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“No one will hurt you here. Bennett can’t touch you without risking a devastating heart event. Let him share his life, his money, and his knowledge with you. Give him a final puzzle to put together, Rowan.”
“I might have a couple of pieces missing…”
“He enjoys a challenge.” Standing, he pointed out the computer station, phone to the first floor, and the entrance to the bathroom. “Acclimate yourself and I’ll be back to get you in a few hours. Call if you need me sooner.”
“Thanks for talking to me.”
“Of course. We’re going to be partners in crime. I’m curious to watch what you do with unlimited funds. See you later.”
Rolling over to the bed, she locked the chair, carefully got out of it, and lowered to the mattress.
Staring at emerald fabric draping the four corners, she was reminded of Bennett’s eyes.
After a short nap, she got back in the chair and rolled to the elevator outside her room. On the first floor, she waited for a member of Bennett’s staff to point her to his office.
The man nodded and stepped behind the chair to push her down the hall. He tapped lightly on a carved door before swinging it wide.
Bennett, James, and Mary-Margaret froze to look at her.
Clearing her throat, Rowan said, “I took a quick nap to process. I’m good to go and there’s a lot to be done. I don’t need my leg to help.”
The others smiled at her. Then they slammed information into Rowan’s brain at top speed.
Just the way she liked it.
Chapter Six
Over the next month, Rowan was educated on the inner workings of Bennett Jefferson’s world.
Mary-Margaret and James were the closest people in the tycoon’s life and he trusted them implicitly. Within days, the three of them showed Rowan through words and actions that she was already part of their inner circle.
Bennett’s own family had been small. His parents had passed years before, and his children by his ex-wives were horrifically spoiled.
His influence on his son and two daughters had been minimal since their birth mothers demanded and received primary custody after divorcing their father.
They were all older than Rowan.
After dinner one night, Rowan and Bennett sat together on a comfortable sofa in his den and she asked him about them.
“I fought for custody because I thought I should but when I lost, I wasn’t as upset as I should have been. I know how that sounds.” He sighed heavily. “I worked all the time and I never expected to have children. Particularly not with the women I married.” Meeting her eyes, he confessed, “Not that they necessarily had children withme.”
“Bennett.” Shocked, she reached out to take his hand. “They’re not yours?”
“John definitely isn’t. The math never added up with the girls.” He shrugged. “Considering how much I traveled, I wasn’t surprised or overly upset. Their mothers’ actions weren’t their fault. It wasn’t right to penalize them for infidelity they had no control over.”
“Were you faithful to your wives?”
“No.” Her eyes widened. “Surprised I’d admit it?” She nodded. “I was a horrible husband if you measure it by normal dynamics like being present, showing affection, and being faithful.” His fingers squeezed hers. “I needed to be married so I married. I needed children so I accepted the children presented to me.”
“Did you love them?”
“I tried with the children but they started hating me somewhere along the way and it never stopped. I resorted to buying their affection and obedience.” Leaning his head against the sofa, he confessed, “I didn’t love their mothers. I pretended for a little while but we all knew it was a lie.”
“Did they love you?”
He laughed. “Hardly. I wasn’t around enough to love. When I was around, I kept our interactions minimal, polite, indifferent.” Turning his head, he stared at her. “I have regrets.”
“Everyone has regrets.” Wrapping his hand in both of hers, Rowan whispered, “It sounds lonely.”
