Page 7 of Daddy's Damaged Little Girl

“Well, I…”

“It won’t happen. That girl died. I’m a new person, and I’m working to get stronger every day. So, if you think you’ll be able to take advantage of me in my weakened state, you’re wrong.”

“Your mother would have wanted you to let him help you,” the man said.

The woman snorted. “Hell, no, she wouldn’t. She didn’t trust you at all.”

The older man cleared his throat. “That was for something else.”

“Did you think Mom and I never talked?” She laughed. “I know what a bastard you could be and how you tried several different ways to take control of her money. It didn’t work. Not even after she died. I saw the surprise on your face when the will was read. She gave you one-hundred-thousand dollars and me the rest.”

“She made a huge mistake.”

Sebastian could hear the fury in the man’s tone and was ready to intervene if it got nasty.

“No. You made a mistake thinking I’d hand over anything to you.”

“This isn’t over, you little bitch.”

“Yes, it is, and by the way, I’ve changed my will. So, if I die, everything I have will go to this place.”

Sebastian stepped away from the door as it slammed open. The man was beet red and didn’t look around, just headed down the hallway. Sebastian could hear him grumble but couldn’t understand the words.

Before he moved on, the door to the office closed softly. He heard a broken sob and then nothing. He reached for the door but stopped. He didn’t know who the woman was, and she might be more upset with him listening to their conversation than what happened with her father.

He flattened a hand on the wood of the door before he walked away.

For the rest of the day, Sebastian couldn’t get the conversation he had heard earlier out of his head. He knew the voice had belonged to the woman he’d seen around a few times. Every time he tried to meet her, something or someone had intervened for one reason or another. Now that he knew what she was dealing with concerning her family, he was even more determined to get to know her.

That chance came the next day when he walked into Lacey’s office to see her and the woman sitting on a blanket on the floor having a picnic. Lacey caught sight of him and squealed, making the other woman jump. Lacey hugged him.

“How’s my squirt doing today?” he asked.

Lacey snorted when she stepped back. He looked at the woman who was now standing several feet away from him with wide eyes and a flushed complexion.

“Lacey, do you want to introduce me to your friend,” Sebastian asked.

“Oh, you haven’t met yet?” Lacey said, looking from one to the other.

The woman slowly shook her head.

“No. I’ve seen her around, though, so I’m guessing she works here.”

Lacey walked to her and held the woman’s hand. “Sebastian, I’d like you to meet my friend, Sage.”

“It’s very nice to meet you, Sage.”

He waited for her to speak and had to hold back a grin when she continued to stare at him. Lacey nudged her with her hip.

Sage blinked and turned red. “Oh, um, hi.”

“Hi.” He smiled gently at her. She was a tiny little thing and had the sweetest disposition. She was also very pretty with her long dark hair and green eyes.

Sebastian looked at Lacey and almost laughed at the confusion on her face as she looked back and forth between him and Sage.

He cleared his throat. “It’s very nice to meet you, Sage. I hope we can talk again soon.”

If she turned redder, he was afraid she was going to burst into flames. “I…”

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