Page 112 of Fall for You
No, it was a test.
He was testing him. Which made Eric wonder, yet again, just how much Willow had told Dallas. What Dallas had said to his father.
Oh hell. If this was a test and he got it wrong, all the work he’d done these past two years would be in vain. It’d all be for nothing, and his position here would be gone in a heartbeat.
“I haven’t been keeping secrets. What we found in No Man’s Land could have destroyed our case. I had to be strategic?—”
“What youfound?” His father’s voice cracked like a whip. “Boy, you haven’t forgotten our recent conversation, have you? Throw as many impressive numbers at me as you like, but if I find out you’re sitting on something that could end this land claim for good, and you’re not using it, then you will be out of this office faster than you can saysorry.Because there is no excuse good enough for what you’ve been trying to pull here. Eric, I kid you not, if you don’t make this right in the next twenty-four hours, you are out. I don’t care that you’re my son. I won’t tolerate this kind of betrayal in my company, and most definitely not in my family!”
Eric’s throat went dry, his heart clenching so tight that a pain shot down to his belly. But at the same time, his thoughts sharpened.
He and Willow had never stood a chance. This secret of theirs could only ever end one of two ways.
Either his family claimed the treasure and used it to legitimize their hold on the land—or hers did. And now that she’d told them everything, he was running out of time.
Did she tell them where the treasure was?
Or was she going to get it for them once lunch prep was over?
He checked the clock on his phone.
Crap!
He had to go. Too much was at stake if he hesitated.
This was a battle that had been going on for more than a century. Since before Rose and Charlie were even born.
Had he really thought this could end any other way?
The idea of Willow…of what he knew he had to do…
His insides felt like ash. His chest felt like it’d just taken a blow.
But she was planning the same thing, wasn’t she? Sure, her siblings might be forcing her to do it, but she’d cave, right?
Just like she caved and told them everything.
No, this had to end. Now.
“Dad, I have to go and fix this.”
His father’s glare was cold and unrelenting, filled with mistrust.
With a sharp huff, Eric flicked his hand in the air. “I’m going to get you what you need to finalize this whole land claim. Just give me an hour.”
A muscle ticked in his father’s jaw before he held up his index finger. “One hour. Then you’re going to get back here and tell meeverything. From the beginning.”
Eric’s insides crumpled.
“This is your last chance, son. You understand me? Your last.”
Chapter Fifty-Three
Dallas’s father was no less intimidating via FaceTime.
Or…no.Intimidatingwasn’t the right word for it. But Dallas assumed it was safe to say none of the King kids enjoyed having these sorts of conversations with their dad.
“So, you think Willow’s been lying about her whereabouts?” He looked older than his years as he took that in.
