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Unfortunately, the irony didn’t make the bitter disappointment or the grim reality of what she would have to face tomorrow feel any less daunting.
CHAPTER SEVEN
‘AS YOU can see, the compensation offered...’ the elderly lawyer paused to flick through several pages of the weighty document, a copy of which he’d handed to Tess when she’d arrived ten minutes ago ‘...which is detailed on the third page of the contract, is more than generous and should meet your needs for the foreseeable future.’
Tess’s hands tightened on the papers as Walter Jensen removed his spectacles, and fixed her with a steely-eyed stare. She stared back, refusing to relinquish eye contact as the document stayed firmly closed in her lap, the funereal atmosphere in the downtown office of Jensen & Partners almost as intimidating as the feel of Nate Graystone’s eyes boring into her skull from across the room.
Jensen’s bushy eyebrows rose up his forehead. ‘Would you like me to outline the details of the compensation?’
‘No, thank you,’ she replied, as firmly as she could manage while her fingers were trembling on the heavy paper. ‘That won’t be necessary.’
She had absolutely no intention of accepting, or even discussing, Nate Graystone’s blood money. Compensated for what exactly? Why didn’t they even have the guts to come out and say it?
She launched the document onto the desk. It landed with a loud slap of paper against polished wood. ‘I don’t need Graystone’s money. I happen to be perfectly capable of taking care of my own needs.’
The announcement echoed into silence in the wood-panelled office, which smelled of old books and lemon-scented polish. She could feel the eyes of everyone in the room boring into her skull now—the clerk who had been busy typing notes on a tablet computer, a young male assistant attorney sharply dressed in a pinstriped suit, whom Jensen had introduced as Grant something, and of course the bane of her existence, Nathaniel Graystone CEO, who had given her a curt nod then sat in an alcove observing the proceedings from a distance, like a tiger waiting to pounce on its prey.
‘I see,’ Jensen said at last. She saw the flicker of something that looked like surprise, but he masked it instantly. ‘And if we were to increase our offer?’
The words were delivered in an even, conciliatory tone, but the intent behind them—that this was exactly what she had been holding out for—had anger boiling under her breastbone.
The injustice hit her first, but far worse was the stab of hurt beneath. She’d never once asked Nate for money. So why did he assume she could be bought?
She got up, her body vibrating with tension. ‘I’ve told you I don’t want Graystone’s money.’ She ground the words out, deliberately ignoring the glowering presence in the alcove and the growled expletive. If he thought he could intimidate her, he could forget it.
She directed her gaze at Jensen. ‘My baby and I are not for sale.’
Jensen sent her a level look, his gaze narrowing. ‘So there is still a child? Despite what you told my client a week ago.’
‘Well, I...’ She scrambled for something to say as she heard Graystone’s foot thud against the floor, the tension in the room stretching tight. ‘That’s none of your business.’ She glared at Nate, giving up on her decision to ignore him, and struggling to cling onto the righteous fury. ‘And it’s none of Graystone’s business either,’ she added with a bravado she suddenly didn’t feel.
His brows had lowered in an accusing scowl as his fingers tightened into fists on the arms of the chair.
She turned her gaze back to Jensen, ignoring Nate’s barely leashed show of temper. He could have all the hissy fits he wanted. She’d lied for the right reasons, precisely because she didn’t want to be put in this exact position. She didn’t have anything to feel guilty about.
‘If the child is my client’s,’ the lawyer interrupted, ‘then I’m afraid it is his business and that also makes it my business.’ Jensen watched her, his voice gentling again. ‘Now why don’t you sit down, Miss Tremaine, so we can all discuss this like rational adults?’
The careful words made Tess feel like an errant child, being censured by her father. The memory had foolish tears prickling the backs of her eyelids. She drew in a sharp breath. No matter what, they were not going to see her cry.
‘There’s nothing to discuss,’ she said in as placid a tone as she could manage while her insides were churning. ‘I’ve told you, I don’t need or want Graystone’s money and I...’
Another vicious curse emanated from the corner of the room, ricocheting off the furniture and making everyone jump. Then Nate towered over her, rigid with fury.
‘Stop calling me Graystone. My name’s Nate.’ He grasped her upper arm in long, strong fingers and hauled her towards him. ‘As you damn well know or you wouldn’t have been sobbing it in my ear when I had you on your kitchen counter a week ago.’
The shocked silence reverberated around the room as Tess wrestled her arm free. ‘You bastard.’ She shoved him hard in the middle of his starched white shirt as the hot blood of mortification pounded in her head and turned the tips of her ears vermillion.
How could he have mentioned that here? In front of a room full of his minions?
She rubbed her arm where the touch of his fingers still burned through the silk blouse she’d worn to the meeting so she’d look chic and sophisticated. Thanks to Nate Graystone, she now looked like a cheap little tart instead.
‘Don’t think that because you...you seduced me...’ she blurted out, soldiering on when he gave a harsh incredulous laugh ‘...that gives you the right to manipulate me into doing—’
‘You have got to be kidding me,’ he roared, bearing down on her again, his blue eyes sparking with fury. ‘I’m manipulating you? Don’t make me laugh. Exactly who was it who was wrapped so tight around me one minute I could hardly breathe, then was lying their head off to me the next? You’re like a child who needs a good spanking.’
That did it.
‘You reckon?’ She shoved her chin out, folded her arms over her heaving chest and stepped into his spac
