Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
THADDEUS
Phillip’s bright hazel eyes looked me up and down, then he grinned and opened his hands. “Surpriiise.”
Surprise? Jesus fucking Christ.
Phillip was the last person I’d expected to find on the doorstep of the cottage. In truth, I’d hoped to avoid ever having to face him again. And knowing Phillip, he’d been counting on that. Counting on my complete shock and distress at seeing him there. Handing him the advantage from the start.
Well, fuck him.
Playing for much-needed time while I kick-started my brain and calmed the thundering in my chest, I wrangled an excited Ziggy back inside the cottage and shut the door.
Then, schooling my expression so as not to let Phillip see just how truly horrified I really was, I turned and slowly met his gaze for the first time since I’d learned what he and Judd had done.
I’d dreaded this moment. Been terrified of what it might mean. Felt embarrassed, ashamed, and clueless what to say. I could barely look at Phillip’s texts and emails without wanting to cry about what he’d done to our friendship. I’d run away, both physically and emotionally, rather than face him.
But that was then. With Phillip standing right in front of me, there was nowhere to run. And for the first time, I didn’t want to.
I thought about that fucking bulldozer. I thought about that truck driver and the thrill of the moment when I’d pushed back.
In the blink of an eye, I thought about it all.
I straightened my spine and squared my shoulders. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Phillip held up his phone. “You didn’t switch off your location sharing.”
Shit. It hadn’t even occurred to me. We’d shared each other’s location for years, partly for safety if we were looking for a hook-up, but also as a backup security measure when we became business partners.
We’d been best friends, after all. When I started dating Judd and things got serious, I forgot all about the app. I hadn’t used it in years.
I pulled out my phone and made a point of shutting it off in front of him. My attention lingered on the screen for a second, then I looked up. “You turned yours off, I see.”
He shrugged, his cheeks colouring slightly. “Yeah. A while ago.”
I didn’t need to ask why. “What are you doing here, Phillip?”
He waved a set of papers clutched in his hand and snapped, “What the hell is all this? You haven’t even talked to me.”
I leaned against the doorjamb, aiming for nonchalant and likely missing by a mile. “I see you received the buyout offer from my lawyer.”
Phillip glared. “You know damn well I don’t have this kind of money.”
“Really?” I feigned surprise. Phillip had never been good with money.
The flashy Porsche and the ridiculous way-too-big house with its heated pool and stunning view over Wellington harbour paid testament to that.
“We’ve had an equal share of the company’s profits for three years, Phillip.
I know exactly how much I’ve earned, so where did yours go? ”
Like I didn’t know.
I continued, “You’ll need a loan, of course, just like I would if the situation were reversed.
But it should be completely doable.” I paused for effect.
“And you damn well know that the company is a steal at that price. On the open market, I could sell for a lot more.” I watched his jaw working as he fought to keep his temper.
I had him over a barrel, and he knew it.
My confidence rose, and for the first time, I allowed myself to truly feel how fucking angry I was.
“It’s an arsehole move, regardless,” Phillip finally ground out. “We built this company together, Thad.”
I snorted, not believing what I was hearing. “Pretty sure I know who’s the biggest arsehole between us, and it’s not me. Could I sell it to you for less? Sure. But why the fuck should I, Phillip? You’re getting a good deal. If you don’t like it, I’ll sell to someone else.”
Phillip narrowed his gaze, his free fist clenching at his side.
“Come on, Thad. We’ve been friends our entire lives.
I’m sorry about what happened. I truly am.
It was really fucking stupid of me. Can we at least try to move past it?
It doesn’t have to define our friendship or our business partnership unless we let it. ”
I chuffed softly. “It doesn’t have to define our friendship, Phillip?
Really? What planet are you on? You betrayed me.
Jesus Christ. You fucked my boyfriend. That defines every single part of our friendship, especially the difference between what I thought it meant to you and what it actually does, as in zip. ”
Phillip let loose a defeated sigh and raised both hands. “Fine. Have it your way. But you know what this company means to me. You can go off and start again, no strings attached, while I have to find a coding wizard like you so I can try and salvage this one. That’s not going to come cheap.”
Which, I suddenly twigged, was what this was really all about.
