Page 85 of Takeover
"I know that she will be my wife in less than two weeks, and she wants you there to stand by her side and watch her marry another man.I know that has to sting."
He drained his glass and gently placed it on the coffee table."I think we're done here."
"We're not."
Lakewood glowered at me, stood, and crossed his arms."Like I said, we’re done.Thanks for the drink though."
"I'll expect your answer by the end of the day.Stay.Be here for her.Whatever.I don't care.She has already chosen me.But I’m just curious.Did you tell her that despite wanting nothing to do with your family, your granddad went ahead and put ten million into your account and that you could have bailed her out at any time?"
The blood drained from his face."What?"
They called me ruthless for a reason."Oh, wait, did you not know?"
I could see it in his eyes.He hadn't known about the funds being released.After the standoff he'd had with his grandfather for years, the old man had finally relented, but he didn't have a clue.
I told myself I wasn't a cruel man.But I needed to make sure that he got on the fucking plane.
"Oh, so you didn't?Yeah, you could have invested in Becks, or at least staved off the bleed for a couple of years, easy.You had the funds, but you didn't use them."
"I—I didn't know I had them."He sank back down into the couch and scrubbed his hands over his face.
"I know.You’re between a rock and a hard place now, because if you stay you're going to be compelled to tell her that you could have saved her but didn’t.And she wouldn't hold it against you, but you would hate every moment.Or you can go to London for a fresh start.Or you can leave Pendragon altogether.It's up to you.You’ve got the money to open your own shop now."
I tossed my drink back, swallowed, then pushed to my feet."The thing is, you are smart.And you do love Gwen.And because you love her, I can't hate you.I mean, I wish you loved her a different way, of course, but she still chose me.So I want to do right by you and give you something I think you need.But the choice is yours.”
He stared at me and shook his head.“You’re a real son of a bitch.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“You think you know her.You think youseeher.You have no idea the pain she swallows to get through every day.You have no fucking clue.”
“All due respect, but nothing you say matters.”
To my surprise, he laughed.“Wow, she didn’t tell you, did she?About Bronson Jacobson?What he did to her?”
The room spun as my world tilted.“She said they dated once.”
“Dated?”He ran his hands through his hair.“That fucker?He made her think he was interested in her.Interested in her work.He really poured it on thick.Her father already tried to marry her off to him.The ‘perfect merger’ he called it.Then that piece of shit tried to—” He stopped and dragged in a harsh breath.“He tried to rape her.She fought like hell.But she didn’t escape unscathed.Some bruises and a broken hand from when she hit him.Not to mention the mental scars.She doesn’t talk about it.Ever.But I know it’s why she doesn’t date.I know she still has nightmares.When she told her father and wanted to report him, her asshole father said he didn’t believe her.And Bronson, well he told anyone who would listen, that he’d rather have had the hot sister.That the software wasn’t worth having to fuck Gwen for years.”
Bile churned in my gut.“Stop talking.”
Rage flooded my blood stream and I was trying not to kill him, but lance kept speaking.“She didn’t even trust you enough to tell you.So between you and me, who has it wrong?”
“Close the door on your way out.I expect your answer by the end of the day."
Chapter32
Atticus
"Why are we here again?"
I rolled my eyes.Micah didn't get it.Sure, maybe I hadn't gotten it a few weeks ago either.The ring I had Leah pick out was serviceable and fine, but it didn't reflect Gwen.And that's what I wanted.
Micah climbed out of the car behind me, and we approached the jewelry store on the corner of Canal.
When we walked in, an elderly black man beamed up at me."Mr.Atticus.”
“Jean Pierre.It's good to see you."
