Page 16 of Deal with Mr. Cruel

Jonas shook his head. He knew his father never took weekends off, let alone time off. He was either in the office or at the ballpark. He had prioritized long work hours, and it had cost him his wife and his family. Yet, he stood here proudly. Smugly.

“No, sir,” Jonas said, shaking his head. Even though he was a grown man, his father still treated him like a child.

“So, what wassoooimportant?”

“I just needed some time away.”

His father let out a laugh. “More like, needed to get laid in Mexico.”

Jonas gulped. Did his father know about Mae?

His father continued. “Whoever you took, I hope she was worth it and that you got it out of your system.”

Jonas breathed a small sigh of relief. He didn’t know it was Mae.

“Yes, sir.”

“Men like us can’t be tied down to anything besides success. Remember that, Jonas.”

Jonas nodded solemnly.

“You can see yourself out,” his father said, getting back to the papers on his desk.

As much as he had hated his father, Jonas was now slowly, but surely, becoming him. He hoped the success was worth it. It had to be.

When he made it back to his office, he gulped a glass of water and slammed it down on his desk. Even though he had walked several blocks, he was still coming down from that explosive encounter with Mae. He didn’t know he was going to run into her at the restaurant and hadn’t had time to completely plan what he was going to say in terms of his proposed arrangement, but he didn’t want to lose this opportunity. Sure, his delivery could have been better, but either way, it was a bomb he had dropped on her.

He had thought if he brought up some better memories of their past it may soften her up a bit, but he had seen the hurt that flashed through her eyes. She wasn’t completely over it. Maybe reminders of what once was were not a wise choice. He had felt that hurt for a brief moment, too, but he tried his best to hide it. Hopefully she didn’t see.

Jonas closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, letting more memories wash over him. What they’d had was good, but he could not be distracted by it. Was she the right choice for this scheme? Was theretoomuch history? He let out a sigh and sat up straight. It had been good, but it was over. He had to leave the past in the past, and see this as strictly business.

He wasn’t an idiot. Yes, this was asking the impossible of her, but Jonas also knew he had the leverage he needed to make it possible. Nico. Was it fair to do that to her? No, but he knew how to get what he wanted—right or wrong.

After his lunch with Nate, he now had leverage there, too. Nate had had a few too many scotch and sodas at their business meeting, which Jonas had purposefully planned at a rooftop bar. He knew liquor would loosen things up a little bit. Little did he know it would loosen Nate’s lips.

After discussing his proposal, it didn’t seem like Nate was completely sold yet. With a frown, he remembered the conversation.

“You know, I had actually wanted to work with your father years ago.”

“Really?” Jonas asked curiously. He had no idea.

“Yeah, but he shut that idea down real quick. He was a piece of work, your dad.”

Jonas sighed. “You have no idea.”

“Family is complicated,” Nate said, taking a long sip of his drink.

Jonas waited for him to continue.

“I have a younger brother, you know? Just found out.”

“Really?” Jonas asked, intrigued.

“Yep. All of Boston knew my father was a cheater. Everyone but my mother at the time.”

Jonas pretended to be surprised, but he knew Nate’s father’s reputation.

“Apparently, he wasn’t careful enough. He planted his seed with some woman on the Back Bay,” Nate said, finishing his drink and signaling the bartender for another.

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