Page 2 of Coldhearted King

Shock courses through me. “What the hell?” Dad has always been a risk taker, in business and in his personal life; I know that all too well. Insider trading, though? That’s a whole new level of illegal.

“I’ve spoken to the lawyers. Allegedly, he’s been using information from one of his government contacts to buy and sell stocks and putting the profits into a bank in the Caymans. He’s been taken into custody and is being held until his bail hearing tomorrow. But the lawyers say it’ll most likely be denied, since they’ll consider him a flight risk.”

Not surprising, considering he owns a fleet of private jets. “Did he do it?”

“He’s pleading innocent. But if you’re asking my opinion, let’s just say I wouldn’t put it past him.”

“Fuck.” I throw the towel into the hamper. “We need to manage the situation before it goes public.”

“Exactly.” Roman lets out a harsh breath. “The SEC will be investigating, and the King Group is going to be under a microscope until they can determine if Dad used company funds and if anyone else was involved. I’ll get in touch with Tate after this, and I want you both to come to the office straight away. We need to call an emergency board meeting. The three of us have majority shares, so we can take control and limit the damage...but we have to act now.”

I make my way out of the bathroom and locate my clothes, putting the phone on speaker as I dress. My mind works over the implications. The King Group will be under fire, and the press will be all over us. Our reputation will take a serious hit, and our share value could plummet unless we get ahead of this.

“We’ll get the lawyers to file the paperwork to make a change of leadership official,” Roman continues. “I’ll take over as CEO, and I need you to step into my position as COO. I plan to remove Peters and put Tate in his place as chief marketing officer so we can manage the narrative going forward.”

“Makes sense,” I say as I button my shirt. The next few weeks will be critical in ensuring the stability of the company and maintaining investor confidence once news of Dad’s arrest becomes public.

“The lawyers are already on their way, so get your ass over here ASAP and be prepared for a long night. We need to make sure everything is in place by tomorrow morning.” He hangs up without another word.

I stare at myself in the mirror as I shrug on the suit jacket I’d stripped off and thrown over the back of a chair only a few hours ago. Getting the company past this unscathed will require me and my brothers to work together more closely than we have in a long time. Considering how strained the relationship between the three of us has become over the years, I only hope we can manage it.

I grab my phone and head toward the door. It’s time to put our differences aside and focus on protecting the company, whatever the cost. The King Group is the only thing that matters. And at this stage, our shared dedication to it is all that’s holding this family together.

CHAPTERTWO

DELILAH

My fork clatters onto my plate. “What are you saying?”

Paul winces, his dark eyes darting around the intimate restaurant to make sure I haven’t drawn anyone’s attention. When he realizes no one is looking, he reaches across the table and clasps my hand. “I like you, Delilah. A lot. But things have changed, and I just don’t feel as if we’re in a position to progress our relationship.”

“By things have changed, do you mean because I’m on your team now? Because you told me nothing would change when you took over as project manager.”

He sits back in his chair. “And I didn’t think it would. In fact, I thought it would be a good thing because we could spend more time together. It hasn’t turned out that way, though. I see how hard you work, Delilah, and I know how driven you are. But even though we’re working side by side every day, our relationship hasn’t moved forward the way I wanted it to.”

“Is it because we haven’t had sex yet?” I say in a low voice that wobbles only a little. “Because when I told you I wanted to wait, you said you were okay with that.”

Frustration flashes across Paul’s face, but he smooths it away. “And Iwasokay with it. I understand what happened to your mother, but it’s been three months and I don’t get what more you want from me before we take that step. You’re twenty-four. You’re not a teenager like she was, for god’s sake.” His voice has been gradually rising, and people’s heads are turning. He lets out a slow breath before continuing. “If you were committed to this relationship, we would already be sharing that kind of intimacy. As it is, sometimes I think you’re more passionate about your career than you are about me.”

“That’s not...” I shake my head, guilt tugging at my chest because I can’t deny what he’s suggesting. Mom conceived me when she was eighteen, and it’s made me cautious. It’s his other comment I choose to address, though. “Ihaveto work hard, Paul. There are a lot of eyes on me in the office. I need to put in twice as much effort as everyone else because no one is sure they can trust me to do the job when I got my license at such a young age.”

“I understand that.” His voice is sharper now. “And I admire your dedication to architecture, I do. I want more, though. At this stage in a relationship, Ineedmore. And I’m not sure you can give it to me. As much as I like you, I think it’s better if we end things now when we’re not so emotionally involved that we can’t maintain an amicable working relationship. Particularly given my new position and how important the current project is.”

Tears sting the backs of my eyes. “It’s nice to know you’re not emotionally invested enough to be bothered about our breakup.”

Paul reaches forward to take my hand. “That’s not what I meant. Look, I really wanted this relationship to work. You know that. I even waited until you received your licensure before asking you out because I knew how focused you were.” He squeezes my fingers. “I’m just as disappointed as you that things haven’t worked out.”

Part of me doubts that. Paul is—was, now, I guess—my first actual relationship. Which sounds crazy, considering my age. But becoming a licensed architect at twenty-four didn’t come easy. I spent so many years focusing on my studies, interning every spare moment, then challenging myself to start my licensure exams straight after graduation. I didn’t have time for a boyfriend.

When I received my license only ten months after graduating, I thought I could ease up. I thought I could start to enjoy more of the things other women my age did, like going out, dating, and, yes, finally having sex. But on top of still feeling the need to prove myself to my older, mostly male colleagues on a daily basis, letting go has been harder than I expected. Relaxing enough to step outside the comfort zone I’ve studied myself into and sleep with Paul has been...difficult.

The newly purchased teal lingerie I’m wearing under my best little-black-dress suddenly binds uncomfortably around my meticulously de-fluffed body. Tonight would have been the night I finally stopped overthinking things, but there’s not a chance in the world I’ll admit that to Paul now.

I make eye contact with the woman at the table next to me. She shoots me a sympathetic look, and I avert my eyes. Can everyone in the restaurant tell what’s happening at this little table for two? A combination of hurt and humiliation swirls in my stomach, and I blink back tears as I stare down at my half-eaten pasta. “I can’t believe you decided to break it off with me while we’re out to dinner. Did you think I would make a scene? Was this your way of making sure I didn’t?”

Paul’s gaze darts around the room before reluctantly meeting mine again. “No, that’s not why. I didn’t plan this. But you were talking about your concepts for the project, and you looked so damn passionate that I realized I’m not okay with waiting for you to share some of that passion with me.”

I swallow past the hard lump in my throat. “Right,” I whisper.

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