Page 72 of Until You (Forgive Me)

Before he could think twice, Christian picked up the phone and hit dial.

“Hey,” Isabella’s voice came over the phone. “Is everything all right?”

Christian dropped his chin to his chest. What was he doing?

“Christian?” Isabella asked.

“Yes, sorry. Lucy just popped her head in... I wondered if you fancied going out for dinner tonight?” he asked, thinking on the spot.

When had he needed to hear someone’s voice? Seb had messed with his mind.

“I won’t keep you. Yes, dinner would be lovely. Do you want me to book somewhere?” Isabella asked.

Her voice sounded so light compared to the past couple of weeks. He liked it.

“No, that’s fine. I’ll book it,” he added. “Sorry, I need to go.”

Christian didn’t wait for an answer, putting the phone down before she could say anything else. He spun on his chair and stared out the window at the city below. He’d always loved this office, often visiting with his mother. His father had been a different man then, before he’d dropped the ball. The decisions he’d made had repercussions that had affected everyone around him. The man Christian had once hero worshipped, he could barely bring himself to look at anymore.

“Dad, I’ve met someone,” Christian said, walking into his father’s home office. The engagement ring he’d bought burning a hole in his pocket. He was going to propose that weekend. Whisk Lily away on a romantic getaway. Rome seemed like the ideal place. She loved history. Maybe he could get down on one knee in the Sistine Chapel or while they looked around the Colosseum.

Christian drew up short. His father was sitting behind his desk, his face unshaven, his hair mussed. His clothes looked like he’d slept in them. When he looked up, his eyes were wide, and unfocused, his muscles tight and clenched.

“Dad?” Christian said, entering the room and closing the door.

He knew something was wrong. His father was clearly hiding, plus he always kept business away from his mother. She was a society queen, a lady who did lunch and raised her children. Business was for the men.

He stepped forward. His father’s desk was covered in photographs. Photographs of his mother and sister. There were even photos of himself and Lily. Well, it was clear his father was already aware of the love of his life. That should make this conversation easier.

His father dropped his head onto the desk, shuddering sobs wracking his body.

“I’ve ruined everything,” he said.

The anguish in his voice tore at Christian’s chest.

He approached, lowering himself into the chair opposite.

“What’s going on?”

It had been then, Christian had seen. These were not ordinary photos. They had been doctored, drawn on. He leant forward and picked up a letter crumpled to the side.

The note was brief, but the threat was clear.

“What have you done, Dad?” Christian asked.

He worked at the company. Was working his way through the various departments, had been since leaving university. His father had always said the best way to manage was to know the business from the ground up. So that’s what he’d done.

His father sat back, his eyes bloodshot. Christian noticed the brandy glass next to him.

“I’ve made some terrible decisions. We’re going to lose it all.”

“What do you mean?” Christian asked, his stomach roiling as a sour taste filled his mouth.

“I owe too much money.” He shook his head frantically, his eyes still wide and manic. “The Dellaway deal was a sure thing... there should have been no issues. I borrowed in good faith.”

The Dellaway deal had been a new shopping complex. It was going to be the first of its kind, bringing jobs to a deprived area. But it had been blocked. They’d found the land they’d purchased was polluted and the cost to clean up too much. Christian had thought the bank had loaned the money.

“They want their money back. If I don’t pay it... they’re threatening to hurt Scarlett or your mother,” his father said, running his hands down his trousers over and over, his complexion more sickly than it had been when he’d first walked in. “The business, it will be gone. We’re on the verge of bankruptcy. That’s why I borrowed the money. The bank refused to loan us anymore.”

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