Chapter 35 #2
His gaze scanned the space, taking note of the flip-flops I’d kicked off by the couch, my Kindle on the coffee table next to a half-full glass of iced coffee, my phone and sunglasses on the dining table.
“No thank you. I won’t be staying long. You’ve made yourself right at home in the lap of luxury, haven’t you? ”
Striding past him, I took the seat I’d been reading in before succumbing to the lure of the theater room.
I may not be a cutthroat businesswoman, but I knew when a man was playing games and trying to get a rise out of me.
It also wasn’t uncommon for my temper to get the better of me.
There was a delicate balance I needed to maintain here if I wanted to find out anything.
I leaned forward to grab the glass, taking a sip of the slightly watered-down iced coffee, like I hadn’t a care in the world.
“Don’t you want to know why I’m here?” Reginald asked as he sank into the chair opposite me, the look on his face a cross between amusement and frustration. I don’t think he knew exactly what to make of me.
Good.
“I’m sure you’ll tell me, but can you get a move on? I’ve paused Taylor for this.”
His brows furrowed, clearly displeased with my attitude. Get in line. “Aren’t you interesting?”
Okay, I did not like the way he said that at all. Like I was some specimen he was planning on studying. Ewwww. Still, I pulled my sarcasm and attitude firmly around me like a well-worn suit of armor. “Yeah, I’ve heard that before.”
“I’m a bit shocked Clayton has strayed so far out of his comfort zone. There must be something truly…” He paused, his gaze skating over me, and it took everything to not shudder. “…fascinating about you.”
“You have no idea,” I said as I winked his way, but the time for politeness was now over. I sat up straighter and placed the glass back on the table. “So, what exactly can I do for you, Mr. Aster?” I needed to hear what he came to tell me and get him out. Then I could talk to Clay.
“Reginald, please,” he instructed, “and it’s really more of what I can do for you.”
“Oh really?” I let skepticism color every syllable.
“I just met you, Reg, I don’t see how you can do anything for me.
” A little charge zinged under my skin at the way his face pinched when I shortened his name.
Like he smelled something rotten. Clay was never that prissy and got used to it quickly.
I didn’t think the same would be true for this man.
“I could be generous,” he said the word as if it were a foreign language, and to him it probably was. I didn’t think generosity in any way was on his mind right now. “I could tell you how my stepson is using you to get what he wants.”
I smirked, something he didn’t appreciate at all judging by the way his hands tightened on the chair arms. If nothing else, I was getting under his skin and making him wonder what I was up to. “Control of Montgomery,” I stated flatly, as if the answer were obvious.
A look of shock showed on his face for a split second before he recovered.
He didn’t expect me to know that. He leaned back in the chair, settling into whatever game he thought he was going to play.
“Yes,” he drawled in a decidedly unfriendly manner, “his father’s precious company.
It was bad enough Alessia fell for Charles, but to merge companies.
” His scoff indicated exactly what he thought without words.
“It brought the Conti name down to the Montgomery level, which was inexcusable.”
Thank God for Ever’s penchant for “rich people gossip” as she called it, because she’d filled in some of the pieces Clay hadn’t talked about. Reginald Aster’s bitterness at being passed over by Alessia Conti was front and center.
“God, could you sound more jealous?” I rolled my eyes, loving the way he tensed. “Reg, Alessia didn’t choose you almost forty years ago.” With a tilt of my head, I let sympathy take over my expression. “Don’t you think it’s time to get over it?”
His mouth contorted, pushing his jaw to the side. “This has nothing to do with that.”
I shrugged and stood. I’d had about enough of this.
“Okay. Whatever you say, but it’s never a good look when a man can’t get over a woman moving on from him.
” I’ve listened to enough true crime to know what happens.
“Especially at your age.” I opened my eyes wide and tilted my head, trying to convey my really? expression.
He sucked in a breath, and I did a little internal cheer at getting to him.
“Some people don’t know how to deal with others so high above their station.
” He sneered my way, all manner of suaveness disappearing.
Now he was simply a man annoyed because a woman didn’t act the way she “should” in his mind.
Surprise. Surprise.
“So how exactly is he using me, Reg? He told me about his deal with you. Where he’d get Montgomery if he made a deal with us.
” I smiled his way and gave a little nod.
“I may have fudged the truth a bit last night. We’ve already signed a letter of intent with Conti-Montgomery, so I guess it’s up to you to keep your word. ”
It wouldn’t surprise me at all if integrity was not part of this man’s repertoire of attributes.
“Ahhh.” The man sounded like a cartoon villain as he slid his hand inside his jacket. “But did he tell you the deal was contingent upon him purchasing the property? I knew it would appeal to him, as it would have to Charles.”
I hoped he couldn’t tell his words sent me reeling because that is not what Clay had told me.
That wasn’t what the parentals had agreed to.
Nothing in that letter of intent talked about selling.
None of us would have ever allowed those words to be put in writing, because no matter what Clay had grown to mean to me, it wasn’t worth what my family had sacrificed years and generations for.
Sucking in a breath, I met his gaze head on. “That’s not what I was told.” I could hold it together because I had to.
“What about seeing it?” He pulled papers out of the inner pocket of his jacket and passed them over to me. “This is only a copy, of course, but you can see the deal we struck. It’s pretty clear, isn’t it?”
The words stared at me in black and white.
A whole lot of legal jargon, but one line summed it up—The role of President and CEO of Montgomery Resorts, a portion of Conti-Montgomery Resorts International, will confer to Clayton Montgomery upon the completed purchase of the Henley property located in Henley Falls, Virginia.
I didn’t know what to make of it. Couldn’t even begin to comprehend what was happening. From the very beginning, Clay had kept telling me he wouldn’t take our land, but this clearly says otherwise. Still, I couldn’t swallow it.
“I don’t believe you. We never agreed to sell anything.”
“Oh, Reese, we have our ways. Eventually, you would have, and Clay was ready to play the long game.” Reginald stood and strode toward the door, his shoulders back and head high.
A man sure of his position and power while I sat here unsure about everything.
He opened the door before turning back. This time the only smirk in the room was his. “It was a pleasure.”
The door shut silently, leaving me alone with my whirling thoughts.
I grabbed the papers, reading it over and over again.
There was no way I could misinterpret what was there.
Jumping up, I ran upstairs and looked at the copy of what we signed.
It was basic, nothing about selling, but this wasn’t the final contract.
Would that be where Clay screwed us over?
I stumbled back downstairs, not knowing what to do with myself.
I needed to think, to figure out what I was going to do if everything truly did come crashing down around us. I couldn’t do it here. No matter how wonderful this apartment felt, it was all part of Clay. I needed home. Needed my family.
I glanced out at the balcony. How could it be less than twenty-four hours since I’d been so sure of how I felt? Of how much I loved him? Now I was questioning everything.
Grabbing my phone, I noticed a string of missed texts from Clay.
I’m going to be even later than I thought. I’ll keep you updated.
How about I send the car for you and you can join me for a quick and possibly interrupted dinner? Does that work?
Reese, is everything okay?
Little Trouble?
The last message came through as I was holding the phone. He seemed concerned and not at all like a man getting ready to screw me over. I couldn’t think about that now though. Swiping away from the messages, I went about trying to find a way home.