Chapter 23
Penelope
“Damn it,” I muttered and shoved my phone, which had been on the table, into my purse.
“Is Carrington still bothering you?”
I took a sip of my wine, nodding as I did. “Yep. I’m tempted to see what he wants. I’m also tempted to hire a hitman.”
“I vote for hitman.”
“It’s winning by ninety percent.”
“Do you want to see him again?” she asked the question coyly as if fearful of the answer.
“Fuck, no,” I said a little too loudly for being in a restaurant. “Plus, I don’t think Christian would like it if I set foot near the pig.” I was laughing as I pushed my plate away, but the look on Marlee’s face indicated she had something on her mind. “What’s wrong?”
“You really like Christian,” Marlee said, now as if a horrible decision that I cared about him.
“I do. Who else would purchase an entire fair so I could indulge in memories of the past? Plus, there are other things.” The shooting range came to mind. The big bear was sitting in the corner of my bedroom right where the stuffie should be.
“I know you miss your dad.”
“You don’t know how much and no, Christian does not remind me of my father even if he is a little older.” I laughed when she continued to seem pensive. “And that would be creepy. Right?”
She tossed her napkin on the table. “What do you know about Christian?”
“That he’s very powerful, but there are many layers to him. He’s actually very sweet. Just the little things that I wouldn’t expect.” Seeing the weird expression on her face forced me to narrow my eyes.
“Do you know there are rumors he’s a killer?”
“What are you talking about?”
After she checked to ensure no one was paying any attention, she leaned over the table and lowered her voice. “Did he tell you his father was a lieutenant in a crime syndicate?”
I could tell she wasn’t kidding. “No, he did not. I’m not certain what his father’s profession has to do with Christian.” No, certain things were starting to make sense.
“Don’t be na?ve. I did some checking. A girl who used to work with me accepted a job with Tempest. In their accounting department. I thought I’d see if she had any dirt on Christian and don’t look at me that way. I could tell how much you like him.”
I gritted my teeth, trying to keep from becoming angry. “What gossip is so fascinating?”
“That a long-term employee just up and disappeared a few weeks ago. No one has heard of him since. Poof. Gone.”
My laugh came easily. “That doesn’t mean Christian killed him, for God’s sake.”
“Yeah, well, the standing rumor is that this guy betrayed the company, somehow handing out intellectual property to a competitor. Everyone knows you remain loyal to the Tempest family.”
“That still doesn’t mean anything.”
“Okay. You’re right. It doesn’t, but there is no doubt who his father worked for. You can check yourself. Maybe Christian and his brother are totally legit, and from all accounts Tempest International is on the up and up, but you told me yourself Christian’s reputation is as a ruthless man.”
“Because he has a lot to lose.”
“Just keep your eyes open, girl. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“He’s not hurting me. Just the opposite. He’s very… protective.” I almost used the word possessive but knew that would set her off. Should it matter to me what Christian’s father had done for a living? From the way he’d acted about his dad, there’d been tension.
“Men of his stature usually are. They also collect women like prized possessions. After what you went through with Carrington, I can’t imagine you’d want to put yourself back into that place ever again.”
“You don’t understand how excited and alive I am when I’m with him or how he makes me feel. As if I can take on the world. As if I can do anything I want.”
“Didn’t you tell me you suddenly had a lot more followers on social media this morning?”
“Yes. What are you insinuating?”
“That he has friends. He has power. He has influence. He might be luring you into his den of vipers.”
“How many dark romance books have you read lately? Den of vipers? And if he used that influence to help me gain followers, I’m supposed to be angry?”
“One manipulation can lead to another.”
Her words hit home, but I wasn’t about to put my whole belief in them. Not until I was able to talk with Christian. “I’ll keep everything you’ve said in mind, Marlee, but for once, I’m really enjoying myself and my life.”
Reaching over, she squeezed my hand. “Okay. Just don’t get hurt.”
I had no intention of getting hurt.
As I glanced out the window, prickly sensations swept down my arms. As if I was being watched.
Of course Marlee noticed. “Now I get to ask, what’s wrong?”
“I’ve had the strangest feeling of being watched lately.”
“Maybe Christian is keeping tabs on you.”
“Oh, please. He’s been on a business trip.”
