Page 52 of The Enemy's Daughter

“I know, and I regret that. Really I do. I’m so fucking angry at myself for what I did. If I could take it back, I would.”

“Were you ever going to tell me?”

“Yes, I was. You can ask Rex, my friend. He told me I’d regret this, and he’s damn right.” He stepped closer to her, and she tensed up. Alaric didn’t take another step. “I’ll never hurt you.”

“I just want to go to work.”

“We need to talk,” he said.

“Not yet. I’m not ready.”

****

Alaric watched as Bella walked into work, and he didn’t know what the fuck to do. Everything he tried was either returned to him, or it was a waste of time. She wasn’t like any other woman in his life.

All he had to do was flash them some jewelry, and they fell into his bed without much of a challenge. Not only did he want Bella to fall back into his bed. He wanted her back in his life.

Climbing into his car, he didn’t drive to his own office, but to Jackson Reed’s office. There was only one person who could help him, even though Alaric would probably end up dead for asking for help.

Parking outside of the building, he walked right inside, not caring that people pointed and stared. He had to get to Reed now. He was the only one who could help him win Bella back.

Taking the elevator, he ignored the shouts, and the women asking him what he was doing there. Going to the top floor, he stepped off the elevator, and went straight toward Reed’s office. It was weird of him to think of Reed as Jackson.

“Sir, you need to have an appointment,” a woman said.

Ignoring her, he walked right toward the door, and entered without even knocking. Reed was on the phone, and the moment he saw him, he hung up.

“What are you doing here? It isn’t enough that you go after my daughter? Why didn’t you come to me?”

“I thought you were as cold and as callous as they come. Guess what? I was wrong. I want your help with Bella.”

“It’s not going to happen. I’m not helping you hurt my little girl any more than you already have.”

“I love her, Reed. I love her more than anything else in the world.”

“Oh really, and you think telling me that is going to help you?”

“There is no one else who is going to love her like I do. I will do anything for her. Yes, I fucked up. I know that, but I can’t live without her. I refuse to.”

Reed stared at him, and Alaric let him see all the pain that he was feeling. He didn’t hold anything back, allowing him to see the truth.

“I can see that you love her.”

“I do.” He didn’t know how many more times he could tell Reed how much he loved Bella. There was a constant ache inside him, hoping, praying that he could finally win her back. Being without her wasn’t an option to him.

“Bella, she has never been the one to want flashy gifts, or expensive stuff. You’ve got to give her time, Alaric.”

“I can’t live without her. I won’t. I love her.” Alaric ran a hand through his hair, and groaned. “I’m so fucking stupid.”

“We learn from our mistakes. I don’t like that she’s fallen for a guy your age. I know you’re only a few years younger than me, but I also know that when love hits, there is no control on how we feel.”

“I’d do anything for her, Reed. Anything. I will love her for the rest of our life together, and she will never want for anything. I can promise you that.”

Jackson Reed stared at him for the longest time. “I won’t come between you and my daughter, but don’t think I won’t hurt you if you hurt her. I’ve never gone after your company, Alaric. Believe me when I say, hurt my daughter, and I will run your company into the ground.”

“You won’t have to because I’m not going to hurt her.”

****

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