Page 54 of Lost Love

I wondered if she felt the hitch in my breath.

She stepped away, creating space between us.

“T-tell me what happened,” she stammered, walking past me through the hallway and to the sofa, sitting in the armchair.Good move.The further we were from each other physically, the less tempted I’d be.

I sat across from her, trying not to stare at her open shirt. “It’s Alfred.”

She rolled her eyes. “Obviously… what happened?”

“The fuckwit appeared in my office as I was leaving today.”

“What was he doing at the Diamond headquarters?”

“He’s retired in name only.”

She leaned in, her brows furrowed with confusion. “What does that mean?”

“It means he, along with his board members, will still breathe down my neck.”

“Doesn’t he want to step away? I thought that was the entire point of retirement.”

“Obviously, not in his case. He doesn’t think I can do the job, so he is going to be the machete in my back, watching my every move, just waiting for me to fuck up.”

“Connor, I’m sorry,” she said, putting her hand out on mine, her touch soothing. I stared down at her hand, at which point she promptly removed it.

“Are you concerned about your abilities to perform the role of CEO at Diamond enterprises?”

My gaze met hers. It was a question I’d often asked myself but hadn’t come up with an answer.

“I doubt myself because he has always corrected everything I’ve done.”

“But hasn’t he done that to make you better?”

“What?” I expelled the air, squeezing my ribs tight.

“Over the years, has he only pulled you up on things that needed improving? Or is he just meddling with you, making you second-guess everything?”

I scanned back to the moments in my life when Alfred had really fucked with me. Both times I had fucked up enormously. The email scandal to the Board of Directors and the bender where I woke up naked on a Manhattan street, embarrassing the Diamond name.

She looked at me, and her face softened. “Have you thought maybe he is doing this to make you the best person you can be?”

“By being a dick?” I took her in. Her eyes widened. “Sorry.” I shook my head.

“All I’m saying is… because of your father’s actions, have you excelled in your position?”

“I am who I am because my father ran me like he was in the military. I get that. I do. But why now? I’m thirty-fucking-one. Leave me the fuck alone and let me run the company.”

She shrugged. “Maybe he has nothing better to do, or maybe he’s so unhappy at home that he can’t be away from work.”

“Well, that part is true,” I admitted. “My parents have never been a good match, but I don’t have to tell you that.”

“They always struck me as an odd couple,” she said.

“That’s because it was all arranged. Two powerful families, the Diamonds and the Carsenas, publishing meets politics. It’s a wet dream.”

“Lourde said nothing growing up.”

“That’s because she likes to believe in fairy tales and happy-ever-afters.”

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