“Are you sure about that?”
Now I was becoming irritated. “He called me from the plane and don’t try and tell me he faked the noise.”
She threw up her hands. “Then who else?”
I had a sickening thought in mind.
“I’ll be cautious,” I told her, but I had a bad feeling Carrington was making good on his threat.
Twenty minutes later, I was on my way home, still thinking about what she’d said. At least the knot in my stomach had left and I’d ensured no one had followed me. I’d almost forgotten I needed to grab a few things at my favorite grocery store given where my mind had gone.
I even had to double back, lost in thought as I walked inside and grabbed a basket. Given the time of day, there was almost no one inside the store.
Was it possible Christian was just like his father? Had he killed his own employee? Well, betrayal was terrible.
What are you talking about, girl?
My thoughts drifted just briefly to the guy who’d died at the conference.
Oh, come on, idiot. You’re being paranoid.
I tossed a few items into my basket and rounded a corner while snagging a box of crackers.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Even as my cart was forcibly stopped, jarring the hell out of me, it was his voice that exploded into my ears that caused anger.
“Carrington. What do you want?” Now I knew why I’d had the feeling of being followed.
“To talk to you, but I can see why you refused.”
I jerked the handle of the cart, managing to yank it away from him. “I refused because I have nothing to say to you.”
“Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”
“Notice what, Carrington? That I’ve moved on?” I was tired of being confronted and refused to take it from him.
He moved closer, skirting around the cart so he could back me against the shelves. “You’re fucking Christian Tempest? Do you know who he is?”
“A much better man than you are.”
“He’s an unscrupulous pig who will do anything to get what he wants.”
His attempt at intimidating me only made me laugh, which of course angered him. “It sounds like you’re describing yourself perfectly.”
When he puffed up, fisting both hands, I refused to back down. “You’re a stupid bitch, just like I always knew you were.”
“Whatever, Carrington. You mean nothing to me. Christian does. Because he’s more of a man than you are.” I pushed him hard and grabbed my cart, determined to walk away from him. Shockingly, he allowed me to do so.
But I felt his presence behind me seconds later. “You don’t seem to know what I’m capable of. I thought you’d learned your lesson.”
“What lesson was that?” I asked while continuing to walk. “That I made the mistake of getting involved with a true pig?”
“I know what you’re trying to do. Get your old job back by using Christian this time instead of me.”
I stopped long enough to turn on my heel, now confronting him. “You already ruined my reputation in the industry because of your power grab, but you haven’t gained anything really. Have you? George isn’t stupid enough to leave you the company. If you’re not careful, I’ll share the proof I have.”
“Proof? You have nothing.”
Yes, he was calling my bluff. While I did have a few emails George might find interesting, I doubted after all this time and the smear campaign Carrington had instigated that it would matter.
But Carrington didn’t know that. I smiled in response.
“Run away, little boy.” I turned around again, fighting with my anger, which always made me shake.
“I’m curious. Does your new boyfriend know you’re a whore?”
Of course he knew exactly the one thing in my life that bothered me more than anything. All the emotions about why I’d sacrificed my innocence hit me hard. “Christian is a much better man than you are.” I stood my ground, refusing to back down to his attempt to blackmail me.
“Are you sure about that? When the public learns what you did, willingly, imagine what it’ll do for his reputation, let alone yours.
” He wagged his finger, even making a tsking sound.
“A senator of all people. How much money did you get for fucking him? Trust me when I say, I know exactly how to use it at the right time to destroy that man and his company. And guess what? He’ll blame you. ”
I laughed in response. “That was a long time ago and it’s my word against yours.” In telling him my darkest secret, I’d thought I’d been releasing a heavy burden. Instead, I’d been establishing a reason for him to betray me. I’d been so stupid.
Evil was easy to see in the darkness of his eyes. And for a little while I’d believed Christian the monster. Not a chance. Carrington was a slimy snake. He pulled out his phone, grinning as he searched for something. With a firm grip on the edges, he showed me his discovery.
An icy chill skated down my back. This wasn’t possible. Even then I’d been careful. “Where…”
“Where did I get it? Do you not think my family has as much power as the Tempest clan? Now, here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to continue your twisted love affair. I won’t interfere. Unless you forgo bringing me what I want.”
“Which is?”