Page 39 of Protégé King

“It’s been ten years.”

“I know. Believe me, I know.”

His jaw sets hard. “Let’s go inside, Alana.”

“I’m not doing that. And why, Damion, can’t you just call your father off? I’ve paid back the entire amount, but now it’s interest and more interest. Why would you blow me off and tell me that’s our problem, not yours?”

He draws in a breath and says, “Let’s go inside, Alana.”

“I’m not doing that.”

“Do you really want to talk about money, gambling, and our fathers in this hallway when the press is all over you? Because one way or the other, we’re going to have this conversation. If I have to sleep at your door, we’re having it.”

He means it. He will stay even if I go inside. He’s that stubborn. “Damn it, Damion.” I rotate and open the door, and he’s right behind me as I enter the apartment.

He shuts the door and locks it. I toss my purse on the couch and whirl around to face him. “Now what?”

Chapter Thirty

Alana

Now what?

In answer to my question, he says, “Now we have a real conversation, Alana. Is this payment plan to my father why you left law school?”

My defenses bristle, as if all my life choices are being thrown in my face. Should I have left law school? Probably not. Did I feel like I had a choice? No. Because bad things happened, and I’m not even going to begin to talk about what those bad things were with Damion.

“I’m not having this conversation with you.” I turn on my heels, fully intending to place the island between him and me, but I never make it.

He catches my arm and turns me to face him. “I am not your enemy. I tried to protect you.”

“I know that. That’s the only reason I considered doing your ‘favor.’ But it’s turned into a nightmare. The more I think about this, the more it bothers me. When I brought this up to you in your office, you made it clear you knew what your father was doing. You told me it was our problem—we were stupid enough to let this happen.” I jerk my arm from his but I don’t back away. I stand my ground, waiting for his answer, wanting it.

“That’s not what I said.”

“Close enough,” I snap back.

“I didn’t know about the loan a month ago. The board gave me access to documents my father had restricted. Blue Real Estate is on the books as a debt owed to the company. You should have called me.”

Now he’s really hit a nerve. “Are you serious? How? I didn’t have your number.”

“Call the office.”

“You think I didn’t try? I called. I left a message. Your father called me back, Damion. I tried to convince myself you weren’t involved. That you didn’t know.”

“I didn’t know, Alana. I told you, you didn’t need to pay me back.”

“And yet, I’m realizing now that when I brought this up to you yesterday, you said it wasn’t your problem we accepted a loan that didn’t exist.”

“It doesn’t exist, Alana. I took the money as a disbursement and paid taxes on it.”

“Then how did your father know?”

“I had someone I thought I could trust pay the bookie. It was a mistake I wouldn’t make today. He’s been dealt with.”

There’s a coldness to him when he says that, that takes me back, a darker side to Damion, I saw hints of that night ten years ago. But it’s more mature now, more a real part of him now. And I’m not sure what to think of it, either. “What does that even mean?”

“Exactly what I said. He’s been dealt with. That’s what I do. I deal with problems. I get rid of them. My father is now one of those problems. I’m dealing with him. I told you that. And as for my attitude about the loan last night, I had to go at this cautiously. I asked for a favor because I need a favor. That meant I needed what my father was doing out of that equation.”

---