Page 79 of The Acquisition

He looked around the floor where I sat. "Did you drop your luggage off in your room?"

I shook my head. "No, but that's tomorrow's problem."

Stryker stood and held his arm out to me. "I've got a reputation as an asshole to protect, so if anyone asks you about me, make sure to reinforce that."

For some insane reason, despite his words, I took his arm. "Yes, this is most certainly the most dickish behavior I've experienced all day."

He winked at me. "Let's get you settled into a room, and I'll send someone out for dry clothes and toiletries."

"Yep, you're a total asshole." I bumped my shoulder against his. "Thank you," I said, dropping the teasing.

He nodded, taking my words and not adding needless fluff to fill the silence. Only time would tell, but I had a feeling I'd just made a good friend.

* * *

Pounding on the front door woke me. Turning to my side, I picked up the alarm clock off the side table and saw it was eight in the morning. Several expletives fell out of my mouth considering it was after one when I finally fell into bed, and I was dealing with a major case of jet lag.

At least I didn't have to slip into to yesterday's rumpled dress. I might have come a long way from the semi-spoiled heiress I was, but bad fashion still hurt me. Speaking of fashion, I couldn't wait to get my hands back on my closet.

I was going to need the armor a well-crafted ensemble could grant me. Not that I was planning to go into battle with Colt. I had every hope our split would be amicable.

When I had to see him, I'd paste a smile on my face and hide the fact I was bleeding on the inside. Showing weakness wasn't me. I'd been kicked too many times when I was down to make that mistake again.

"Blondie, move your ass. I've got to meet with your board of directors this morning."

I threw on the hotel robe over the tiny camisole and shorts that were dropped off last night along with a change of clothes for today.

"About time you opened the door," he complained and thrust a takeout cup of coffee at me.

"I need to shower and change before we head out," I grumbled.

Stryker, six and a half feet of bad boy in a suit, strolled through my suite, and settled down on the laughably small couch placed under the window. He made a show out of checking his watch.

I rolled my eyes. "You could have called first, then I would have been out of bed and ready when you arrived."

He stood and crossed the room. "It helps when the phone is actually on the hook for starters." He put the receiver back in the cradle.

Then he picked up my cell phone. "You do realize these have to be plugged in periodically to actually work, right?"

I winced. "I'm afraid to turn it back on to be honest. I bet I've missed a ton of calls and texts."

As soon as the words were out of my mouth I frowned. "Or maybe not."

Stryker's face became somber. "First we work on getting you back into your apartment. Come with me to the meeting, and after that we will find a divorce attorney to get everything else sorted out."

"Now," he continued, "don't go taking hours getting beautiful."

"Please," I said over my shoulder on the way to the bathroom, "I'll be ready in a half hour."

He picked up the remote and settled in to watch a financial report. "I'll believe it when I see it."

* * *

Stryker and I headed straight to meet up with Caroline at her office near the AG headquarters. She met us in the lobby of her building and brought us up to her firm's floor.

In her office she dug through the top drawer of her desk and retrieved a familiar set of keys. She handed them over along with a deed. "This will guarantee your father never takes what's yours away again."

"This is freedom," I said, tucking the document into my shoulder bag.

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