Page 118 of Worth Every Penny

“A criminal,” he repeats slowly, like I’m a child who can’t understand. He’s right. Ican’tunderstand. I hear the words, but they mean nothing.

“He was lucky he didn’t end up behind bars, but I suppose he wouldn’t have lived long enough to see the inside of a cell, anyway. He got what he deserved, your dad. Better off dead, all things considered.”

Pain pierces my heart, like he’s thrusting daggers into my flesh and my hand jerks to my chest. Martin’s lips curve up as though he’s pleased to see me react. Like he’s feeding off it.

“Did you never wonder why Nico Hawkston didn’t pursue the acquisition all those years ago?” Martin continues. “Once they dug into the numbers, the entire pack of cards collapsed. Your dad couldn’t hide it. The deal didn’t stack up. He nearly lost your family home and everything in it, too.”

“I don’t believe you,” I hiss, relieved to have found my voice. “I would’ve known. Someone would have said something.”

“Would they?” He sits back, laying a hand on his stomach, where the buttons of his shirt strain over his girth. “You’re not as important as you think, are you? Little Kate, left behind, left out. The child who can’t be trusted with the truth.”

My hands are shaking. I clasp them tight in my lap.It can’t be true. It can’t. “What proof do you have?”

“By all means, don’t take my word for it. Ask your brother. Ask Nico Hawkston. Maybe one of them will finally tell Little Kate the truth. And you deserve the truth, don’t you, little one?”

“Stop calling me that.” I try to sound assertive, but my voice is weak.

Martin casually takes a bite of his sandwich like his words haven’t turned my world upside down. He watches me as he chews, and when I realise he’s offering nothing else, I speak.

“What do you want?”

He lowers the sandwich. “It’s been hard watching you and your brother thriving; getting the payout I ought to have had. I built that company alongside your father, you know? Seeing your brother taking all the glory for the sale… well, it makes me mad.” He taps the plastic tabletop with two swollen fingers that look like raw sausages wrapped in cellophane. “I’m finally taking what’s mine. I’m going to take your Knightsbridge spa project elsewhere. No more glory for Lansen or Hawkston if I can help it. Your involvement will be reduced to nil.”

My heart is racing, my throat feels like it’s swelling up, choking me, and each inhalation is harder than the last. “You can’t take the spa project,” I plead, and I loathe how pathetic I sound. How helpless. I’m sliding into the unknown and it’s terrifying. “What about David Webster? The Argentum board?”

“Oh, I’m not worried about any of that.” Martin dismisses my questions so easily that a chill runs down my spine. What could explain his lack of concern? “And if you do anything to try to prevent it, I’ll tell everyone about your father. He might be dead, but I’ll destroy anything that’s left. And while I’m there, I’ll take down your brother and Nico Hawkston for covering up your father’s crimes.”

My breaths come unevenly, my brain scrambled. I try to make sense of everything he’s told me, but I can’t, and judging from the way Martin is looking at me, he knows it.

Martin scrunches up a paper napkin and dabs his lips before throwing it onto the table. “How does it feel to be the daughter ofa criminal, Kate? Seeing Daddy in a new light now, are we?” He stands. “I’ll let you digest.”

He leaves and I sit in stunned silence for a moment, the surrounding noises filtering out of my awareness until they’re an incoherent buzz I barely hear.

Then, I break. Tears rush like water over a dam. I can’t contain them, can’t hide them. I sob like I haven’t since Dad died. All the grief I pushed aside rushes up, and there’s more of it than I ever thought possible. I’m weeping for everything I’ve ever lost, and it’s ripping at my heart, tearing through my chest. I cry until I’m breathless, soaking my sleeves with the tears I don’t remember wiping away.

Martin Brooks tore a hole in my world and carelessly tossed me into another reality. And I don’t like this one at all. My father; the most wonderful man I’ve ever known.A thief? A criminal?Memories shatter and words I thought were true warp until I no longer recognise them.

Did Jack know?

And Nico…

The wave of pain that smashes into me shatters my heart into a million pieces as I realise that he’s lied to me this entire time.

Fury rises, burning like acid.

My phone buzzes and I pull it from my handbag to read the message.

Nico: There’s something we need to talk about. Tonight. I’ll explain later. Don’t worry, it’s not a big deal.

I stare at my phone, and two words come to mind.

You bastard.

36

KATE

At exactly 9 pm, I arrive at the door to Nico’s apartment. It’s so high that my ears popped in the lift on the way up.

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