Chapter 25
Chelsea
There was no greater hell than what I was suffering.
Every emotion possible weighed heavily on my heart and soul.
Sadness. Frustration. Heartache.
But mostly rage.
Fury that my father had dared attempt to destroy a community. I had no doubt in my mind he was doing everything in his power to skirt laws while playing hardball with the shifters of North Bend.
Maybe I deserved to feel as if my entire world had fallen apart in front of my eyes. Maybe I should always be forced to live with my stomach churning, threatening to launch nasty projectiles from my gut if I dared consume any food or liquid.
Maybe I did deserve the accusations Cole had thrown at me. I’d been a stupid, stupid girl not to pay attention to what my father was doing. What had bothered me over the past couple of days was that I hadn’t heard a word from my father.
Not one.
There’d been enough fake stories tossed out that someone in my father’s employ had at least asked if his prized possession daughter was engaged or involved with a hockey player. You couldn’t go anywhere in Seattle without someone talking about the Seattle Wild.
The pain churning in my stomach was almost being drowned out by rage. Such blinding rage I couldn’t think straight. It was a damn good thing I wasn’t driving.
Reality hit me once again. I’d lost Cole. The one man who’d awakened the woman inside and the one I’d already begun to fall in love with hated me.
That wasn’t all. More punishment awaited me.
Maybe I should be forced on a daily basis to sit in a car beside an angry best friend.
After Cole had grabbed his things and stormed out, I’d been left in complete shock, so stunned I’d barely been able to breathe. After that, I’d searched the internet, finding out how horrific things had gotten. People could be so cruel.
Because my father was rich, I’d been labeled a princess and too good for little more than an animal.
I couldn’t believe some of what had been said.
Granted, not all. There were diehard fans screaming of a love story.
Others wishing I’d drop off the face of the earth because I was the one not good enough for him.
All that didn’t matter. Their stupidity of whether or not our relationship was what everyone expected it to be meant nothing. All that did in my mind was what my father had planned for the area in North Bend.
Had Mr. Kendrick known my father owned the company? If so, why would he dare allow me inside the house? Why?
Because he and Mrs. Kendrick would do anything to ensure happiness for their children. What a novel concept.
I had to do something. I had to fix this.
The only thing Samantha had said to me was that she was my ride. Thankfully, she’d avoided the news crew who’d pulled up just as we were leaving. Apparently, crazy driving ran in the family.
I cinched my eyes shut, trying to fight my way through my muddled brain while landscapes passed by the passenger window.
“Samantha. Are you going to talk to me?”
She shook her head at first then I could feel the temperature rise. “I doubt you want to hear what I have to say.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Fine. Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you. How could you?
How? Do you have any idea how much my brother cares or I guess I should say cared about you?
He’s never cared about anyone that way. Not once.
He was the kid who took his best friend’s sister to the prom and trust me, they didn’t like each other. You betrayed him. How? Why?”
“For God’s sake. You know me better than that. What I shared with Cole was amazing and meant everything to me. It didn’t matter that we hadn’t known each other for long. The way we were was as if we’d known each other our entire lives.”
“That’s what mating is like.” She tossed me a look, suddenly glaring into the rearview mirror as a vehicle was following too close. “If this asshole doesn’t get off my ass, so help me God.”
The same old Sam. “Being around him is crazy, the need unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I can’t lose that.”
“Get ready for horrific withdrawals. But you deserve them. I thought you hated your father.”
“I do. More so now.”
“Is Jagger working with you on destroying my family too? Was he playing me as well?”
“Stop!” I finally snapped. “You don’t know how terrible our father has been to both of us.
We’re like property to him. My father is insistent on marrying me off.
I didn’t lie to you about that. He threatened Jagger’s career, holding everything he ever wanted over his head.
Our father is also holding certain things over my head and honestly, I don’t care about money or anything else any longer.
I don’t want to have anything to do with my family.
Maybe Jagger does, but he is a male. They are all alike. ”
She huffed, but I could tell she wasn’t as angry. “Yeah, another hot-blooded male. Cole is really hurt by what happened. He doesn’t like to be made a fool.”
No one did.
