Page 43 of Fatal Conspiracy

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“HEY,YOU’RE OKAY,” Alayah said, taking Derek’s hands after he sat. “Take a deep breath with me.” She inhaled and waited for him to do the same before she blew it back out again. After they had spoken with Hugo’s attorney, Derek asked to return to their room. She couldn’t blame him, considering the bombshell that Anthony had dropped.

“Why didn’t Hugo tell me he was leaving the company to me?” he asked again, even though Anthony had answered the question several times.

“Plausible deniability,” she said, hoping that would make it easier for him to grasp than how the lawyer had explained it. “If you didn’t know that’s what he was going to do, you couldn’t tell anyone.”

“Curtis is going to be livid. I wouldn’t doubt if he takes this to court.”

“Isn’t he just an employee?” she asked in surprise. “You made it sound like Hugo owned the business.”

“Curtis is a board member and is employed as the chief financial officer, so while he doesn’t have any control over the company, he controls the coffers.” He stood to pace around the room. “I don’t know if I even want the company.I’m tired of living in the city, not to mention I don’t want to become consumed by work like Hugo was.”

“He left you the company to do with as you wish. You could sell it,” she suggested. “Either way, he’s set you up for life financially, which is what he wanted, according to the lawyer.”

Derek ran his hands down his face and sighed. “That’s true, and I’m grateful. I’m extremely grateful, but I’m not looking forward to dealing with the board. After that last phone call with Curtis, it won’t go well. A confrontation with him could get ugly.”

“It could, so I think it’s smart that you take Anthony’s suggestion and address the board together. You don’t have to do any of this alone. I may not understand how you’re feeling right now, but I do know that, despite the issues that come with inheriting a company like Black Marlin Technologies, it’s important to remember that Hugo loved you above anyone else. He had to, to trust you with the one thing he spent his entire life building. There’s something to be said for celebrating that kind of love, right?”

He dropped his hand from his hair as a breath left his chest. “I hadn’t thought of it that way, but it’s true. We should celebrate that aspect of it a little bit. Hugo would want that.”

“He would, and since we’re on hold while we wait for Mina to find us another avenue to investigate, why don’t we grab a shower and have dinner? Room service? Or do you want to go out?”

“Go out to eat or stay in and eat dinner in bed with you? Not even a hard call. Dinner in bed with you,” he said, pecking her lips.

“I didn’t say anything about dinner in bed,” she teased, enjoying his playfulness.

“You didn’t have to,” he assured her as he stood and kissed her hand. “Your eyes told me what they want. I hope my eyes tell you that I want you.”

“If your eyes don’t, your lips do,” she promised as he leaned down for another kiss. “Go grab a shower while I order dinner.”

“Thank you,” he whispered, his lips near hers again.

“I can handle ordering dinner, Derek.”

“Not for dinner, but for being you. For keeping me calm when my world spun off into orbit and I couldn’t orient myself again. For believing in me when people I’ve known for years don’t anymore.”

She put her finger to his lips until he quieted. “The people who matter still believe in you, Derek Benjamin. You’re a good person, and that is evidenced by Hugo’s gift today. If I know you, and I think I know you somewhat well by now, you’ll use that gift for good. I can’t wait to watch it all unfold.”

“Are you sticking around, Alayah Heath?” he asked, stroking her cheek tenderly.

“At least until you get sick of me and send me packing.” As scary as that was to admit, it was time she did. Maybe she hadn’t known him for long, but the way she felt about him didn’t need time. It was there the moment they met.

“That will never happen,” he promised.

Never say never, was all she could think.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Alayah held up her glass. “To Hugo.”

“To Hugo,” Derek whispered, clinking his glass to hers. “May he rest in peace.”

They swallowed the wine and set their glasses aside. The food had been delicious, and now, she was full, happy and enjoying being snuggled up in bed with Derek without any demands on her time.

“Do you get tired of eating kids’ food?” he asked, stroking her arm.

“Are you saying corn dogs and chicken strips aren’t for the refined palate?”