Ninety-EightNathan “Would you like to go inside?” I asked, gesturing at the entrance of the building. Eduardo tipped his head in a brief nod and I heaved a sigh of relief mentally. Despite his words, he had seemed quite apprehensive and I could not have that. For our plan to work, I needed him to trust me completely. But that was easier said than done. This man had destroyed many families, mine included. I was sure he had enemies in every part of the world, people that would pay to have his head on a fucking pike. He must know this as well. Know that without his entourage of bodyguards, he was a dead man walking. He had the right to be cautious or he could lose his head faster than he could say his name. We walked into the gigantic building, touring the rooms. The first compartment was a small room that would serve as an anteroom. “A receptionist could stay here, taking calls, welcoming customers, and all that,” I explained. “Preferably a pretty one.” That made the bastard
Chloe"Chloe, your phone is ringing! Please come get it, your ringtone sucks like shit!" Addison yelled from the living room. Groaning, I dragged myself from bed, landing on the ground with a thump. I had no desire at all to do shit. I just wanted to lay in bed all day if I could. I was so damn tired. And it wasn't even eight in fucking morning yet. "Chloe!" Addison screamed, drawing closer to my door. "I'm coming!" I screamed back. "Ew!" She yelled eliciting a laugh from me. "I did not need to know that, you bitch!" "That wasn't what I meant!" I retorted, crawling towards the door and pushing it open. "You just have a dirty mind in serious need of purging." She grinned then, waving my shrilling phone at me. "Send me to purgatory then will ya? Preferably with a hot priest. I'd send him straight up to heaven." I shook my head at her words and yanked the device out of her hands. The caller ID bore David's name. My brows furrowed. After my failure with Hudson, we had barely spoke
100.Nathan "Damn right, you shall," I thought fuming, anger at the injustice of the past few years surfacing again. This slick bastard needed to be buried 6 feet under, instead it was Noah whose corpse rotted away. Fighting to control myself, I forced a smile. "Excellent!" Eduardo replied, his face cracking open with a charming smile of his own and his hands extending for a firm handshake. "Who says you Gringos can't do business?"I shook it, fighting the urge to squeeze as hard as I could. "Now, I am in the mood for a drink," he continued, "hard business works up my thirst you know?" "I think I spied a great bar downstairs" I replied. Of course, I did. I had paid a fortune to have a state-of-the-art Tequila bar installed just for today, I wanted to see how drunk I could get him, drunk men talk. "Aha!" He exclaimed laughing heartily and slapping my shoulder with his beefy hand. "Mi amigo, mi amigo!". Turning to his secretary he grabbed my shoulder, smiling "I like this one, no bu
The next 15 minutes was a dash I barely remember. My eyes pounding in my chest, perspiration collecting copiously ok my brow, I knew I had to find out what was going on, and fast. Without thinking, I sped as fast as I could to Chloe's house, ignoring the curses from drivers and pedestrians alike.I just didn't care.Chloe lived in a duplex located in a quiet, upscale neighborhood. The Montgomery heiress picked out a wealthy but not a flamboyant gated community. Classy without being too loud.Just like her.As I pulled up outside the house. Leaping out of the car and hurrying to the door, I saw that the lights were on, but no one answered the door. I rang the bell.No reply.I knocked loudly, but there was still no response. I tried calling her again, but the call went straight to voicemail.Frustrated and worried, I began to pace back and forth in front of the house. I couldn't just leave. Not since I knew that Chloe was in there and avoiding me, I had to know what the hell was going
Chapter 102ChloeBut it was too late. He had already pushed past me, striding with urgency out of my bedroom and into the next room."Nathan, stop, you can't just barge in here like that" I yelled after him, feeling the panic in my voice.He ignored my protests, pushing the door to Adele's room open and walking in.There, in a crib, was a little girl with dark curly hair and big brown eyes. She was crying loudly, her tiny fists balled up and waving in the air.Nathan stood there, staring at her in shock. "Chloe, who is this?" he asked quietly. I could tell the answer was quite obvious to him.I bit my lip, tears welling up in my eyes. "Nathan, I..."Nathan's mouth fell open. "Our daughter? Why didn't you tell me?"I could feel the panic rising, I had to do something, fast "Nathan, don't be ridiculous."He stepped closer to the crib, looking down at the little girl. She slowly stopped crying, staring at him curiously before holding out a chubby hand towards him. He hesitated before re
103It just hit me, I had seen that face before.I had just finished up at the gym and was heading back to my car when I saw her. She was in the park with a nanny, laughing and playing on the swings. My heart skipped a beat as I watched her, and I couldn't help but smile at the sight of her.But then I noticed something that made my heart swell with pride. She was smiling just like me. That same crooked smile that I had inherited from my father. It was a small thing, but it filled me with a sense of connection to her, a sense of pride that she was mine.I watched her for a few more moments, then turned to leave. As I walked back to my car, my mind raced with thoughts of of the kid. I felt an instant connection to her. Her blue eyes, dark brown hair, a crooked smile that looked like she knew something nobody else did, like a real life Monal Lisa, only infinitely more beautiful.My daughter.But then reality hit me. Chloe, her mother, had denied me access to her. I couldn't believe my
104I felt the red-hot anger boiling inside me as I reached for my daughter. But Chloe, with agility that surprised me, threw herself between me and the cot staring up defiantly at me. Addison slid next to her, protecting the baby from me, her father."Chloe, move out of my way. I'm taking Adele home with me," I growled, my voice low and firm."No, Nathan," Chloe said, stepping planting herself firmly, refusing to lose her ground. "I won't let you take her. You're being rash, and you're not thinking straight.""I am thinking straight," I snapped back, trying to push past her. "I'm her father, and I have every right to take her home with me."Addison stepped forward, putting a hand on my chest. "Nathan, please, don't do anything you'll regret. Adele is scared, and you're only making it worse."I craned my neck to see Adele behind them, her small frame shaking with fear. "Mommy... mommy?" she cried, her voice breaking. I immediately realized my sudden outburst must have scared her shit
105As Nathan stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him, I felt a sense of dread wash over me. Our argument had been intense, and it was clear that he was not going to give up on his quest to get our daughter, Adele, back. I knew Nathan's temperament all too well, and I feared for our daughter's safety.I turned to Addison, my best friend and confidante. "We need to get Adele out of here, now," I said, my voice shaking with fear.Addison looked at me skeptically. "Chloe, are you sure this is necessary? I don't think Adele is in any real danger."But I knew that Nathan's outburst had changed everything. I couldn't take any chances with Adele's safety. "I know you don't believe me, but please, Addison, you have to help me.""Chloe relax, you are taking things a bit too hard. You are very stressed out right now and you are not in the mood to make any life changing decisions.""No." I said, walking into my bedroom to immediately start yanking my clothes from the wardrobe. "I