Page 123 of Second Chance for Mr. Alden

He shrugged. “I don’t often eat at home.”

“If that ever changes you might want to do something about that.” She waved her hand in the direction of the dining room.

“I’ll take that under advisement, Jess,” he answered with a chuckle.

She nodded and sat down on the couch. After placing the bag next to her, she began to lay out the contents one-by-one.

“Do you have a minute?” I asked Jareth. I didn’t want Jess to know what we were discussing and the sooner I got it over with the better the chance she wouldn’t find out until I was ready for her to.

He raised an eyebrow. “Sure.”

Jess looked at me. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing to worry about.” The smile I turned her way didn’t seem to ease her concern. I laid a soft kiss on top of her head. “We just need to settle something.”

She shrugged and immediately went back to the papers from the bag.

“Why don’t we head toward my office.” Jareth swept his arm in the direction of a nearby hallway.

I nodded.

Once we were inside his office, I closed the door. “I’ll make this fast. I want to buy three percent of your shares for Jess.” I told him.

He crossed his arms. “I already let her know they aren’t for sale.”

I held back my growl of frustration. This guy was such a dick. “Why do you even need them?”

“Leverage, Mr. Alden. My goal is to destroy her parents, and I’ll do whatever I need to achieve that goal. It seems foolish to get rid of the shares until I know how this story will end.”

I rubbed at the back of my neck. “What if we gave you whatever evidence we find?”

“You don’t trust me. How do you know I won’t destroy it or hand it right back to her parents?” I’d seemed to pique his curiosity.

I searched his face for any indication that we could trust him. Whatever I was looking for wasn’t there, but my instincts were saying that as much as I hated it, we were on the same side. “I’ll take my chances. You get to decide what happens to Jess’s parents, she gets the shares, and I’ll pay you for them.”

Jareth’s laugh was condescending. “You don’t have enough money to purchase three percent of my shares. Perhaps, three shares, Mr. Alden, but not three percent.”

I had no idea how much three percent of the company was worth, but I’d go into debt to get those stocks for Jess. “I’m well aware of that, asshole.”

The longer he smirked, the more I wanted to wipe it off of his face.

“Let’s say I contemplated selling you the shares. How much do you have?”

“How much are you selling them for?” I wasn’t rich. The money I’d saved up was all I had. I didn’t mind giving it up and waiting to start my business, I was already going to do that for Lexi. And I knew Lexi wouldn’t hesitate to tell me to spend it even if it meant we didn’t have any more as collateral for her next store.

“I can tell you they’re worth far more than the thirty-five thousand you have saved,” he answered. “They are in fact worth over three hundred thousand.”

I jerked my head in a nod. Where the hell was I going to come up with that much money?

“But I’m in a generous mood.” Jareth regarded me with an intense stare.

I knew to be wary of whatever he was about to offer.

“I’ll sell you three percent of my shares for thirty-five thousand, with the agreement that you are at my disposal for security services, no questions asked.”

I had hard lines I didn’t want to cross, but if it got Jess what she deserved I would. “I’d prefer to not be involved in anything that extorts women or children. I won’t kill for you.” I’d done enough of that through my military service. I’d shoot if necessary, but I preferred not to.

“Understood.”

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