Page 134 of See You Maybe

Olivia reached up to grasp his wrist. “I’m not. I don’t love the idea of needing someone outside, but that’s not your fault. It’s Kyle’s.” Her voice was firm. “I love you, Declan Bloom. And while you can be autocratic and overbearing sometimes…” Her lips twitched. “Maybe more than ‘sometimes’… Thank you for taking care of me,” Olivia finished quietly.

“I will always keep you safe.”

But even with Declan’s assurances in her ear, when Olivia heard the beeping, that signaled him resetting the house alarm, and the front door closing, she couldn’t deny the boulder in her stomach was still there.

CHAPTER FORTY

New York—Present Day

Declan tapped his pen impatiently as he listened to other members of Bloom Capital present what they thought should be the next target for acquisition. There was no reason he needed to be here in person, he realized, and mentally made a note to tell Todd to schedule these meetings virtually in the future. The trip to New York wouldn’t be a complete waste, however. Declan planned on collecting more of his belongings from his apartment in the city to take back with him to Atlanta.

His family might think he was stubborn, but once he made a decision, he rarely veered from it. Declan had made the most important one of his life—Olivia was his future.

Declan glanced at his watch. It was almost time for lunch. He’d bet his fortune Stuart was angling to get Olivia to go to lunch with him. A smile toyed around his lips. He would prefer her to tell the man to get lost, but Olivia was too nice. Too afraid of hurting his feelings.

Declan looked forward to the day he could claim her publicly. The day he could finally let the world know Olivia was his. His attention strayed to Alan Carrol seated at the table. He knew the man couldn’t be happy about his change of plans. Alan had been eager for the connection to the Bloom family.

What was Carrol even doing at this meeting? He wasn’t involved in these types of decisions. Surely, Alan wasn’t so stupid as to think he could change Declan’s mind.

After Olivia’s attack, Brady confirmed Declan’s suspicions. Before going to Olivia’s house, Kyle had been drinking at the Magnolia Country Club with a large group of people, Fiona included. There had been a scene when management informed Kyle that he was no longer welcome on the property. Declan had no doubt who filled Kyle’s head full of poison about Olivia that night.

Following a very tense phone conversation, where Declan outlined exactly what would happen if Fiona came anywhere near Olivia, Fiona had wisely kept her distance from him. He couldn’t prove she pointed Kyle in Olivia’s direction, but she wouldn’t get a second chance from him.

Alan lingered as everyone filed out of the Manhattan board room. “It’s been a while since you’ve graced New York with your presence.”

“I didn’t know you missed me,” Declan drawled.

The man pursed his lips, craggy eyebrows dropping over eyes glinting with anger. “I don’t give a shit where you’ve been. I am, however, concerned about the unhappy calls I’ve received from my daughter.”

Declan felt his hackles rise. Fiona was unhappy? She’d wound up a psycho and set him loose on Olivia.

"Oh?"

The man glowered at him. “Yes, oh. She told me you’ve been embarrassing her.”

Declan struggled to hold on to his temper as his anger built. “Did she?”

“Yes, you cold bastard. I never expected that you were going to be some sort of Romeo for her. This is a business agreement, but I’ll be damned if you are going to make a fool of my daughter because you can’t be discreet.”

Declan set the pen he twirled in his fingers down and rose to his feet with a smile. The older man scowled as Declan took a few steps closer.

“My daughter is a woman of the world. She knows what to expect. But I’ve made inquiries. You are openly living with this woman.”

“I’d be careful with the next words you choose, Alan.”

“Fiona deserves more than you parading some sl?—”

Declan pinned Alan against the wall, his forearm pressing hard against Alan's throat. The gurgle Alan emitted wasn’t enough to satisfy him. He was vaguely aware of the wide-eyed onlookers on the other side of the glass wall, but he didn't care. Declan pressed harder, watching as Alan spluttered and his face turned purple.

“That woman,” Declan said, his voice silky soft, “will be my wife. And unless you want me to cut your tongue out of your mouth, I would suggest you never mention her again.”

Declan released him, and Alan clutched his throat, glaring furiously. “Your wife? What about Fiona? You promised.”

“I promised nothing. We discussed it as a possibility,” Declan said, straightening the cuffs of his jacket. “Apparently, during all your phone calls with your daughter, she failed to mention that I made my feelings about her, and our lack of a future, crystal clear weeks ago.”

Alan’s chest heaved. “You can’t do that. You need me. I won’t stand for?—”

Declan took a step forward, closing the distance between them. “You won’t stand for what? I don’t need you to regain what is rightfully mine.”

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