Page 6 of His Wild Seduction

Well, mostly untouched.

Occasionally, I withdrew funds to use in my line of work, but that was my business.

I owed neither Franklin nor Josef any explanation.

“That’s correct. He’s had me on payroll for years. I was not aware of him taking a loan. Last night was the first time I’d seen him in almost fifteen years. He contacted me, claiming it was a life or death situation. Shortly after I arrived, he had a heart attack. That’s all I know. But you can’t just put all those people out of work!”

Josef showed no reaction, and I had no idea if he believed me.

“In his absence, you have power of attorney?” Josef asked.

“According to what the lawyers told me, yes. I do.”

“And his condition?”

“It’s volatile. The doctors have assured me they would notify me if there was a change.”

For the good of my own soul, I hoped for the best. Franklin Gray was not a good man. But I was a good woman. And I was working on forgiving him before it was too late.

“If you aren’t involved in the business, why are you here now? Why do you even care, Meredith?”

I paused.

It was true, I had no love for my stepfather, though Josef apparently was unaware of that.

I’d already come to the conclusion that along with years of poor habits, the notice Franklin had received from the bank calling in his loan had proven too much for his stony heart. I was already at his home when it just gave out on him.

So yeah, I’d made calls to the lawyers and to Volkov Industries. Of course, I’d dialed 911 first and waited till after the subsequent trip to the hospital to contact everyone.

Franklin had needed emergency surgery, but the doctors had given me no sign one way or another if he would survive.

Guilt, shame, and regret threatened to strangle me.

Whatever it was I felt over the past, I could not help but shoulder some of the blame for the strained relationship between my stepfather and me.

I didn’t owe him anything, but I had the dire urge to make this right. Gray Corps employed thousands of people, and from what I’d read, Volkov Industries had a ruthless reputation for gutting businesses they took over.

What would happen to all those people?

Damn my stepfather for putting me in this situation. And damn Josef for being involved.

Fuck. Why, Franklin? Why did you have to do this to me?

“I want you to tell me what happened step by step,” Josef said, breaking the silence.

I didn’t see any other option. So, I started telling him.

“Franklin sent a private investigator to my apartment asking me to come to his office last night?—”

“He sent a strange man?” Josef asked, jaw clenched so tight it was a wonder the vein at his temple didn’t pop right out of his skin.

“Well, no,” I replied, suddenly wary. “I mean, I’d met him before. He was the detective who found me when I came back to the states.”

“No,” Josef said, shaking his head and once again I was struck by how handsome he was. “Go back. Farther back.”

I gritted my teeth harder. The past was not some place I visited much. It was too dark. Too painful.

He wanted me to relive it, did he? Well, he could go right to hell.

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