kate informed me she’s filing for a divorce, if she can ever locate his whereabouts. I think she knew all along who Aurora was and why she was there. She said she had her own questions after discovering Dominic was having an affair six months ago. Leaving hotel statements in your suit pockets will lead to being caught out.

Kate told me Freddie misses Aurora and that he’s been off his food since she left.

Same. Bloody same.

‘You still there?’

I pinch the bridge of my nose. ‘Yes.’

‘There’s one more thing,’ my father says, his tone losing its usual razor-sharp edge.

‘What?’ I sigh.

‘What you did? Putting your hand in your own pocket to save the business? I’d have done the same. Ididdo the same. And your grandfather never knew a thing about it.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘Past history,’ my father grumbles. ‘But it’s why I know you’re the right person to be Fairfax Guardian’s CEO. You’re like me. You’re my son. And Iamproud of you, even if I don’t tell you enough.’

I clear my throat, but the lump that’s rapidly growing there still presses against my windpipe, making breathing difficult.

‘Younevertell me,’ I choke out.

My father tuts dismissively. ‘Pandering to you isn’t going to help you be the great man I know you can be. Just look at what happened after your fall. I got you straight back up on that balcony. Made you face your fear. Best thing I could have done for you.’

My throat feels like it’s closing over. I was a terrified boy whopissed himself. His tough love shaped who I am. Led me to never feel good enough. To have this ingrained urge to show my fatherwhat I can do. One that’s meant I’ve made mistakes that have cost me everything.Cost me Aurora. In what fucked-up universe is that the best thing?

‘But you don’t think that day haunts me? I almost lost my eldest son. My boy ...’ He sighs wearily. ‘If I’d taught you to be more careful you wouldn’t have fallen.’

Minimising the risk. That’s what I’ve always prided myself on.

Until Aurora.

Allowing us to grow close made me vulnerable. Made her vulnerable.

But it was a risk I’d take a million times over.Two hundred and forty bloody million times over.

‘But I did fall, Dad,’ I whisper.

‘And I’ll live with that for the rest of my life, son.’