AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Huh.” I nod and reach into my back pocket for my wallet. “Then what the hell is this, Devlin?” I slam the check she gave Grace on the desk.
As soon as she sees it, she blanches.
“Well, well, well, look at the guilt on your conniving face.”
“Rowan, I can explain...”
Sitting back, I tell her, “Oh, please, explain away. I can’t wait to hear this.”
“I... Rowan...” She huffs. “Look, I was only trying to protect you.”
“Do I look like a man who needs protecting, Devlin? And fromwhat?”
“From Grace!”
Stunned, I stare at her. Despite my fury, I feel a sliver of amusement at the thought that I need protection from a five-foot-four woman whose personality is so sweet I’m convinced she’s a saint. “Why in the world would I need protection from Grace?”
“I was worried about you,” she says. “This girl shows up and you start buying her everything she wants, paying her medical bills. Then you want to pay her tuition. What next? Are you going to buy her a house, a few cars, and take her on glamorous vacations every time she bats her eyelashes? Once she discovers who you are, she’ll take advantage of you.”
I want to laugh. Grace never asked me for anything. In fact, I had to practically force her to accept everything I gave her. She doesn’t even know about some of the things I’ve done for her yet. And she knows who I am and still insists on paying me back.
“It seems to me you’re the one I need protection from.” I study Devlin’s flushed face. “You try to steal from me, try to run people out of my life behind my back.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think she’d run to you and cry about it. I was honestly trying to get her out of your life for your own good.”
I scoff. “Youforgedmy goddamn signature. That makes me wonder what other underhanded things you’ve been doing with my money and my businesses.”
Anger flickers to life in her eyes. “So, it’syourmoney and businesses, now?” she snarls. “You never wanted any of it. I can’t believe Allan left everything to you. I worked for him for years and he chose his bastard grandson over me!”
And finally, I see the real Devlin behind the plastic smile and feigned compassion. “There it is. The truth at last.” I suspected she harbored resentment about Allan not leaving everything to her. She was like a daughter to him, after all.
Her mouth snaps shut. I’m guessing she didn’t mean to spew those words.
Gazing at her, I do the math. “So, what, did you pursue me back then hoping we’d get married and you’d get your hands on the Lockwood fortune?”
“It isn’t like that. Ihopedwe’d move in that direction so I could help you run the empire. I mean, you’ve always been so reluctant to get involved. Allan’s legacy needs someone whowantsto carry it on. I know every business the Lockwood name is a part of in and out. You want to run around town and keep playing firefighter, for goodness’ sake. You don’t care about any of this!” She waves a hand to encompass the office.
I stare at her for a moment. Admittedly, she’s right about my reluctance to run things. But she messed up, epically. She’s still getting the boot.
“So, your solution was to offer to pay Grace to leave?” I ask incredulously. “Did you descend into brief psychosis? Because why else would you pull that stunt? And don’t give me that crap about wanting to protect me. You don’t care about anyone but yourself and getting your claws on Allan’s fortune.”
She glowers. “I’ve been patiently waiting for you to come to your senses and see that you need me at your side to keep everything going. I had no problem waiting. I knew you’d never commit to any of your flavors of the week. Then Grace comes along and suddenly, you change. Inviting her to your house, running around town like fucking Romeo.”
I snort at that and Devlin glares harder. The woman is clearly nuts. “You know what? It’s on me for letting you think you were the boss. This is me finally caring about the precious Lockwood empire and taking charge.” Leaning forward, I tell her, “Your services are no longer needed. You’re fired.Get out,” I bark.
She sputters. “Y-you... you can’t do that. No! I’m not going anywhere.”
“Really? Shall I call the cops to come and escort you out, then?”
“You can’t do this to me, Rowan. I’ve worked for this family for seventeen years.”
“What can I say, Devlin?” I shrug. “You fucked up. I’d be an idiot to ever trust you again.” I should have done this years ago.
We have a stare-down. Is she waiting to see if I’ll change my mind? “Goodbye, Devlin.”
Red-faced, she gets up, grabs her handbag from another chair, and strides to the door. Before she leaves, she turns to me. “After everything I’ve done for this family, you fire me over some girl you just met?”
I look skyward. Must she bring out more dramatics? “You’re unbelievable, Devlin. You committed a crime against me, and you still think this is about someone else?” She’sinsane. “I should have you arrested. This is me cutting you some slack.”
“You and Grace will regret this,” she hisses. Unadulterated hatred gleams in her eyes before she wheels around and marches out. The door slams.
I sit back and process Devlin’s threat. I understand the hostility toward me. But Grace? Sighing, I look around the office, wondering if I should be worried.