It wasn’t about our friendship at all. I shot him a churlish look.
“Yeah, I bet you’re regretting not adding that sale-approval clause to our partnership agreement now, huh?
Never imagined I’d ever sell up on you, right?
” I stared him down. “Well, I never thought you’d fuck me over so thoroughly either.
But don’t think this makes us even. Not even close.
I want rid of my share of the company, and I want rid of you. That’s it.”
He shook his head like he couldn’t believe it. “Just like that? You’ll throw away everything you’ve worked for your entire life?”
It was my turn to shrug. “Yep, just like that. And I have you to thank for that. These last few weeks have opened my eyes to the fact that I don’t want to just keep doing what we’ve been doing.
What I’ve been doing since university. I don’t want to simply earn a good income. I want to make an actual difference—”
Phillip cut me off with a laugh. “A difference? Jesus, Thad, what’s got into you? You live to code, you always have. You love the challenge. You fucking bleed binary code. What the hell are you going to do to make a difference?”
“Maybe you’re right,” I admitted. “But I’m also not a kid anymore.
I want what I do to mean something, to me at least. I don’t give a fuck what you or anyone else thinks.
I’m damn good at what I do. Good enough to use it in all kinds of applications.
What you decide now is up to you. I’m out, either way. ”
Phillip stewed for a long moment, the tick in his jaw more pronounced by the second. But there was also a rare confusion in his eyes, like he wasn’t sure what had just happened, and I’d have bet my last dollar this hadn’t gone the way he’d expected.
Receiving the contract wouldn’t have fazed Phillip as much as he was making out.
He’d have been expecting something like it.
No, he’d come up to the cottage, guns blazing, because he thought I’d had enough time to come to my senses.
That I’d wither in the force of his personality like I always did.
Then he’d drag me back into the company fold while I whimpered my thanks that he’d stopped me from making the biggest mistake of my life.
It was how it had always been between us.
But not this time.
And Phillip was clearly at a loss how to proceed.
Which made me so fucking happy, I could’ve screamed.
He looked around the front yard of the cottage, shaking his head.
“I have to say, I was surprised to find you hiding up here where that data facility is set to be built.” He faced me again.
“I hope it helped with your coding. You’re late on the next section, by the way. You said I’d have it three days ago.”
So that’s how he was playing it. Like the past five minutes hadn’t happened.
“I won’t be sending anything more,” I replied bluntly, emphasising the point that we were done.
“You’ll have to find another coder to complete my work.
In case you’ve forgotten, the proposal is tied to the company, not me.
And I’m leaving the second my share in it sells. ”
Phillip’s eyes widened, mostly in fear, but there was also anger there. A lot of anger. “So, that’s it? You’re bailing on the proposal as well? You’re leaving the company and me in the shit.”
“Not bailing,” I corrected. “And you put yourself in that shit, not me. If you can’t find someone to complete the proposal, then you can let the bid go and try for something else.”
“But I need that contract,” Philip spat. “The company needs it.”
I shrugged. “Tell it to someone who gives a shit.”
Phillip’s expression grew ugly and he took a step forward. I’d backed against the door, ready to defend myself, when a voice broke the silence.
“Thaddeus?”
Ryder.
Oh Christ. My heart leapt into my throat along with a knot of fear the size of my fist.
Ryder strode up the path, his eyes locked on Phillip, his expression tight, like he’d guessed exactly what was going on.
But not all of it, baby. Not all. Because oh, fucking fuck.
In my wildest dreams, I hadn’t imagined this scene playing out.
And with the mood Phillip was in, I knew I was in big fucking trouble.
Just how big remained to be seen.
Ryder took the stairs two at a time and moved immediately to my side, his arm circling my waist, more from habit than anything else. Whenever we stood close, he touched me. It was how it was between us.
Phillip’s eyes tracked the move, his gaze bouncing between Ryder and me as a sly grin slid over his face.
I was doomed. I just fucking knew it.
“Well, well.” He drilled me with a knowing look. “You didn’t waste any time, did you? Is he the reason you’ve suddenly lost your fucking mind?”
I opened my mouth to tell Phillip to fuck off, but Ryder beat me to it. “And just who the hell are you?” Ryder took a step toward Phillip, who had the sense to back away.