Page 159 of Beyond the Cottage

“Where the hell are you going?” she asked, turning in the chair.

He was already gone.

Chapter 54

Ansel shoved into the anteroom, blew past the senator’s secretary, and hauled open the office door.

“Excuse me!” Henry cried. “He’s in an appointment!”

Ansel strode into the office. A silver-haired man with leathery wings sat on the sofa, and when he saw Ansel, his eyes widened behind his spectacles.

The senator sighed.

“I need to speak with you,” Ansel said. “It’s urgent.”

Senator Grey’s uncanny eyes took Ansel in. After a long pause, he said, “Mr. Gillick, would you please excuse us? My undomesticated associate has urgent business.”

The winged man collected his papers and scurried from the office. Ansel approached the desk.

“What is it, Mr. Wallenfang?”

“I’m terminating our agreement. I’ll return the money that hasn’t been spent and sign over my assets. But as of today, we are no longer affiliated.”

The senator folded his wooden hands on the desk. “May I ask why?”

“No.”

The senator’s back/face creaked as he leaned forward. “Do you believe it’s as simple as tearing up a contract?”

“You’re going to create a new one. Everything I already put in Gretta and Seven’s names will remain theirs. Gretta also keeps her position. In exchange, I’ll sign over my stake in the company and all rights to the patent. You’ll come out of this more than ahead.”

“That would be financially irresponsible on your part.”

“If you don’t like it, you’re free to sue me. You’ll win, but I’ll keep you tied up in court for years. I’ll also submit the repellent’s formula to every scientific journal I can think of.”

A clock ticked. Henry coughed on the other side of the door.

“Do we have an agreement?” Ansel asked.

“Sit down.”

“I’d rather stand.”

“Sit.”

Ansel ground his teeth. He lowered to the sofa, perching on the edge.

The senator drummed his fingers in his most obnoxious affect. “Why are you doing this? The patent alone will be worth more than my investment.”

“My reasons don’t matter.”

“Are they personal?”

Ansel clenched and unclenched his hand. If the senator knew this was about Gretta, he’d likely dig his heels in, since the bastard seemed determined to keep them apart. But if she one day put Ansel out of his misery and agreed to a true relationship, there would be no hiding it.

The man had probably deduced it, anyway.

“They’re personal.”

---