Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Collin had perused the candid snaps, briefly setting aside the tense, challenging meeting to show me his two beautiful children. They were toddler boys. Twins, who looked very much like Fisher.
I drummed my fingers against the armrest.
Maybe tonight represented the moment my mind had finally allowed its last thought to penetrate. The constantly pistoning cylinders had locked in place.
Through it all, this had been the most challenging time of my life.
“Carter’s on his way here. I told him that you weren’t available to talk until we finished, but he follows his own rules,” Stone said from the other side of my desk. “On his way means flying home from Canada.” A big toothy grin broke through the tension-filled wait. “Lon agrees with the terms. Teresa sent her approval to Brianne. We’ve reached an agreement.”
Stone turned the screen of his laptop toward me. Lon’s image showed him jumping up, driving his fist forward. Every ounce of fatigue Stone wore on his otherwise worry-free expression lifted. The tortuous journey had come to an end with swift, surprising finality.
Overwhelming sentiment assailed me. The fight and overload of emotional baggage was over. A tear built enough steam to trickle down my cheek. I was fucking crying when I should have been preening throughout the room. A cock of the walk. Instead, all I wanted was to fill my guy in and thank Stone. There was probably going to be a hearty hug between the two of us before this night ended.
“Let’s get some signatures, then we’ll have a proper celebration. I need to talk to Beau.”
“Sure thing, buddy.” Lon pointed his finger at me, the screen split into three with Penny, Brianne, and Lon. “Richmond-Brooks, I knew you were worth the effort. Excellent job. The student has officially outpaced the instructor.”
“Oh, Lord,” I chuckled. “Finish this up before you’ve realized what you said and take it all back.”
“Beau,” Stone called from the doorway to my office, laptop in hand, motioning Beau inside.
He went from appearing ass-kicking to drained in seconds when he caught sight of my tears. I wiped them away and came around my desk. “We’re very close to done. We’ve accepted their settlement.”
“Why’re you cryin’?” Beau asked, unsure how to proceed. I had to reach for a tissue as I went for him. He stayed rooted just a foot inside my office. “I feel like I have to prove the kids right and go kick your brother’s ass. Are those bodyguards flankin’ his sides? He probably heard about my reputation and got scared.”
“Oh yeah, I’m sure,” I said, appreciative for the teasing words. I leaned my ass against the edge of the reception desk. “The text messages we found gave Collin what he needed to back up the Stuart Intelligence internal investigation. Richmond Holdings hasn’t been a unified company for many years. The board has officially voted my father and his allies out of the company. That means the entire senior executive team. As of a few hours ago, they’ve all been removed. Collin’s in a temporary CEO position. It’s chaos over there.”
I drew Beau between my parted thighs, giving Stone enough room to close the door behind him. “Did you get the settlement you wanted?” Beau asked.
“We did. Quite a bit more.” As much as I wanted to say the amount, jump into his arms and celebrate our victory, I stayed in this weird, otherworldly place. I reached behind me for the printed settlement.
Beau glanced at the page, then up again, confused. “It’s less than.”
“Look closer.”
His eyes dropped. Confusion turned into bug-eyed wonder. I almost laughed because it was probably my exact expression when I saw the total.
“Dash, is it billions?”
I nodded. With my share of this settlement, for all the work and pain that had gone into achieving this result, I no longer had to file bankruptcy. My children were going to be able to continue at their private school. Beau no longer had to work so damned hard to cover my slack. I could take care of my husband like I had always wanted to do.
The women hurt and abused by my family would have their day, and a public apology.
Their lives, which had been so negatively impacted by those heinous crimes, had now been changed forever as a direct result of their strength and conviction.
Beau tossed the paper on the desk and grabbed me into his arms. The tight embrace radiated relief, devotion, and something more. My love believed in me. My arms circled him, clinging to my life’s preserver. We’d weathered the storm together.
“We’re takin’ time off,” I said against his ear, but I didn’t want to leave home. I needed to be put back into the day to day of my life. Make sure Beau and I were settling in for the long haul of peace and tranquility.