When I’d made the decision to come back to New York, I had thought I was coming to save the family business. I was willing to put in the work to pull it back from the brink. I wanted to save it for me and Lizzy. I had some grand ideas of me and her working in the company together. We were going to be a powerful mother-and-daughter team and were going to rule the city.
I had been naive and foolish to think I had that kind of power. For the second time that night, I had been shown just how insignificant I truly was. I wasn’t a badass. I didn’t have any power. Devin had shown me that.
I closed my eyes and tried to quiet my mind. I hadn’t slept much at all the night before. I had to sleep. I couldn’t be off my game. I needed all my faculties about me. I was going up against sharks, and I didn’t know if I believed Devin when he said he would walk away. I didn’t trust him as far as I could throw him.
I was quickly learning a lot about what I truly wanted for my future. I had been working hard at the firm in California, learning new tricks and gaining valuable experience. I had planned to use all that experience to better myself. I thought I was positioning myself to take over the family business. Now I knew there wouldn’t be a business in five years. Hell, there probably wouldn’t be a business in a year.
“What a mess,” I whispered, running my fingers through Lizzy’s silky hair. “We’ll go home soon. Mommy will fix this, and we’ll never come back.”
I was glad she had no idea about what was going on or what I had done. I would walk my father through the rest of the negotiations. I would make sure the contracts were signed and the deal was done. When it was all official, I was hopping on the first plane back to California, and I didn’t plan on looking back.
I could admit that part of me dreamed of a future with Devin. Despite all the horrible stuff that had happened between us, I’d always believed there was something there. I thought with some time and distance, he could learn to forgive, and we could move forward. I knew I was to blame what happened. I had lied to him. I had deceived him. I had never gotten the chance to explain to him why I did what I did.
I felt like I was mourning a loss—a loss of something I never technically had. My future with Devin was officially a pipedream. Tonight was the final nail in the coffin. My heart felt broken for me and my poor little girl that would never know her daddy.
Chapter 13
Devin
I was in the worst mood of my life. I was pissed at everything. My coffee had tasted like shit, which damn near ruined my day. Everything was wrong. I wanted to break things. I wanted to smash everything in sight. I wanted to rage and scream and expel the sour feeling making me ill.
I punched the keyboard much harder than I needed to. I pulled up the chart I had been studying all morning. My brain was broken. I couldn’t see straight. I looked at the numbers, looked at the projections, but it didn’t make sense. I was usually sharp-witted and could quickly look at a chart and know right away whether it was worthy of my time that wasn’t the case that time.
I clicked the mouse, wincing in pain. I looked down at my bruised knuckles and shook my head that had been one of many stupid decisions I had made in the last twenty-four hours. Last night, after crawling into bed naked, I thought I could sleep. I had been wrong. I had grabbed the bottle of whiskey from downstairs with the intention of getting shit-faced and passing out.
At some point, I’d punched a hole in my bedroom wall. I couldn’t even remember the exact thing that had set me off. I knew it had something to do with Elly. As if the sore hand wasn’t enough to make me regret my night, the fucking hangover was kicking me in the balls. I had thought about skipping work, but the last thing I needed was to be stuck at home and stewing on the matter.
Seeing my knuckles reminded me I needed to call my housekeeper. “Anna,” I said when she answered her phone.
“Good morning, Mr. McKay,” she replied.
“Can you call a contractor to patch the wall in my bedroom?” I said, hoping she didn’t ask what happened.
“Yes, I will. Anything else?”
I cleared my throat. “Be careful when you go into my room. There’s glass on the floor.”
“I see. Anything else?”
“No,” I answered. Then I thought about it. “I don’t know.”
Anna let out a long sigh. “I’ll check.”
“Thank you, Anna. I’ll add a bonus to this month’s check.”
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
I smiled. Anna had been my housekeeper for years. “I’m okay,” I assured her.
“Okay. Take care of yourself.”
“I will,” I said and hung up the phone.
I rubbed my temples, feeling a little guilty about the mess I had left Anna. The dinner had been left on the dining table. I wasn’t usually a slob, but last night had been anything but ordinary.
“Mr. McKay.” My assistant’s voice floated through the intercom.
I sighed before pushing the button. “Yes?”
“I know you said you didn’t want to be disturbed, but there is a Toby Michaels on the phone. He’s persistent and says he needs to talk to you.”
“Put him through,” I told her. I needed to put that situation to bed.
The phone beeped once before I picked up. “Mr. Michaels,” I said in a friendly tone.
“Toby, please,” he said.
“Hi, Toby. What can I do for you?”
“I wanted to check in and see how things were going with the negotiations between you and the Savage firm,” he said.
“Well, as it turns out, we have reached an agreement.”
“Oh! That’s good, right?”
I didn’t say what came to mind. It wasn’t good for him. “Yes, I believe so.”
“Should I schedule a meeting?” he asked.
“No need. I’m going to be withdrawing my offer and because it wasn’t official, you don’t need to do anything. The Savages will likely be reaching out soon to go over the terms of their offer with you.”
