Page 25 of The Acquisition

The moment she stepped away I opened my mouth to speak, still unsure of what I planned to say. Colt reached across the table and retrieved the folder he pushed aside earlier.

"Don't ruin it," he muttered and opened the folder.

It was the out I'd usually be looking for, but disowning my father had me feeling unmoored. "I–"

"I get it, Jana. I shouldn't be pushing you right now."

"You confuse me."

"Yeah, well, I confuse myself. Let's just take a look at what Fitz gave you."

For the next few minutes we slipped into business mode. He was more comfortable with some of the legal terms than I was and patiently walked me through every term on the contract. It turned out to be a fairly simple transfer of property.

"I don't understand," I muttered when we finished directing the document.

"Which part? I can go through it again with you," he offered.

"No, not the contract. That's pretty simple now that you've explained it all. Why would he want me to join them during the holidays? My father clearly set out to destroy Anderson Global."

"He doesn't judge you by who your father is."

I looked down at the table. "I don't think I have a father anymore."

"Do you regret turning your back on him?"

I didn't answer him immediately. Everything happened so fast, I didn't stop and think about what I was doing. "I don't think I'll miss him or my mother. She'll turn her back on me now. The idea of not having a family is unsettling."

"You have a family. Not one you were born into, but the love is just as real. Trust me, I've been a part of that family for thirty years now, and I get more from them than anyone who's ever carried the name Greyson."

The urge to run was too great. It came over me any time I was too close to feeling. Making a big show of checking my watch, I started putting the documents back in the folder. "I told Sabrina I'd be over after work today. We're moving me in to her spare room."

His demeanor stiffened. "Of course, do you need to run by my place first?"

"No. She texted that she ran by and picked up my things already."

"Efficient," he clipped out.

"Colt–"

He held up his hand and forced a smile. "I understand. I don't like it, but that's my problem. I'll get over it."

I dug through my bag to find my wallet. Luckily, my gran had taught me to keep some cash with me at all times in case of an emergency. Having my accounts frozen wasn't what I'd pictured though.

"What are you doing?" he asked as I laid ten dollars on the table.

"Paying for my drink."

"No. I think I can manage to cover both of us. And before you argue with me, I'll let you buy me a drink when we celebrate getting your money back."

He had a point, and until Evie and I started making money, I could hardly throw around the cash I had. "Thank you," I said softly.

Feeling indebted to someone was hard. There was already so much I owed him for.

I pushed back my chair and stood, and he followed suit. "You don't need to walk me to her building."

"I hate the idea of you walking alone," he persisted.

"And yet it doesn't mean I'm not allowed to. I've made it twenty-six years in this city without your help. I can walk a few blocks."

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