Page 126 of Beautiful Betrayal

“I don’t need the money.”

“And thanks to you, neither do I.”

I inhale and exhale. “How much?”

“I estimated what Ri could afford based on his portfolio and finances, which Blake hacked for me.”

“How much?”

“Five million, and I’ve made twenty times that working with you.”

“How about a truce? Why don’t we go half and half and do something good with the money?”

“Such as?”

I think of Delaney and the photos I’d seen in Mia’s file. “Mia’s client is an abused wife. Even with money, she was a prisoner in her own home. I can’t imagine what it must be like for those whohave no resources. I think we should help the battered women’s shelter here locally.”

“Considering my mother was a victim of my father in many ways, I’m all-in,” Eric says.

There’s a knock on the door and Nancy appears, entering and shutting the door behind her. “That new man, Kevin, that Mia hired is here. He says it’s about Mia and urgent.”

Eric and I exchange a concerned look. “Send him in,” I say.

Nancy nods and hurries back to her desk, and Kevin appears in my office almost immediately. “This is Eric,” I say. “You can speak freely around him.”

“Hi Eric,” he says, and looks between us. “I hope Mia forgives me for coming to you first, but she’s been through a lot and I’m sensitive to that fact.”

“What is this about?” I ask, trying not to sound impatient, but I am fucking impatient when it comes to Mia’s safety.

“I went to the coffee shop and a man cornered me and handed me this.” He indicates a folder. “He said it was a bombshell in the Delaney Wittmore case. I could have just walked it into Mia, but after the Ri stuff, I didn’t want to risk handing her some threat or problem that I can’t fully foresee. Especially since he knew I worked with Mia, and I’ve only been here a few days. That feels like a connection to Ri. Anyway, I thought you might want to be with her when she opened it.” He moves forward and offers it to me. “It’s sealed. I haven’t looked inside. I wouldn’t do that.”

I accept the folder and study him intently, surprised by his level of loyalty and protection of Mia. He came to me to shelter her. Perhaps I’ve let the man in me misjudge him. Perhaps he really is just a good friend. “Thank you, Kevin. Your loyalty will not be forgotten.”

“I’m not looking for good graces. Just trying to be a friend. Let me know if you need me.” He turns and exits, shutting the door behind him.

Eric arches a brow. “What are you going to do?”

I stare at that envelope and fight my urge to rip it open, but I don’t. I glance over at Eric. “In the past, I’d have opened it up and told her I did it to protect her. But I’ve learned my lesson. I’m going to respect my future wife and take this to her.”

Chapter eighty-four

Mia

I’ve just hung up with Blake after he’s confirmed the identity of the reporter who sideswiped me this morning when Grayson walks in. Just seeing him does funny things to my chest. The way he affects me just by entering a room never ceases to surprise me. Will that ever go away? I don’t believe it will.

His eyes warm and I know he’s read my reaction. The thing is, I don’t even care. Yes, I swoon for Grayson, but we’re mutually obsessed and in love, which is an amazing feeling that has me running a finger over my engagement band. “Hey,” I say.

“Hey, baby.” He shuts the door and my gaze slides to the envelope in his hand, my spine stiffening. “Is that the agreement?”

“No, but all is well on that end.”

I frown, noting the edge to his presence I didn’t initially see. “Something isn’t good.”

He rounds the desk and I stand up to meet him. “This,” he says, “came to me from Kevin.”

I blanch. “Kevin?”

“He was worried about you and thought I might want to give it to you. Note that I have not opened it despite a clawing need to do so.”

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