Page 60 of Twice as Forbidden

“Jackson, I didn’t know what—”

“Bullshit. I should have known.”

“Known what? I didn’t want to—”

“The second I found you in my room, I should have known you were a conniving little cunt.” His words hit like a slap. I gasp, stunned by his cruelty. “Was this your plan along? Your endgame?”

“Jackson, no. Listen to me. Vince—”

“Fuck Vince. Get out of my office.”

I bite down hard on the inside of my cheek, fighting back tears. “No. I did it to protect you and Noah. I didn’t know what was on the ledger. I didn’t know what to do.”

“You should have come to me!” His tone is cold, lethal.

“I know. I wanted to. I’m sorry. I swear to you, I was putting it back. I couldn’t do that to you. You caught me putting it back.” His chest rises and falls sharply. “Please, I need you to believe me.”

“I don’t have to do shit.”

“Then consider the bigger issue. Vince saw me leaving your room. He knows. Not only was he adamant about getting that ledger, but he made it very clear if I didn’t, he’d tell Noah. If you don’t believe me, check your security cameras. They’ll show Vince attacking me. Twi—”

“You expect me to believe that? Now you just look desperate.”

“You don’t have to believe me. You can hate me, whatever. It doesn’t change the bigger issue.”

He’s silent, his jaw clenched tight. After what feels like forever, he finally speaks. “When does he expect this?”

“Tonight, after work.”

A heavy moment passes between us before he responds. “Go home. I’ll take care of this.”

“What? How?”

He takes a step closer. “I won’t repeat myself. Go home. I’ll handle this.”

“And what about us?”

“There is no us. This”—he gestures between us, his tone final—“is over. I’ll handle Vince. Then I’ll handle my son.”

Tears sting my eyes. “You’re just going to tell him?”

“What I do is none of your concern. But no, I’m not telling him. Going to make sure that bit of information stays far from him.”

“Jackson, don’t do this. I swear—”

“You did this the second you decided to go behind my back and steal from me.”

I open my mouth to say more, but the coldness in his gaze stops me. I nod, defeated. He’s right. I knew the consequences going into this.

“You’re right. I’ll go.” I step around his desk, walking past him, praying he stops me. He doesn’t, and I walk out of his office, leaving Blake Industries most likely for good.

Chapter twenty-three

Jackson

“Fuck!”Ahowleruptsfrom deep inside my chest, my lungs seizing as I take in short breaths. Fury surges through me, and I smash my fists against the desk, hurling everything off it. As the papers and objects scattered across the floor, my gaze falls on the worn ledger, the binding torn and fraying. In an instant, my mind snaps to what truly matters—something far more important, hidden away in the bottom drawer.

I bend down and yank the drawer open, rifling through it until my fingers close around the small box. I let out a breath and pull out the sealed box. Pressing my thumbprint to the lock, it clicks open, revealing the USB drive inside.

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