“I know. I would do anything in the world to fix it. Maybe if I agree to my father’s demands and marry whatever asshole he has in mind, he’ll leave North Bend alone. The arrangement will mean millions of dollars to him. He can make that my wedding present.”
Another moment of quiet passed between us.
Wait a minute… I had more control that I knew. Why hadn’t I thought of it before?
“That’s what I’m going to do,” I told her.
“You would really marry someone you couldn’t stand to save the people of North Bend?”
I thought about her question. “Yes, I would. At some point, I’ll have money and maybe find a way to make it up to your family.”
“Money makes the world go around and turns good people into greedy bastards.”
“Don’t forget corrupt. If only I could be as ruthless as my father. He’s broken countless laws over the years and has yet to be arrested. Or lose business. Just crazy.”
“I’m sorry you’ve lived with that. If only you had proof.” She laughed, the sound so bitter. She was suffering just like Cole was.
My heart ached. I leaned my head back, unable to get his handsome face from my mine. “Oh, I have proof.”
“How?”
“I’m a curious girl. Just a few details I found a couple years ago. Don’t tell Jagger, but I might have hinted I had something so dear ole Daddy would give me a year to prove myself. Don’t ask.”
“Maybe you are a bit like your father.” She cocked her head and I turned mine at the same time.
An idea popped into my head. “You know what? My birthday is in a couple months.”
“I hate to tell you this, but I don’t think the Kendrick family will want to celebrate with you.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.” What in the hell was wrong with me? If I could be as conniving as my father, maybe I could beat the man at his own game.
“Okay, I’ll bite, but if you’re just going to turn around and hurt Cole or my parents, I will go all shifter on you.”
“Let me ask you a question. Do you know any attorneys?”
“Not personally, but my boss might have a recommendation. What are you planning?” At least Samantha hadn’t tossed me into a swamp.
“I know it’s a lot to ask, but can you try and trust me for a little longer? If you don’t like my idea after I tell you and don’t want to help me, then I’ll be out of the condo by the end of the week and you’ll never see or talk to me again.”
“O-kay. I’ll bite. But first, why?”
“I already told you. I’m falling in love with Cole and while he might hate me forever, I won’t let his life be ruined because of my family. And I do have the means to keep that from happening, but I will need your help.”
Samantha shifted in her seat. “Alright. Deal. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. I am a ferocious beast.”
“Fair enough.”
“Then what do you need? And don’t you dare make me regret this.”
I rubbed my fingertip across my bottom lip, trying to think like my father. I’d had enough experience seeing him in action. “A suit and not one purchased at a discount clothing store.”
“That I can do easily. What else?”
“A name of an attorney, but he’ll need to work on contingency until my ship comes in. But if he or she helps that occur, the ship will be full of gold.”
Samantha straightened up in her seat. “That could be a tedious task, but I have a way of convincing people to do what I want. Plus, I’m extremely curious as to what you have in mind. Go on.”
“Third and equally important. I need you to talk to and convince my brother that what I’m doing and him assisting me with is the right thing to do. Do you think you can do that? Do you think you can spend some time with the possible enemy?”
I knew why I adored Samantha and right now, I was extremely grateful she hadn’t automatically tossed our friendship aside. “I’ve been known to soothe the savage beast. I’m in.”
“Good. Then let’s get started.”
What I had planned was crazy, likely impossible and would cut ties with my mother and father, but it was important, possibly more than anything else I’d done in my life. While it was entirely possible Cole would never trust me again, it wouldn’t be for the lack of trying.
Or doing the right thing.
* * *
For the first time in my existence, I felt like my own woman. Unfettered by self-doubt. Perhaps that was blowing things a little out of proportion, but in a little over two days, I’d learned a lot about myself, business, corporate law, and myriad other things I’d never had an interest in before.
Now it was time to put it all into motion.
Jagger thought I was nuts, but I’d experienced another first with him.
Excitement that had nothing to do with hockey.
Plus… there was the added benefit to witnessing his growing attachment to Samantha.
It was a little odd to think I might gain a family while losing one at the same time.
On both sides of the aisle. Maybe the Kendricks would accept Jagger into the fold.
I doubted I’d ever gain a place at the dinner table again.