AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Back HomeJust as my lawyers predicted, we won the case. I sat there in that stuffy old courthouse and watched as Hugh remained expressionless. I stood up the moment the verdict was read and left. It was time to head back to New York, and back to our lives.
“I’m so excited,” Addie said in the elevator on the way up to our home.
“Why?”
“‘Cause, crazy, I missed Drako.” She looked at me shocked that I hadn’t missed him.
“He’s my dog, Addie, of course I missed him, but with you around, I highly doubt the pup even notices me,” I said, disappointed, knowing exactly the scene that was going to play out the moment the elevator doors opened.
“You’re being ridiculous.” She laughed.
“Yeah, says the dog hogger.”
The moment the elevator stopped and the doors opened, the scene which had played out in my head happened. Drako came running toward us but stopped only at Addie. Damn dog. I walked by them both as they happily reunited.
“Welcome back, Mr. Evans,” Ana said the moment she saw me.
“Hello, Ana.”
“I’ve prepared some dishes. Would you like that I heat them for you?” Ana asked.
“No, I’m a bit tired from the flight,” I said as I headed upstairs to take a shower. I emerged from the bathroom after taking a long hot shower; my muscles feeling somewhat more relaxed, but not entirely.
“Hey,” Addie greeted from the bed, wearing nothing but my high school gym shirt.
“Why do you wear it? Doesn’t it bring you back shitty memories?” I leaned on the doorframe and crossed my arms.
“Not really,” she said as she looked down at it. “I hardly wore my gym shirt in high school, thanks to a special someone.”
“Yeah thanks for reminding me,” I said bitterly as I pushed off the doorframe and passed her so I could sit on the couch that overlooked the Hudson River.
“Do you think it’s time?” she said from behind me.
“Time for what?” I asked.
“Time to talk about everything?” she retorted.
“Everything?” I asked confused.
“It’s not liked we really talked about what had happened and why?” she said quietly.
Fuck me. I really wasn’t in the mood for this, but I knew I had no real choice in the matter, I had fucked it up and therefore Addie the answered she needed.
“What do you want to know, Addie?” I asked as I looked out the panoramic window.
“How did you come up with the idea? I mean—God, I was so stupid to fall for it, but still...”
“My dad,” I said quietly.
“Your dad? But I thought you said you were never forced to marry Clara?” she said quickly.
“He didn’t, but the idea came from him.” I sat back and remembered that day; it was clear in my mind.
“Why the hell are you here?” I groaned as my father walked right into my office without any warning. It wasn’t enough I had to deal with the assholes in London and the major merger, I had to deal with my father who was my biggest pain in my ass.
“Two words, Clara Stevens.” The moment he said her name, my body cringed. The girl had some serious issues, none of which I wanted to know about. I only paid attention to her in high school because she would threaten Addie. I made sure she never once touched her. Clara did all she could to be around me. I even suspected at one point she had followed me. The girl was relentless and was everywhere I went.
“Do you know why I inherited the company instead of you?” I asked my clueless, dimwitted father. My grandfather never once liked the way his son turned out, and trusted him even less.
My grandfather was proud of me when I graduated university with a business degree. He took me into our company and trained me from the bottom up, telling me I had to know everything that made this company work. That way, no one could take it away from me.
“I got it because I understand business and you don’t,” I hissed.
“Daimon, just marry Clara Stevens, and then you’ll make more money,” he spat out. This man was seriously oblivious. I had tripled our company size, let alone its revenue since my grandfather made me the CEO.
“I don't mix business with my relationships, plus if anything, the Stevens family will be coming to me soon enough,” I bit out, knowing I was buying out their properties without their knowledge.
“Marry for money, Daimon, not for love. Didn’t you see what happened to your mother and me?” What a son of a bitch.
“You didn’t love my mother. You used her and then threw her away. If you loved her, you wouldn’t have done that to her,” I hissed.
“Your mother never once fit into our world. So don’t make the same mistakes I did,” he spat out.
“Trust me, old man, the one I’ll marry will be perfect for me, not our world. Now, if you don’t have anything else to say, get the hell out of my office,” I snapped.
