Page 59 of The Billionaire Babe

“What the hell?” I yell as I strut toward him but am pulled back by the other two men. I struggle to get out of their grip, but with one holding me back on each arm, and Levi looking like he is going to jump in the fray, I still as they make me watch while they break my Harley, the one thing that I saved years for. The one thing that told me I could succeed in this fucked-up life.

“I know all about your little friend Marcus and your rigged boxing matches. I know all about that money you get under the table from him to fight, which no doubt has funded your silly little Fortress. I have lawyers who I pay more per hour than you will ever get, and they will ensure you are arrested and incarcerated if you even think about coming near my daughter again,” he spits out, pure venom in his eyes.

I growl and start to fight again. I want him to experience pain. He watches me and sees my anger, knowing that the Harley damage hurts, but his daughter means more. His scowl morphs into a sick smile.

“I’ll give her the CEO position if you leave her alone. If you try to stay with her, she gets nothing but married to a man of my choosing. Either way, you lose. You wouldn’t want to stop her from her birthright, would you?”

I stop fighting, and his smile widens. He found the trigger for me and pulled it. I want Val more than anything, but I never wanted her to come down to my level. I never wanted her to suffer. Now her father will give her what she wants if I leave her alone. I don’t like it, but I will do it for her.

“I know you came from nothing so have no fear of going back there. You leave and I will give her the CEO job. But be assured that if you even look at my daughter again, I will hurt her. Maybe an accident in her apartment. Lord knows that stupid dog won't be able to save her. It is entirely possible that she could burn herself cooking. She is such a terrible cook. It would be a shame to have hot oil run up her arms…” he threatens, and I want to fucking gut him. I feel sick. Losing the bike, harming Fortress, I could handle all those things. He is right. I came from nothing, but I can rebuild again. But Valerie can’t be touched. She is too precious. Too precious to me. She is everything I didn’t know I needed, and the last thing I want to do is leave. But she needs to be CEO and needs to be safe, and if that means I need to stay away from her to make that happen, then I will do it.

“Do we have an understanding?” He watches me closely, knowing the answer already.

“We do.” I nod, my jaw tight as I grind my teeth, hating this fucker with everything I have within me.

“Good. For your trouble,” he says, throwing a wad of cash at my feet. The two men holding me push me to the side as I watch them all pile back into the car and drive down the street. I look at the cash near my shoe. It is a roll of hundred-dollar bills, probably about ten thousand there, but I don’t want to touch it so I kick it away from me.

“Are you alright?” Levi asks me, and I look at him. My gaze must be murderous because he takes a step back, and I pull out my cell to call Brady to bring the truck.

I’ll take my bike. I'll stay away from Val. But I am not touching his fucking money.

32

VALERIE

I’ve been calling AJ all afternoon, but he hasn’t answered. He is obviously busy. He mentioned this morning that he was training with Levi this afternoon, so maybe they went and did something together. I smile at that thought. It is so sweet that he has taken Levi under his wing. It’s yet another thing that shows me exactly what kind of man AJ is.

“What’s bothering you?” George asks me from across the meeting table as I place my cell down again for the hundredth time. We are at Van Cleef Corp. It is the first time I have left my apartment all week, preferring to work from home and be with AJ all night. Our nights have been a mixture of fun, deep discussion, business talk, and surprisingly tender touches. He is far from the man I first met. And I am falling for him. Hard.

“Nothing. Just trying to get a hold of AJ,” I murmur as I pull together all the paperwork in front of me. We have built our reports, presentations, and are packaging everything, ready to send to each board member. I am still positive that I have six on my side, so I just need one other. Given that the other six are as dirty as my father, it is the anonymous board member my mother placed who is my only hope. At this stage, we are still in the dark to who it is.

“So this AJ. He is the one with the Harley, right? He seems to be sticking around. Usually, your friends last a few dates, and then they disappear,” George asks, a small smile on his face.

“He’s… different,” I tell him, my smile now wide.

“What is he like?” George asks me, and I think about the question.

“He is dependable. I feel like I can tell him anything, and without saying a word, he knows it doesn’t go any further than us. He gives good advice, he is empowering, and I feel safe with him,” I tell George.

“Sounds like just the right someone you need in your life,” George offers and I nod. The two of us understand that dependability and safety are not something I have had since my mother passed.

“But he isn’t answering…” I murmur, looking at my cell again.

“Well, maybe he is busy.”

“I am sure he is, but he would usually just send me a text if he missed one of my calls. It feels odd.” I have absolutely nothing to base it on, but I am concerned. Something doesn't feel right. As George is about to say something, the meeting room door opens so forcefully it hits the wall, and I jump with a start as my father walks in, throwing a file on the table in front of us.

“You're done,” he barks, looking at both George and me.

“What?” I ask as George and I stand up from our chairs. My heart races and George looks cross. Anxiety crawls up my throat at the way they look at each other. There is no love lost between them; they have never gotten along. I look at my father. His hair a little disheveled, his eyes fierce. The way he sounds is so abrupt and angry. He is stern, yet also smiling like he won the jackpot, and my blood goes cold.

“You're done.” My father looks directly at George like he wants to slice his throat. George opens the file my father slammed onto the table, his brow crumpling as he reads the contents. I watch on silently, wishing I knew what was going on.

“You son of a bitch,” George says, and I gasp, feeling dread building in my body.

“I knew she couldn’t do this on her own. I should have known you were in on it,” my father seethes as he points at George. George steps forward so his finger is pressing on his chest.

“You are going to ruin this company and you are going to ruin your daughter,” George spits out, his face transforming with anger.

---