Page 61 of The CEO's Revenge

“What is it?” she asked.

I looked at her. “What is what?”

“You’ve got something on your mind. Talk.”

I flopped back against the sofa. To be honest I was dying to talk to her about Max and Robert. I started from the beginning, ensuring that I left nothing out.

“… and they both said Robert put them up to it. So, all along, Robert has been playing me for a fool. Max was innocent all along.”

“I could have told you that from the beginning. Max is a good guy and a hard worker. I mean, look at him now. How many people do you know who would start a successful business while in prison? Ill-gotten gains are not his thing. For what it’s worth, I am glad that you’ve finally realized what I have been saying all this time.”

“What bothers me, though, is how quickly I believed him to be a liar, cheat, and thief. If I loved him so much, how could I have believed the worst of him like that?”

“You were young, pregnant, emotional and probably hormonal. It happens to the best of us. But more importantly, you’ve come out on the other side stronger.”

“I think I owe Max a huge apology. Mom, I have been so nasty to him. I actually took the side of Robert against Max.”

She looked at me kindly. “That’s life. You did what you thought was right.”

“Mom, I fell for one of Robert’s schemes.”

“Savannah!”

I covered my face with my hands. “I know! I know! I’m so ashamed of myself. All this time I thought Max had betrayed me, turns out I’m the one who has betrayed him. I am surprised he doesn’t hate me.”

Mom smiled tenderly. “Max could never hate you, Savannah. He loves you too much. Go to him. Sort things out. I want that boy as my son-in-law. Get him back before some other smart woman decides to snag him for herself.”

I gave a weak laugh.

“Off you go,” she urged.

I gathered my things and leaned across to kiss her cheek.

“I’ll do my best to snag him. I promise.”

As I sped through the streets, I tried not to think. If I allowed rational thought to intrude, I might abort my mission, I was so nervous. He must still want me. If not why go to all the trouble of getting Lillian and Rachel to come to my apartment… and that kiss on my forehead. It was tender. Maybe there were still some feelings there for me.

It was not until I was in front of his door that it occurred to me I should have called first to check if he was at home.

I rung the bell a second time and was about to turn away when I heard a sound behind the door. Instantly, the blood rushed to my head. He was home. Then the door opened.

24

MAX

She looked as though she had been about to leave. She looked up at me, her beautiful eyes huge and swimming with some deep emotion. “Ummm. Hi. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

“I was working,” I said softly. She was a sight for sore eyes.

“Oh. Okay. I’ll come back another time then,” she replied quickly, taking a step backwards.

I reached out, grabbed her arm and pulled her inside.

“No, you won’t. I need a break,” I murmured as I kicked the door shut behind us.

I took her bag from her arm and slung it on the hook by the door and guided her through the open plan space towards the large couch. She perched on one end of it.

“Would you like something to eat? Drink?”

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