Page 76 of Daddy Down Under

As I reached for the door handle, a familiar figure exited the building, stopping me cold.

It couldn’t be.

But it was.

Preston. Even from a distance, his imposing presence was unmistakable—tall frame, graying temples, a perpetual frown etched into sharp features. I hadn’t seen him in years, but I’d recognize him anywhere.

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. Seeing him again after all these years sent a jolt through me, old wounds flaring back to life. The pain of his betrayal, the cruel scheme that shattered my relationship with Victor—it all came rushing back in an overwhelming flood of emotion.

“Mr. Sullivan?” the driver asked, sounding confused.

“Give me a moment, please,” I managed.

Thank god the car had darkened windows. Preston wouldn’t be able to spot me. What the hell was he doing here?

Oh god, did that mean…? Ithadbeen him, the man I’d spotted when Ocean and I were at the Vietnamese restaurant. He’d been watching us.

That meant he knew about Ocean and me. He would’ve observed more between us than mere friendship. What would he do with that information?

Well, Preston showing up here was a pretty good indication of what he was up to. I was willing to bet good money on him being the other buyer. Somehow, he’d discovered my interest in the Krause Group and had shown up to best me.

Panic rising, my first instinct was to flee, to protect myself from more of Preston’s calculated manipulations. My grip tightened on the door handle as I debated confronting him. Did I dare dig into that traumatic history again? Risk opening myself up to more of his vindictive games?

I thought of Ocean, of shielding him from this poisonous man and the destruction he’d wrought in both our pasts. The instinct to avoid Preston, to choose self-preservation, warred with the temptation to finally face him and unleash the hurt and anger I’d carried for so long.

Indecision paralyzed me as I watched him stride toward the parking lot, a few hundred feet from my car. Fight or flight. Confront or hide. Each second felt an eternity as I sat frozen, pulse racing, an icy dread squeezing my chest. What would it cost me to let him walk away—or to finally face my betrayer after all this time?

I needed more info. I couldn’t confront him now, not when there was still so much I didn’t know. Maybe Garrett Krause would be able to shed some light on what had happened.

My jaw set, I exhaled a shaky breath and forced myself to gather my composure. I would mask my unease, shore up my defenses, and face this head-on. After Preston’s vehicle pulled away, I waited a few more moments to steady my nerves before exiting the car.

Entering the lobby, I nodded stiffly at the receptionist buzzing me through the security gate. I took a deep breath, willing my racing heart to steady as I stepped into the sleek conference room at the Krause Group. Garrett and James rose to greet me, their polite smiles not quite reaching their eyes. An undercurrent of tension crackled in the air, subtle but unmistakable.

“Cash, good to see you again.” Garrett extended his hand, his grip firm but lacking the usual warmth. “I trust your stay in Melbourne has been pleasant so far?”

I nodded, trying to mask my unease with a confident smile. “It’s a beautiful city. I’ve been enjoying my time here.” The words felt hollow, my mind still reeling from the sight of Preston.

James gestured for me to take a seat, his demeanor more reserved than our previous interactions. “Shall we dive into the agenda? There are a few points we’d like to discuss regarding the proposed partnership.”

As the meeting progressed, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted. Garrett’s and James’s responses were polite but distant, their questions more probing than usual. They exchanged glances when they thought I wasn’t looking, a silent communication that set my nerves on edge.

Had Preston already made his move? Poisoned the well with his malicious influence? He must have. Something had changed, and it wasn’t because of something I had done. The thought made my stomach churn, old wounds throbbing anew. I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was already pulling strings, undermining the trust I’d worked so hard to build with the Krause Group.

As the meeting wore on, the atmosphere grew increasingly strained. Every polite inquiry felt laden with suspicion, every pause pregnant with unspoken doubts. The change was palpable, a chill creeping into the room despite the warm Melbourne sun outside.

I clenched my fists beneath the table, fighting the urge to confront Garrett and James directly. To demand answers, to know if Preston had already made his move. But I held my tongue, knowing that any display of emotion would only play into Preston’s hands.

“Cash?” Garrett’s voice snapped me back to the present. “Is everything all right? You seem a bit distracted.”

I forced a smile, trying to regain my composure. “I apologize. I’m not feeling well. Must’ve eaten some bad sushi last night. Would you mind if we continue this meeting tomorrow? I’m afraid I’m unable to give this the attention it deserves right now.”

Garrett and James shared another one of those meaningful looks. Did they believe me? Probably not, but what could they do? They could hardly call me a liar to my face.

“Of course.” Garrett rose. “Please let us know what time to expect you tomorrow.”

“I will. Again, my apologies.”

The meeting concluded with a tense handshake. As I walked out of the Krause Group building, my mind was a whirlwind of doubt and suspicion. The ground beneath my feet felt unsteady, my body shaky.

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