He was quiet for a second. “Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Hey, it’s not a bad thing,” I assured him. “Your start-up is going to get the funding you need. You’re set.”
“I suppose I am, but I was looking forward to working with you, and learning from you. I’ll be honest, I’ve done my research and I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen. Your firm has done some great things for start-ups like mine.”
I smiled, feeling a sense of pride. “Thank you.” I had to be the bigger man. I realized there was still a chance Toby could reject the Savages’ offer that would not be good. Elly would blame me. She would be convinced I had something to do with the pullout. I sucked up my pride, knowing I had a chance to do the right thing. “You are in good hands with Elly Savage. She is one of the smartest people I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. She’s savvy and will make sure you’re taken care of. I have personally worked with her. In fact, she interned for me a few years back.”
“Really? I had a feeling you two didn’t like each other.”
I laughed. “No, not it at all. A little friendly competition is what you saw. You should feel good you had a couple of the big dogs fighting over you.”
He chuckled. “I suppose you’re right. Thank you for showing interest. Maybe there will be something we can work together on in the future.”
“I hope so,” I told him. “You have my number. Call me if anything comes up.”
I ended the call, carefully cradling the receiver before I cursed a blue streak. I felt like I had just sucked on twenty lemons. I couldn’t believe I had just promoted the Savages; it made me sick to my stomach as if the day couldn’t get any worse.
I wanted a drink. Hair of the dog sounded like a very good idea just then. I sat back in my chair and rubbed the heel of my hands against my eyes. I hated being hungover; it was just adding insult to injury.
I debated calling it a day. I could tell my assistant I was working from home, but I couldn
’t go home. Anna was there. She would give me a look that was essentially wagging her finger at me. I heard my cell phone chime. I reached for it and saw it was a text message from Wes.
I opened it up, expecting an update on the business. It was a picture. I smiled as I zoomed in on the image of his pregnant wife, Rian, and their daughter, Ronny. They were standing on the edge of the family’s boat with fishing poles in hand. Both mother and daughter were smiling for the camera. Wes had changed for the better since he had reunited with Rian. I envied him. I couldn’t help but feel a little jealous. He had everything I had wanted. Wes was a good guy, but I didn’t necessarily think he was any better than I was. I didn’t think I was a bad man. I didn’t screw anyone over. I donated a shitload of money to a variety of charities. I didn’t break the law.
What the hell was so wrong with me that Elly couldn’t seem to see me for the man I was? She looked at me like I was the devil himself. I wondered if that was how she viewed all her competition. Were they all unworthy of her because they were her father’s direct adversary? I doubted it.
Instead of bellyaching about my lack of a love life and ignoring my friend, I quickly texted him back. I let him know he had a beautiful family and wished him good luck fishing. I put the phone back on my desk and turned my attention back to the computer screen.
I couldn’t help but pull up the file for Toby’s business. It was a damn good deal. I could have done some serious work with it. I could have made Toby a very wealthy man while providing a service that would benefit a lot of people. It just wasn’t meant to be.
I realized now that my whole revenge plot had been a disguise for what I really felt. I was carrying a torch for Elly. Revenge gave me something to focus on. It gave me a place to put all of my feelings. I had been lying to myself. I knew my plan would likely lead me back into her life. It was all I had to hold on to.
I could only blame myself for what had happened. I had purposely put myself in her path, gotten the touch I wanted. Touch a flame and you get burned. I got burned. I had thought I could somehow exorcise the woman from my life if I could make her feel as bad as she’d made me feel. But I was wrong. Instead, I’d buried myself inside her warmth and set myself up for another, harder fall
I had to accept the possibility that I was not meant to have the kind of happiness Wes had found. Maybe I was a selfish, self-serving prick who didn’t deserve the love of a good woman. I was thirty-eight and single. I had never had a serious relationship and honestly that led me to believe that I was the problem.
I stood up from my desk. I needed to get out of the office. I grabbed my phone and wallet and headed for the door. “I’m leaving for the day,” I said to my assistant.
Her mouth fell open as her eyes went to the clock. “Okay,” she said, not pointing out the early hour. “Should I forward your calls to your cell?”
“No.”
She nodded. “Got it. Have a good day.”
I walked out, anxious for some fresh air. I needed to walk. It was then I knew exactly what I needed. I climbed into the waiting town car and let my driver take me home. Once home, I went upstairs and changed into my swim trunks before heading to my private pool in the basement. Swimming always made me feel better. I did lap after lap, feeling the stress fade away. The fog of the hangover subsided, giving me a chance to think a little more clearly. Elly was not mine to chase. I was done with my need for revenge. It wasn’t going to make a difference. Ron would destroy his company without my help. It was too bad really. Elly could have done great things with the company if her dad would have stepped aside. He’d been the master of his own destruction, and I just was lucky enough to get a front-row seat to see it all go down.
I wasn’t sorry. Ron was getting what he deserved. If Elly was truly working for another firm and making a life for herself in California, she would be okay. Daddy’s money would be gone, but I had a feeling she would make her own fortune one day.
