Page 75 of His Little Secret in Discretion
I leaned back, stretching out like this was just another Tuesday. “Drummond is running half a dozen shell corporations, bleeding money through loan sharking and side hustles. Calvin fronts the cash, hides the proceeds of it.”
Killian leaned back slowly, studying me. Then he gave a low laugh without humor.
“And you thoughtnowwas the most convenient time to mention this?”
I shrugged. “Timing’s everything.”
His gaze sharpened, like he was weighing whether to strangle me or hear me out. His pen tapped once against the desk, the gears in his mind turning like the well-oiled machine he was.
“The second one of those shells folds, Calvin’s gone,” he murmured in thought. “He’ll pull his money, clear his name, let Drummond sink alone.”
I gave a low hum. “He’ll eat a few million doing it.”
“Was planning he’d eat a bit more than a few.”
Crossing my arms, I scoffed. Calvin always knew how to get under Killian’s skin. The bastard lived for it. And Killian? He always took the bait. Every. Damn. Time. So to hear he actually wanted to stick it to the man, just this once? That was a first.
“The great Killian, plotting revenge instead of taking the high road? I thought I’d never see the day…”
“Well, after the incident in London, then in my office, then in Japan, then with Brielle’s sister—”
“I’m sure we get the point.”
“It’s warranted.” His tone sharpened, all humor gone. “Calvin’s going to run. He always does. But this time, you don’t let him. You buy Drummond out before the collapse. Every loan, every fake asset, every desperate hand he owes. Put it all in your pocket.”
I arched a brow.Looks like someone’s tapping into their capitalist billionaire persona.“And when Calvin pulls his money?”
Killian’s eyes glinted. “He takes the loss. You take the leash.Drummond belongs to you.”
A slow grin tugged at my mouth. Truly poetic justice. He once thought Maia was his to ruin, his to bleed dry. His to own, treated her like debt to collect, made her feel small, stripped her of her worth… This was fitting, really.
He’d be the one crawling now. Begging me to keep him afloat. And I’d own him. Every asset, every loan, every desperate fucking breath… mine.Balance restored. Sunshine safe.And me? I’d enjoy every second of watching him choke on the irony of it all.
“Now that, Kiki, I can work with.”
Practice was letting out just as the sun dipped low, the lot buzzing with kids running wild. I leaned against the hood of my car, checking my watch for the hundredth time. Patience was never one of my virtues…
And then she walked out. My Sunshine. Hair tied back, cheeks flushed pink from sweat, still managing to look like a goddamn dream. She laughed at something one of the kids said, waved goodbye, and for a second, I hated the fact that anyone else got to see her like this.
Her eyes caught mine instantly. She froze, lips twitching like she wasn’t sure if she wanted to smile or curse me. Then she bit her lip.
“Mr. Porter…” she said carefully, her voice soft but teasing. “What are you doing here?”
I let my smirk curl, slow. “Picking you up from practice. Thought we re-established that part of our relationship…”
She rolled her eyes, though the red tint on her cheeks deepened. “You know you shouldn’t be here. The other parents—”
“What about them?” I cut in, pushing off the hood.
She gave me a deadpan stare. “They’ll talk. Dance moms live for gossip, and it's a little obvious, you know… me coming out dressed like this and you pulling up in a suit and car like you own the place. Who knows what they’re conjuring up in their heads?” she murmured, looking around as if the women nearby were actually focusing on us.
“Obvious?” I repeated, enjoying the way she shifted when I got close. “Sunshine, I fund half this town’s hobbies. I’m allowed to step anywhere I very much please.”
“Didn’t know you were so charitable, Mr. Porter.”
“Eh, a tax write-off is a tax write-off.” I shrugged before I slipped a hand around her waist, tugging her flush against me until her breath caught. My mouth brushed her ear as I murmured, “Let them see. What if Iwantthem to know I’m picking up my girl?”
“Then I won’t be your little secret anymore…” She hesitated slightly, and I pulled away, gazing down at her. “Are you okay with that?” she asked, her tone seeming like she was more than okay with that but still wary of my commitment to her.
