Page 60 of The Billionaire Babe

“What? What happened?” I ask, looking between both of them, panic filling my bones.

“Well, my dear daughter. George, in his position of VP, is not to be advising new leadership, especially in any takeover bids of any kind. It is written in his contract in black and white.”

I am about to speak, but he continues.

“And your pile of shit boyfriend…” He points his finger at me, and I take a step back, my eyes widening. “I taught him a lesson this morning. That someone like him shouldn't even think about fraternizing with my daughter. Although I wouldn't put anything beyond you. You are too stupid. Of course, you can't run the company when you associate with those kinds of people. Did you know he has a record? I threw ten grand at him and he walked away. Clearly, he was only after your money.” My father laughs, and I feel like I might vomit.

“What? What did you do?” I ask, the panic now clear in my voice. But my father ignores me like I am some stupid little girl who doesn’t warrant further explanation.

“George, security are here to escort you out. Now that you are in breach of your contract, you are no longer employed by Van Cleef Corp. I want you to clear your desk and leave this premise immediately,” my father demands. My mind is whirling, my heart thumping. I have no idea what is going on. Did AJ leave me? Did AJ take my father’s money and leave me?

“You are a fucking lunatic!” George yells at my father before stalking past him and out the door. I sit in shock, my legs not able to hold me up any longer.

“Valerie, I have given you enough leeway. Hand your notice in to HR. You will be married to William Schmidt within the week and are not to step foot into Van Cleef Corp again,” my father says, then he turns on his heel and walks out the door. As soon as he does, I stand, rushing to grab the small bin in the corner of the room, and empty the contents of my stomach. This day is proving too much.

Catching my breath, I gather my things, running out the door to my office. I grab my laptop, and instead of typing up and submitting my resignation as he demanded, I put in a formal written complaint and add it to the board papers I am collecting for each member. I then walk out of the building with George, with the promise for us to continue working together despite my father’s demands. George has been in the business as long as my father has, and there is no way he is leaving it.

The car ride home is quick, but the entire way I try calling AJ to no avail. As I walk into my apartment building, my head is whirling, my heart broken. I have no idea what to do or where to go now.

“Welcome back, Miss Van Cleef. You have someone here who has been waiting for you,” Victor says as I step into the foyer, catching up with his words.

“Oh, who?” I ask, looking around before my eyes land on the last person I ever expected to see, sitting back in his jeans and t-shirt on the luxurious velvet sofa in the waiting area.

“Levi?” I ask, stepping forward as concern takes over. “What are you doing here?”

“Your dad dropped this.” He tosses a roll of hundred-dollar bills my way. “He threw it at AJ, actually, after he smashed his Harley to pieces. AJ didn’t touch the money.” I take a breath, relief filling me, but that’s instantly replaced with worry and despair.

“Come up. We need to talk,” I say, turning and walking to the elevator that Victor has waiting for us. I take Levi upstairs, make him a late lunch, and together we sit on the sofa as I learn all about the lengths my father will go to in order to get what he wants.

Then I formulate a plan and call in the reinforcements. I just hope it works.

33

AJ

After Brady collected me and my bike from the footpath, and I sent Levi home to stay at my apartment, I got busy with my friends and did the only thing I knew to do. Fix my bike enough so I could ride it and get the hell out of Baltimore.

If I can’t be with Val, I need space. I can’t be in the same city with the woman I can’t have, and the chances of me going after her father given what he has done to her, to us, is very high. Luckily, the damage to my bike was purely vanity and the engine and steering were unharmed. So that same afternoon, I drove straight out of town and have been hiding here at Virginia Beach for the past few days, collecting my thoughts and trying to calm down.

Now, as I look out at the waves, I pick up my cell and roll it around in my hand. My cell phone rang almost every hour the first day, then I turned it off. She needs to have her mother’s business; she needs to be CEO, and to get that, I need to be out of the picture.

I also needed time. I still have no fucking idea what to do. I have never before been so invested in a woman and it scares me. Love isn’t something I ever thought I would experience. I didn’t get it as a child at home, and I’ve never had it since. But I want Val, even though right now that seems selfish. I sigh at the conundrum. Good things never come to a man like me. I should have known that it wouldn’t last.

I swallow, knowing it is time to face the music. I need to get back to Baltimore. I need to get back to Fortress, the gym, and Levi, and so I turn on my cell and wait. As expected, my voicemails are full, my text messages rolling in, and I sigh as I start looking through them all. A call comes through as I am scrolling, and Brady’s name lights up the screen.

“Finally, he answers. Where the fuck are you?” Brady says, and I crack my neck.

“Sitting at Virginia Beach,” I tell him honestly.

“Shit. Well, you need to come home. Right fucking now,” Brady says, and I notice his voice seems a little panicked.

“What happened?” I ask, my heart starting to race.

“It’s Val.”

“Is she alright?” I ask, thinking about her father and the threats he made. That fucker better not have burned her, because if he has touched her, I will skin him alive.

“She is getting married. Tomorrow. To some Schmidt guy.”

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