Page 75 of Pleasure Games

Luca had just stepped into his office when Marcel appeared. “What the hell was that?” he asked, his voice angry and clipped.

Luca was too exhausted to fight with his half brother. “You have outplayed me at every turn. Take the position—it’s yours. And if you want to contest the will? Go ahead.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I know what you’ve been up to. Arranging the scandals, the paparazzi at the worst possible moments. Having me followed. Taking those pictures. You won, Marcel. At least be gracious in victory.”

Marcel shook his head. “Luca, I don’t know what you think I did, but I would never try to ruin you like that.”

“Of course you would. You knew the board wanted you to lead the company and that the only way to do that was by contesting my inheritance. I’m just saving us all time and lawyers’ fees.”

“What are you talking about? Your father wanted you to run the company. It’s yours, Luca. He already made generous provisions for me.”

Luca stared hard at the man he’d blamed for his misfortune. What surprised him was how genuine Marcel appeared. Luca ran his fingers through his too-long hair. “But if you didn’t do it, who else would—” Just then, François walked into the room with Marcel’s fiancée, Lydia Fournier. Now Luca realized why he’d recognized her last name, she went by her mother’s.

And her mother was François’s ex-wife.

Lydia Fournier was François’s estranged daughter.

Though, by the looks of things, she was not so estranged now.

“It was you,” Luca said, striding up to François. “You’re the only one who knew where I was. Both times. All the time.” He blinked, dumbfounded. “It was you all along.”

There was a gasp from Lydia who released her father’s arm as she eyed the two men in shock.

Luca turned and paced, his fingers threaded through his hair. “I trusted you. I confided in you. And you betrayed me.”

“You’re mistaken.” François’s voice was eerily calm. “It is you who betrayed your family name.” He shrugged. “I just made sure the world saw you for who you truly are.”

“Oh, my God.” Luca stumbled backward as if François had pushed him. “Why would you do that?”

“Do you know what I have done for this company? The long hours. Being your father’s right-hand man for thirty years. I gave up my own family for yours. My wife left me, my only daughter wouldn’t talk to me for years.” He adjusted his glasses. “Then you came along. Luca Legrand, the prodigal son who never gave a damn about the company. You were going to destroy everything I worked for. Everything I sacrificed.” He shook his head. “I couldn’t let it happen. So, I destroyed you, instead.”

“Papa!” his daughter cried as she leaned against Marcel.

“I did it for you, Lydia.” Finally he looked at his daughter.

She shook her head and clutched Marcel, who stared at the lawyer in disbelief.

“François,” Luca said. “You’re fired.”

“You can’t fire me. You’re no longer in charge.”

“François,” Marcel said, stepping forward. “You’re fired.”

* * *

It had been three days since she’d seen Luca on TV and Jasmine couldn’t stop thinking about him. He loved her? How could that be?

Did she love him?

Yes, of course you do, stupid.

“I can’t believe he gave up all that money for you,” her friend Ashley said via FaceTime. “It’s so romantic. We’re talking billions of dollars here, people.”

“I doubt he gave it up for me,” Jasmine said, waving off her friend’s comment. “I’m sure he was forced to.”

“Well, he certainly wasn’t forced to profess his love for you in front of millions of viewers worldwide.” Ashley wagged her brows suggestively.

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