Page 63 of The Billionaire's Second Chance
“No need,” Sebastian said, holding his hands up, an unnervingly pleasant smile on his face. “I saw enough. And it’s like I said the other day. You have something I want, too.”
Samantha, who had been standing impossibly still beside me, inhaled shortly. I didn’t look at her. I couldn’t. Seb nodded, turning to leave, his hand twisting the doorknob like it was a knife. He was almost out the door when he turned back.
“James is making a toast soon. He’ll be looking for you.”
Sebastian left, and as the door clicked softly shut behind him, it felt as if he’d taken all the oxygen with him. I stared at the door.
“What did he mean?” Sami asked. When I looked over, her gaze was also fixed on the door.
“He’s making an offer–” I said, but she shook her head minutely.
“A little old to be fucking in guest bedrooms,” she corrected, sounding exactly like Sebastian had, the same ironic twist to her words. “He knows?”
“Ididn’ttell him, Sami,” I said. “He–” I pursed my lips. I hadn’t wanted her to know, if she didn’t already. “He always knew. He knew that night. I don’t know how.” I didn’t want to think about it, knowing what I knew now. About him. About Samantha. “He told me then,” I said through gritted teeth, “not to touch you. That I wasn’t good enough. And–”
And I wasn’t.
Because I’d listened to him.
“And that’s why…”
“That’s why you never called.” She wasn’t looking at me. “Because he told you to back off. He was your friend, and I was his sister.”
“I’m sorry. Yes. He told me–” My fists clenched and unclenched by my sides. “I didn’t understand what he meant. I thought he meant because,fuck, I was his friend, and you were his little sister. That no one was good enough for you.”
She shook her head again. “That’s not–”
“I know that now,” I said. It had nothing to do with the protectiveness of an older brother for his little sister. It wasn’t about Samantha at all. It was always about Sebastian Scott’s business empire, of which his sister was a part, a part he would leverage just like the rest of his family connections and business relationships. I had been so stupid. Young, and naive. “I’m sorry I didn’t, then. I understand if you’re upset.”
She nodded, still staring into the corner of the room. “And now you have something he wants.”
I nodded. “Yeah,” I said. “Veritech.”
“You’re selling it to Sebastian?” she asked, looking over at me.
“Nothing is certain. That’s why it’s not public, it’s not a done deal. But I thought…” I said, watching her eyes as they flickered back and forth between mine. They were wide, their dark brown unreadable.
I thought of what he’d said.I have something you want.I hadn’t understood, not really. Not until Samantha explained it to me in the dark, quiet library. She was supposed to marry someone advantageous. Someone who had something her brother wanted.
That person had been James, fifteen years ago, the brother with the debut novel and the keys to Verity Publishing practically in hand, and Samantha had been scared, as she had every right to be. It was just like I said to her in the hotel room, that first morning:I hope your husband fucks his secretary. And he fuckingdid, didn’t he? His junior editor, but close enough. He did, and he fell in love, head over heels, and not for Samantha.
ButJames was never the one she loved.
And now it wasmewith the billion-dollar business,mewho had something to offer,mewho had something Sebastian wanted. He’d told me as much, hadn’t he?
And it wasmewho Samantha had trusted with her soft smiles and her sweetness and her secrets.
I held out my hand to her, palm facing up. She looked at it. Didn’t take it.
“I didn’t understand before the other night.” I huffed out a laugh. “You only ever say half of what you mean, you and your brother both, and I had to put it all together. But this is how we can fix all of this. I sell him the company, and you…” I took a step forward, my heart beating wildly against my ribcage.
She wouldn’t have to worry about her brother’s attempts to turn her into a lifeless housewife anymore. I wouldneverdo that to her, my determined, serious Sami.
“And you… you wouldn’t have to be lonely, and Iknowyou are, Sami,I know you are. It doesn’t have to be now, but–”
“Why are you doing this?” she asked, her voice strained.
“Why do you think I’m doing this? For you, sweetheart, this is all–” I gestured wildly, at what exactly, I wasn’t sure. My company. My money. Everything I’d built in the past fifteen years… “All of it,” I breathed. “It’s all for you. Samantha, I–”
