Page 51 of The Billionaire Babe

“What about what I want?” I push back.

“What you want? It appears what you want is to flaunt with losers on the other side of town. What you want, Valerie, doesn’t matter. Combining family wealth is what is important. We need to compete with the Rothschilds. They need to see us as valuable, as a threat,” he says. This nonsense about competing with the very men I am trying to strike a deal with is almost humorous. There is something about his words that are familiar, but I can’t put my finger on it and am too angry to care.

“The Rothschilds I know very well, and they aren’t like that,” I tell him, trying to see if he can understand a different point of view.

“Diane was.” He makes mention of their horrible mother.

“Diane is dead,” I say, my voice low and threatening.

“Stop playing games.” A small vein pops in his forehead, and it starts throbbing.

“I am taking my rightful place as the CEO of Van Cleef Corp.” I wasn’t going to show my cards this early, but he will find out in a few days anyway.

“Rubbish.” He laughs like it is the most ridiculous thing he has ever heard.

“I have spoken to the board,” I tell him, and he stills, looking at me with a scowl.

“You’ve what?” The people nearby look at us again with his increasing tone, and he plasters a small smile.

“This company was founded by my grandmother, grown by my mother, and I will be the one to take it to the next level. I appreciate you being the caretaker CEO while I was able to grow into the woman I was always meant to be. But now it is time for me to take my rightful position and for you to retire gracefully.” I recite the formal words I have practiced.

“Don’t be stupid. I am not retiring,” he says, laughing again.

“Yes, you are.” I am not playing games anymore. I loved my father once. This whole conversation breaks my heart. But he hasn’t been a father for such a long time. I don’t even know him anymore.

“Valerie, you won’t win this game you are playing.” My heart pounds harder at his threat.

“But it isn’t about winning. It's about family and somewhere over the years you have lost your way. Van Cleef Corporate has firm family values, set out by my mother and her mother before her. All those decades ago, the women in my family knew the secret to success in life and in business, and it wasn’t through using the money hungry tactics that you are today.” I feel the strength of my mother and grandmother fill my spine, and I stand even straighter. They would be proud of me. I know it.

“Be very fucking careful, my dear daughter. Do not declare war on me.” He grabs my upper arm, pulling me in to whisper. His hold is tight, and I bite my tongue so I don’t show any physical pain, even though I feel like crying.

“I think I already did.” I pull my arm out of his tight grasp and turn on my heel, striding away. I feel Chloe right by my side, and I hold my head high, giving Dennis a small smile on my way out. My hands shake as I reach the door, and I feel like I want to vomit.

“I’ll drive. Your place?” she asks me as we get to the car.

“No. Joe’s Gym. On west side.” She doesn’t ask questions as we make our getaway, and I look at my family home in the side mirror. Tears sting my eyes, looking at the mansion my grandmother built.

How dare he threaten me. I did declare war. Now I just need to win.

27

AJ

It’s hot. The gym is crowded, and even though I am doing a light session to warm my muscles from last night, my body is coated with sweat. The air conditioner isn’t working, there is no airflow, and the equipment in this place is so old I am surprised it still works. But I don’t really care today, because I won the fight, I got the money, and I got the girl.

“Good fight last night, AJ,” Levi comments as he sits nearby, watching me.

“How do you know?” I ask. He is underage, and I didn’t see him there, but no doubt he snuck in. He always does.

“I caught it from the rafters. Security was tight on this one,” he admits and I shake my head.

“You need to stop spending so much time doing things you shouldn’t and more time doing things you should,” I say to him, my eyes flicking back to the front window, spotting the black car parked across the street. It’s been there all day. I also noticed it yesterday, and I can’t be sure, but I think it was outside my apartment when I went for a change of clothes this morning once I left Val’s place.

“What’s up?” Brady asks, coming to stand next to me.

“It’s the car. He’s been looking at it all afternoon,” Levi answers for me, and I give him a scowl.

“Oh yeah? Know it?” Brady asks us both.

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