Page 69 of Infinite

Most of them on Wall Street.

Chapter Fifteen

Becca

I rub my eyes. I look like hell and I didn’t bother with makeup. But maybe Hale will let me freshen up at his place. I smile. Despite all the horrid things I’ve dealt with in Charlotte, that smile is always there when I think of Hale.

My Bluetooth rings, but I’m too tired and unfocused to listen to who’s calling.

“Becca Shields,” I say.

“You left before we could talk.”

I will not scream. I will not scream. I willnotscream. “Denver, we’ve said enough.”

“You don’t get it.” His voice changes from gruff to one I don’t quite recognize. “I love you.”

I roll my eyes. “You do not, Denver. And, Jesus, how many times have you used that line on a woman?”

“Look, I’ve made mistakes and I’ve been with other women. But only because you rejected me. You hurt me, Becca. No one’s ever hurt me this bad.”

If there was a wall within the confines of my vehicle, I’d beat my head against it. Better yet, I’d take it apart and throw a brick or two at Denver. “Denver, those women you’ve been with, especially the one taking you to court for whiplash or whatever the hell happens when you’re giving head and take out a few trees, may swallow all you give them. I don’t. This was all a charade.”

“A charade you came up with,” he barks back.

“No, shit,” I snap. “How the hell else was I going to save your sorry ass? Those good people of Charlotte were kind enough to love me. To give me a chance. As the son to one of the most successful and popular teams in the league, you could have been a hero. I would have posed you with the team at every game—”

“Waving the team flag like some kind of trained monkey? Fuck that.”

“No. Fuck you,” I tell him, flatly.

“You have no idea who you’re talking to,” he warns.

“No.Youhave no clue what you have. Where you talk about being a trained monkey, I talk about supporting a team, making a name for yourself, molding you into a Mark Cuban.”

“I’m not him!” he yells.

“You’re right. He’s a successful businessman who built that success from nothing,” I snap. “He not only owns an incredibly popular team, he’s brilliant and renowned. You could have been respected and admired like him, Denver. A few years of doing what I tell you, learning from your daddy, and keeping your nose clean, would be all it took. You could have been Mark. Your daddy would have given you the team and not thought twice. Now, what are you going to do? Spend whatever piddly inheritance he leaves you? Is that your grand plan?”

“I don’t like being told what to do,” he snaps.

“Neither does Mark, jackass. But he listened when he needed to. Learned everything taught to him and asserted himself when necessary. He’s outspoken. He calls the shots. Everyone listens when he says jump, because he earned that right. All you ever talk about is everything you’re owed and how life has been unfair.”

“Is that why you never gave me a chance? I tried with you, Becca. Yeah, yeah, this whole engagement thing was a stunt, and one I was forced to be involved in. But then I got to know you and everything changed.”

Jesus, take the wheel. “The only thing you tried to get to know about me was my body. Those dinners we attended? The events we appeared together? You were either leering at my figure, criticizing me for not dressing sexier, or looking at someone else.”

“Daddy is going to fire you,” he says.

He’s no longer yelling. He’s speaking the truth. I’ve pushed my agenda too aggressively with the Singletons. I know it and Denver does, too.

“Please, Becca. He doesn’t want to humiliate you. But he will.” He huffs when I don’t reply. “If you don’t want to do it for me, do it for the team and everything you’ve done to make it what it is.”

I blink several times. This isn’t Denver talking to talk or attempting to manipulate me. He’s serious. Mr. Singleton will fire me if I don’t do what he wants. I heard it straight from the big boss himself.

The first sign for Kiawah comes into view. I should feel a sense of elation, knowing I’ll be in Hale’s arms soon. But I’m no longer coming home a winner. If Mr. Singleton fires me, I’ll be disgraced, just as I was when I first left. And with Daddy being as sick as he is, the last laugh will be on me. He’ll leave this earth believing I failed without him.

“Becca. Come on,” Denver says. “Just one chance, baby.”

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