Page 60 of Seduced By a Billionaire

“I can tell you’re getting angry; I’m sorry, but did Mr. Bennett just snap his fingers and not get his way?”

“Don’t twist this around,” he said. “You’re just as much of a butt head as I am…maybe more so.”

“Puleeze! Spare me. I’ve never seen the likes of someone as used to calling the shots as you are.”

“Daddy, Ella, watch this!” Finn yelled, effectively derailing their discussion.

“We’re watching,” Kyle called back. Finn stood at the side of the pool while Monique held a plastic tube steady in the water. He took a leap and jumped right in the center.

Clapping her hands, Ella said, “Yay! Way to go Finn.”

“That was impressive son.”

Ella stood up and grabbed her beach towel wrapping it around herself as she haughtily strode toward the house.

“Ella where are you going?” Finn called out.

“In to take a shower, you guys should get out and dry off. I have to take Monique home soon.”

“Darn!” Finn said.

“It’s almost dinner time… you’d better listen to Ella,” Kyle said as he watched Ella march off.Damn but she was obstinate. He’d have to tread lightly if he wanted to get his way on this one. She was like a skittish stray; if he moved to quickly, she would be a mile down the road before he could even blink.

21

Richard dropped Kyle off at the door to his office building and after grabbing his brief case and cane, he rode the elevator to the ninth floor of the luxurious office suites of Bennett and Sullivan. Although he had warned his staff that he was coming in, everyone in the front office did a double take when he entered. They all greeted him like a long-lost friend, and he felt warmed by their enthusiastic welcome.

He knew he could be difficult to work for. He demanded the best from everyone, but he also expected it from himself. He had always sought to be fair and didn't ask for more than he was willing to give. One hundred percent and nothing less. It appeared that he wasn’t perceived as the ogre he had thought he was, if his reception was any indication.

“Mr. Bennett! So great to see you back. You gave us quite a scare!” The secretary Gillian said.

“I heard you had a scare of your own. Thanks for dealing with that delivery so professionally, Gillian.”

She beamed with pleasure at the compliment. “You’re welcome. It was nothing.”

“It was a lot. I really appreciate it. Could you call everyone into the conference room for a brief meeting in thirty minutes please?”

“Yes, of course Mr. Bennett.”

“I’ll be in my office until then.”

His office had an ocean view, one entire wall made up of floor to ceiling windows. Another wall had bookcases. He had a dart board in the corner of the room that he used when he needed to clear his head. There was a piece of tape on the floor, regulation distance from the target.

The only personal memento he had was a framed photograph of Jemma and Finn, taken on their last family vacation before Jemma had become sick. He walked over and picked it up to study their joyful faces. Finn was only three in the snapshot, so innocent, all of them in the dark about what was to come only a year later. He set the picture back down on his massive desk which someone had kindly organized while he was away. His assistant Elenore, he was sure; she was the best.

It felt weird to be back in his office. Before the accident everything work-related had seemed of utmost importance, and now… nothing seemed urgent. The wheeling and dealing of his law practice had somehow lost its import. An early morning phone call from the construction foreman had left him with a headache and a feeling of dread. They could no longer pretend that the sabotage was just mischief; things were amping up…and were much more ominous. Someone meant business.

He also felt frustration with Ella and wondered where their relationship was headed. They had made love that morning, both subdued. She was moving back to her condo this coming weekend. Lindsey had accepted the job offer and was moving in on Friday.

So much change. His old pattern was to bury himself in his work and avoid all feelings. The wake-up call of his accident had given him the break he had needed to see the error of his ways. He owed it to Finn to become the father he had never had. Hell, he owed it to himself.

Ella,he felt a hollowness in his gut thinking of her moving out this weekend. She had dug her heels in, and nothing was going to convince her otherwise. Maybe she’d miss him so badly that she’d cave. He was not a patient man, but he had a feeling he was about to learn a thing or two about that.

“Knock knock,” Pete stuck his head in the doorway. “Heard you called a meeting.”

“Come on in. Missed ya big guy!”

“Sure you did. With that goddess under your roof? I doubt it, but seriously—thank God you’re back.”

---