Page 8 of Shared By 3

“Chase, dear,” Valerie says, turning to me and rubbing my hand. “Considering he has the invitation that got him in ...”

“Take it, Lief,” I order.

“Wait, I-” Andre says.

Lief looks it over and shrugs, but then looks closer. “The date’s been corrected.”

“Well I,” Andre clears his throat. “I needed to be here. I deserve to be here! Just because I pointed out the obvious doesn’t mean-”

“You’re evasive, didn’t answer a single question, and I have reservations about your ability to stay silent,” I hiss. “Valerie, your professional opinion?”

She gives me a warm smile. “Of course, sir. Based on his lack of detailed answers and his hesitance to be honest, alongside his willingness to goad you and disrespect you and this business, I noticed a few things.”

“Go ahead,” I encourage her.

“Andre looks down when he lies, so he skirts close to the truth–something I’m sure he learned in school. Also, he never answered about a future for the partnership because he doesn’t know what he’d do with it. He only wants to be included. He touched his watch–his father’s watch, I’m sure–when you asked, so I’m inclined to think his father is doing this as a test run rather than just handing over power,” Valerie says.

“Excuse-” Andre starts.

“Interrupting is rude and disrespectful,” Valerie cuts him off. “Also, if he had the ammunition to go to the police and hurt your business, he would have already done so to make a name for himself. If he does ever need us, it will be to clean up a mess or to help hide something unsavory. He’s no threat ... now, but I believe if you were to partner with him, he would be .... He’d sell you out to the highest bidder.”

Andre’s cheeks go red and he stands up. “I won’t have some whore making decisions when this is men’s work.”

“Even now, he doesn’t argue with the suspicions, only with me being a woman,” Valerie says. “My recommendation is to ensure he never has access to the mansion again, but–to be clear–that’s only a recommendation in my short time here.”

“Thank you, Dr.,” Hunter says, watching her with blatant hunger.

“Wonderful, I’ll take my leave,” Valerie says. She pauses as she walks past hunter and runs her left hand over his shoulder, flashing her engagement rings. “I’m always happy to help.”

My father gapes at her hand, but she walks to Lief, whispers something in his ear, and leaves.

I glance at my father. “Would you like to add anything to this decision?”

“His father is a good man. Perhaps we should invite him and tell him of our concerns so he can better wrangle his son,” my father says in Russian.

Hunter nods once. “I’d agree to that, with the signature of an NDA–by his father.”

“Very well,” I decide. “Andre, you are not welcome at our compound or as a partner in this business. From now on, we will contact your father directly and he’s the only one we will conduct business with. We’ll talk again in a year.”

“Or five. You know how busy we are,” Hunter snorts. “Merry Christmas.”

Andre stands and stomps his foot before storming out of the room. My father opens the door and demands Valerie. She comes in, looks around, then sits on my lap. “I’m so proud of you.”

I beam at her. “Thank you for wording things like that.”

“Like what? You asked for a recommendation, that’s what I gave. I’m not going to make demands when this isn’t my business,” she says.

I kiss her, then Hunter drags my chair over. “Share.”

The door shuts with a bang and my father points at us. Lief joins our side and takes Valerie’s hand. It takes our father four attempts to get anything out at all, but then he sputters–in Russian of course, “you’re engaged?”

Valerie lights up, unable to pretend she doesn’t understand. “Da!”

He looks at her with abject horror. “And you ...”

“I proposed, beat them to it,” she giggles. “Not that they weren’t prepared. So sweet waiting until I’ve gotten my doctorate and made a name for myself.”

My father swallows hard. I shrug. “You knew we were going to propose. We talked about it on thanksgiving.”

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