I climbed out of the pool and grabbed my towel. As pissed off as I was at the situation and Elly’s role in the whole thing, I was damn proud of her as well. It was the way I always felt when I thought about Elly—torn. She turned me inside out.
Chapter 14
Elly
I had one of my favorite power suits on today. It was the typical severe black with a white blouse that had ruffles at the sleeves. I liked the way it fit me. I wore my favorite black pumps as well. I had taken extra time getting ready for the meeting, needing the boost to my morale. I believed in the theory that if you looked good, you felt good.
I smoothed the skirt down before taking a seat at the conference table. I pushed aside the thought I had sat in the exact same seat the last time I had been at the table. Devin had sat across from me, looking handsome as ever. It had been the beginning of what turned into a series of horrible mistakes.
Toby Michaels sat down at the head of the table. He looked a little nervous. I offered him a smile. “How are you?” I asked.
“Good, good,” he said, nodding his head.
“Are you ready to do this?” I asked him.
“Yes, absolutely.”
I pulled the file folder from my briefcase and slid it across the table. “We’ve got the contracts ready for you to sign. They are the terms you and my father discussed.”
Toby opened the folder and pulled out the first page of the contract. I watched as he carefully read through the paperwork. It was all pretty standard stuff, but I appreciated that he was a careful man. I glanced across the table to gauge my father’s mood. He’d been chipper this morning when I met him at the office, but now he looked anxious. I watched as he loosened his tie. He was staring at Toby like he wanted to shake him.
“The terms are exactly what we talked about,” my father blurted out. “I wouldn’t try and slip anything in there.”
Toby looked up from the paperwork. “I need to make sure everything is as it says. I don’t sign anything until I read it.”
“Good,” I told him, trying to diffuse the tension that had begun to ramp up. “That’s a smart thing to do. I do it as well.”
Toby nodded, but his eyes were on the papers. I saw his brow furrow and knew something wasn’t okay. Without looking up from the paper, he asked my dad a question about the fine print. I waited, letting my father field the question. He was hedging, not really answering the question at all.
“Will you be on the board?” Toby asked my dad and then me.
I shook my head. “No, I personally won’t.”
“I thought you were going to be a part of this?” Toby asked.
I cleared my throat, feeling a little hot under my collar. “No. I don’t involve myself in the day-to-day stuff,” I told him. “I’m only here to make sure the contract is complete and both sides are getting a fair deal.”
“You deal with me,” my father blurted out. “I’m the one that put this thing together.”
Toby tapped the pen against the paperwork. “And will you be on the board? Will you be getting quarterly reports?”
My dad shrugged. “I trust you to handle your business.”
Toby let out a breath before putting the pen down. It was a clear signal. My father’s face turned red. I gave my father a look, telling him to keep his mouth shut.
“Toby, do you have reservations?” I asked.
“I do,” he answered. “I’m a software engineer. That’s what I do. I’m a businessman second. I was hoping that I could count on my investors to be a little more hands-on with the business side of things.”
“I’m not going to run the business for you,” my father snapped.
“Dad, he’s not saying that,” I told him. I turned to Toby. “What can we do to make you feel more confident with this?”
“I want to know how much support I’m getting. I understand you’re investing money, but what else?”
I looked to my father. He visibly relaxed, and the man I remembered emulating when I was growing up appeared in the conference room. He put on the sm
ile that had wooed many people over the years. “Toby, you and I have talked a lot about what you need and what my firm can do to make sure you get what you need. I will be there along the way. I will hold your hand through every step. I’ve been doing this for a long time. I have taken blossoming start-ups and turned them into Fortune 500 companies. You can trust my experience.”
I watched as my dad picked up the pen and put it back in Toby’s hand. Toby hesitated for a moment. I could see him swaying. He was second-guessing the deal. I sent up a silent prayer. I needed him to sign. I couldn’t leave New York until he did.
Finally, Toby let out a long breath before signing. I could tell he wasn’t excited about it. I hoped he would feel better once things started rolling. My dad beamed, reaching over to pat Toby on the shoulder.
With the contracts signed, I quickly separated the copies, leaving Toby with his and sliding ours into an envelope. “Thank you, Toby. It was nice to meet you, and I wish you lots of luck.”
I shook his hand and left the conference room. My father followed behind me. We stepped outside, and my dad fist-pumped the air. “Good job!” he exclaimed.
“What now?” I asked him.
He grinned, rubbing his hands together. “We sink the last of our assets into the start-up. Once the IPO goes through, we sell our shares and make a small fortune. It will put us back in the black. It will give the capital I need to start looking for new investment opportunities.”
“You’re going to turn around and dump it?” I asked, aghast.
“Well, yes. I don’t have the liquidity to stay invested in a company that may or may not take off in the next year or two.”
“I thought this was a long-term investment?” I questioned. “You stand to gain a lot more if you leave your shares alone. Selling them too soon shorts your profit.”
He shrugged. “I need the money now. This was never meant to be something I was tied up in for more than necessary. I need the money. I thought I made that clear.”
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