“Where is he?”
Ryan frowns. “He?”
“Tobias King,” I finally voice the name of the secret my heart’s been screaming for six long years.
The lawyer clears his throat, his gaze lingering on Ryan for backup he doesn’t get before he turns to me. “Ms. Horner, I assure you my client has—”
“I’m sorry,” I interrupt. “Your name?”
Clearly offended, he gives me a clipped reply. “Matt Straus.”
“My apologies, Mr. Straus. But he obviously wants me to know.” I trace the wings with the pad of my finger. “Legit,” I say, stifling a laugh as his lawyer speaks up.
“Ms. Horner, the board has already signed off, this deal is in motion—”
“I’m aware of that, Mr. Straus. But it’s dead in the water without my say so, and I will not sign off until I’ve spoken with Tobias King. Privately.”
Ryan feeds off my vibe, his face going resolute as he eyes the lawyer with expectancy. And I love him for it. Ryan’s a shark, and that’s why he’s here.
I push myself away from the table and cross my arms. “I’m firm on this.”
Mr. Strauss sighs, pulling his cell phone from his pocket and excusing himself. “I’m not sure he’ll go for it.”
“Oh, he will,” I assure, which gets me lingering looks from both men before the door clicks closed behind him.
Ryan turns to me.
“What are you doing?”
“Trust me.”
“I do, but I’m going to need some clarification. We don’t want any surprises. You know this buyer?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Mr. Strauss comes back into the room before I can answer.
“Mr. King will be here in twenty minutes.”
It takes everything I have to keep my voice even. “Today?”
He’s here.
Tobias is in Triple Falls.
My mind flits back to the idea that I wasn’t alone last night.
Oh, how he fucks with me just by existing.
I was ready to confront him at some point in the near future, but today, now? My nerves start firing off as I stand and walk over to a row of large windows.
“Please excuse us,” Ryan says, his eyes still on me.
Mr. Strauss nods. “I’ll be just outside. I’ll send him in when he arrives.”
Ryan replies with a quick “thank you” and closes the door behind him. Our eyes connect for a beat before I dart them away.
“Finally, a secret you can’t keep. It’s written all over your face. Who is he?”
“Someone I didn’t think I’d ever see again.”
“Clearly, he wants to see you.”
“Not true. He wanted this to be a quick sale. His name is nowhere on the offer.”
“He knew you could dig and figure it out. He made it too easy.”
“He knew I would see, but he’s made it clear he doesn’t want to see me.”
“So, this is the one that got away from you,” he says, sidling up to me as I move my attention back to the windows. “Cecelia, what’s going on?”
“I’m not sure.” But I am sure he still wants Roman’s company. This was always supposed to happen. But Tobias hasn’t touched it since I left.
“Do you trust this man with the company?”
I nod.
“Then, why do you look so terrified?”
“Let’s just say the last time I saw him—it didn’t end well.”
“He’s offering you a lot more than it’s worth.”
“That has nothing to do with me. It had to be an offer I wouldn’t refuse.”
“So, we’re dealing with the Godfather?”
That crack doesn’t even get him a smile.
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Positive. Look, don’t worry. He wasn’t a fan of my father. But he’s not trying to gain this company with ill intent. My guess is that he plans on making it employee-owned.”
“I see.” Another pause, and I still can’t look at him. “Is any of this, you coming back here, selling the company, and Mr. King, any part of the reason why you broke it off with Collin?”
I don’t answer.
“Wow, now, I’m really intrigued.”
“Don’t be. He’s just a man who wants to own the company, this plant in particular. He’s got his reasons, and he’ll do right with it.”
“Well, I sure as fuck don’t want to leave you in a room with him if you’re afraid.”