Page 97 of Until You (Forgive Me)

“Let’s see,” she added, unzipping his trousers.

Christian lost all rational thought as Isabella lowered her head.

Chapter Forty-two

Isabella

How Danielle had managed to pull it off, Isabella would never know. Her stepmother had really come through for her. The majority of The King and Lebroc board were set to attend her soiree later that evening. Isabella had spent the past couple of days, along with Toby, Christian, and Sebastian finalising the information they had uncovered and wanted to present to the board. Seeing the evidence together left Isabella cold. She could not believe someone who had proclaimed to love her father as a brother could do such a thing. But then again, money, especially large sums, made people behave out of character.

Isabella turned up at Danielle’s apartment to offer her a helping hand. They’d spent much of Isabella’s teenage years working together in the kitchen, cooking up a storm.

“This takes me back,” Danielle said, smiling over as she passed another vol aux vent case to Isabella for filling.

“It does. We used to have so much fun,” Isabella said. “All those times Dad would try to sneak in and help himself before we were finished.”

“The worst was when I’d make scones. The moment they were out of the oven, he’d be in and lathering them with jam and cream. They’d be so hot, the cream would be melting in a puddle.”

They both sighed at the memory. Although it felt good to be talking about him after all this time, there was something cathartic about speaking to someone who had known her father as well as she had.

Danielle stopped and turned to Isabella.

“What are your plans for this evening? Are you going to be here from the start?”

“I don’t know. I’m at a loss. What if they don’t believe me? What if they want to side with Pierce and Edward? It’s not like I’m asking to take over their position. I’m basically telling them the man at the head of their firm is a thief. For the first time since the inception of the company, it won’t have a King or a Lebroc at the helm.”

Danielle stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Isabella, pulling her in for a hug like she had when she was a little girl.

“You have nothing to lose,” she whispered against her hair. “Your father would be so proud of you, and I think the rest of the board will be too. Remember, they all loved your dad. What is the worst that can happen? They stick with Pierce. If they do that, however, he will have the whole board watching his every movement. He won’t be able to get away with anything ever again.”

“Am I wrong, though? Am I wrong not wanting to step up and take charge?”

“Only you can answer that question,” Danielle said, cupping her cheek, her eyes shining with the kindness Isabella remembered growing up. “You have a new life. If that makes you happy, then that is what your father would want for you. He only ever brought you on board with the company because it was what you wanted at the time. All you spoke about from the time I met you... But Isabella, things change, people change. What was right for you then is not necessarily right for you now. You probably know that better than anyone.”

Isabella squeezed her stepmother’s hand. “Thank you. I think I needed to hear that.” She turned back to the counter and rested her hands on the top, dropping her chin. “Whatever happens tonight, it’s a step forward. I feel like I’m treading water, not sure whether to go forward or back.”

“You have to follow your heart. Your head can offer you a rational solution. As George Michael sang about inKissing a Fool..”

“You did love George Michael,” Isabella chuckled.

Danielle had always had Wham! and George Michael songs blasting out whenever her father was out of the house.

“Almost as much as I loved your father,” she added, grinning. “Now, let’s get this show on the road. I still need to get ready, and they’ll be arriving in two hours.”

∞∞∞

Isabella decided to be there when everyone arrived. The board, most of whom she had known since childhood, were pleased to see her, asking all about her life and what she was doing now. Of course, most of them knew about the scandal that had enveloped her life after her father’s death, but most were either too polite to say anything or mumbled how they were pleased all that rubbish had been sorted out.

Danielle was the perfect host. The alcohol and the food flowed freely, although she was careful that not too much was passed around. It would not do any good if the board members were too drunk to listen to what Isabella had to say.

Danielle clinked her glass, and everyone turned to face her.

“I do love how that works,” she said. “I’d like to welcome you all back to my home and also welcome my beautiful stepdaughter Isabella back.”

Everyone raised a glass to toast Isabella, who was feeling decidedly sick at that point. She wished she’d let Christian come with her. He was waiting in the wings for her call. It had been decided that she would give out the initial information, and then they would come in and back it up with facts and figures if they needed to.

“I have called you here under false pretences,” Danielle said, causing a muttering of voices to echo through the open-plan apartment. “I’ve called you here because Isabella has some information that she wishes to share with you. Please get comfortable, ladies and gentlemen. Isabella, the floor is yours.”

“Thank you, Danielle,” Isabella said before a voice echoed from the back of the room.

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