Page 56 of The Billionaire's Special Relationship

“At least I’m a bitch who dates age-appropriately.” She looked at Tabby’s above-the-knee lavender dress that highlighted her slender frame, and at her flawless dark-brown skin and beautiful eyes. “At least I date culturally-appropriately.”

Then she looked at Tabby. “What plot of mud did you come out of?” she asked as her children grinned.

“The same plot you came out of,” Tabby fired right back. “But I was able to clean up.”

Stuart laughed. “That’s right, Tabby,” hesaid. “Don’t you let anybody disrespect you.”

Nora and his children were shocked that he would stand up for her so firmly. It was so not like Stuart.

“In any event,” Alan said, “I don’t have much time. We’re here for one reason and one reason only, Father.”

Stuart looked at his son. “Have a seat.”

“I don’t have time.”

Stuart was staring at Alan as if he was sizing him up. “Why are you here?”

“I’m here because I want to buy you out,” Alan said.

Stuart was floored. “Excuse me?”

“I want to buy you out. You heard me. I want your shares.”

But even Tabby was offended, and she blurted out before she realized it: “Why would he give you his shares when you stole his company?”

“You again?” Nora asked.

“What’s wrong with you?” Clare asked. “Don’t you know how to keep your mouth shut when it doesn’t concern you?”

“It concerns her,” Stuart said. “Answer her question, Alan.”

His children and ex were amazed. This wasn’t the Stuart they remembered!

But Alan kept on. “I want to buy you out of Dellstone Watersports, Incorporated.”

Stuart studied his son as if he was sizing him up. “What percentage of myshares are you looking to purchase?”

Tabby looked at Stuart. She was amazed that he would even entertain such a transaction.

But Stuart knew what he was doing. “Answer the question, Alan. What percentage of my shares are you looking to buy?”

“All of them,” Alan said.

Stuart and Tabby both were floored. “You want me to give up all of my shares?”

“That’s exactly what I want you to do.”

“And why would I do that?”

“Because you’re already nursing a public relations disaster that will only get worse.”

Even Stuart didn’t catch that reference. “What are you talking about? What public relations disaster?”

“You were arrested for the attempted murder of your own son.”

“You mean the son who stole the company from his father?” Tabby asked.

“Yeah that son,” said Clare in a snippy tone. She seemed to despise Tabby already.