Page 60 of Provoke You

I was hoping he’d have a different answer for me. “I can’t, Ben. There’s gotta be another way. Think. I’m sure there’s a loophole in there somewhere.”

“Andre came to visit me a few months back. He wanted to know what would happen if you decided never to take over the family business.”

“What happens if she refuses?”

“Andre stays on managing everything as if he were a true LeBlanc.”

“I'm okay with that.” The knot in my stomach tightened at the thought of having to take on the reins.

“He also wanted to know what would happen if he survived you.”

“What happens if I die?”

“He gets everything, Rose. When I realized the gravity of what he was asking, I went underground. I didn’t want him to think that I care enough to go against him. At first, I thought I was being paranoid, especially when I didn’t hear from him or you for so many months. But then two men visited me and suggested I disappear. And then the attempt on your life.”

“No.” I stepped forward. “We talked to Dad, and he thinks one of my followers did that.”

“And we both know that’s a load of crap.” Matt took my trembling hand in his. “Ela, I know it’s tough to believe, but you can’t keep giving your dad the benefit of the doubt.”

“I just want my hotel back.”

“There’s only one way to do that.” Ben raised his eyebrows at me. “You have to take his place at the head of the table. It’s your rightful place.”

“Ela, this is why you wanted to find Ben. It’s the only play.”

They were both right, of course. But everything was happening too fast. I needed time to sort out my thoughts and accept that after all this was over, Dad would be gone for good.

I hugged Old Ben. “Thank you for coming to see me.”

“Of course.”

Matt reached into the back pocket of his jeans and took out his phone. “Here, take it. It’s a secure line. I’d rather not meet up in a cemetery again.”

Old Ben chuckled. “Thank you. I wasn’t sure if you were going to figure out my message. I had to do it in case Jennifer was found out.”

“What made you think of this place?”

“I came to visit your grandmother my first day back and saw the fresh flowers. I asked the groundskeeper who’d left them, and he said you visited often.”

“I miss her.”

“I do too.” He kissed my forehead. “Rose, do think about it? I know I’m asking for a lot. And I can see that after all he’s done, you still think of him as your dad, but enough is enough.”

I nodded and walked away toward the exit. Matt followed close behind me. The night at the lake flashed in front of me. Tears stung my eyes. I reached in my purse and took out my sunglasses. Old Ben had called it the attempt on my life. He believed it without me telling him that someone was trying to hurt me. Everyone believed it except Dad.

On the ride back, Matt gave me space and didn’t mention Old Ben’s proposal. All I wanted was to get my hotel back. Why was it so complicated? “What if I talked to Dad?”

“Ela, he no longer has the ability to give you the Baroness.”

Of course, he was right. What would his investors do if he backed out of the deal? Would they hurt him? As soon as Matt parked in front of our safe house, I climbed out of the car and went inside. I went straight upstairs and jumped in the shower. The soap washed away the sweat and dirt from the time we spent at the cemetery, but somehow, I still felt dirty. I scrubbed my face and the rest of my body hard until my skin turned raw pink.

“Ela.” Matt knocked on the door. When I didn’t answer, he knocked again. “Ela, do I need to come in?”

“No. Give me a minute.” I shut off the water and donned a bathrobe.

In the bedroom, Matt had also changed out of his sweaty clothes. His hair was a sexy mess of wet, shiny strands that refused to stay put no matter how much he finger-combed them back. “Are you okay?”

“No.”

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