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The smile on her face was pure contempt, and one I’d seen a million times in a boardroom.
“I want money.”
Leaning back in my chair, I grinned.
“Direct and to the point. I like it. Now, tell me why in the hell I would give you money?”
She laughed, and it made my skin crawl.
“Because I’ve got a little bombshell out there, and I’m pretty sure you don’t want it getting out that your fiancé knocked up an old girlfriend and left her to raise their child all alone. Especially when he’s worth as much money as he is.”
Damn those fucking papers. Why do they have to put what people are worth?
“You do realize that Mr. Middleton is set to inherit that money later on down the road?”
She settled back in her chair, crossing her perfectly fit legs. “He gets a trust fund each month. From what I’ve been able to figure out, it’s a pretty big one. And you, why, you’re the richest woman in Texas.”
I laughed. Again. “Hardly, but thank you for thinking so highly of me.”
“Listen, you have a bunch of zeros and that’s all that matters. I want six-hundred-thousand dollars to keep my little secret.”
Agitation bubbled up in my chest, and I had to take a deep breath before I lost it on this piece of scum. Leaning forward, I placed my arms on my desk and looked her in the eye.
“You honestly believed you could walk into my office, lay a claim that hasn’t even been proven, and demand I give you money?”
She nodded. “If you don’t, I’ll go to the press and talk.”
I held up my finger and said, “Wait just one second. You do realize they will ask you if you have proof. What are you going to show them?”
Her smile faltered for a moment. “Do you really want it to get to that stage, Ms. Monroe?”
“Yes.”
My reply caught her off guard. There was something about this woman. Her demeanor said one thing, but her eyes said something different. They were almost desperate.
“Excuse me?”
“Yes, I think the first thing we need to do is a paternity test. If it shows that Tucker is indeed the father, then he’ll take responsibility. I mean, isn’t that why you’re here? For Tucker to take responsibility? Be a father to this young girl?”
“Um, no.”
Lifting my brow, I asked, “No?”
“I don’t want Tucker involved in her life. I’ve done fine this long without him.”
Leaning back in my chair, I smiled. “So, what you’re really after is money, Ms. Cooke? You want me to pay you to make you go away and not cause problems with the press.”
She nodded. Her once strong confidence slipped.
“No.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “No?”
I shrugged. “No. I’m not going to let you walk into my office with some trumped-up claim that my future husband is the father of your child and pay you to go away. I don’t work that way. I’m beginning to wonder if you even know who Tucker is.”
When she smiled, it actually made me shiver. I was hoping like hell she didn’t notice it. She obviously knew Tucker; I just wasn’t sure how well she knew him.
The door to my office flew open, and Tucker came rushing in. Marge was hot on his heels.
