Page 71 of Unmasking You

The first thing I notice is Shane. He’s wild, something I’ve never seen before. He’s usually so controlled and calm, but now it seems as if he can’t contain the rage he has inside.

“How could you?” he shouts.

I hate when his father looks at him as if he’s a fly bothering him.

“It’s my company, and I can do what I want with it.”

“You promised. I did everything you asked of me.”

“I told you to stop wasting time with it.”

Shane goes to talk, but his father raises a hand, shutting him down.

“You always do what you want and then cry when things don’t go your way.”

“In my life I’ve only asked you for one thing, and that was to keep the foundation.”

“I did, while it was useful for me. Now it’s not.”

“You did it to punish me, didn’t you? Because I didn’t come back when you asked me to. I was injured, and you never even asked me how I was. What the fuck am I to you?”

“I do not tolerate this language. If you have to resort to this, leave my office.”

That’s enough for me. I won’t allow anyone to treat Shane this way. This fucktard doesn’t deserve him.

I clear my throat, and two surprised faces turn towards me.

I love how Shane’s features go from angry and upset to sparkling with the love he has for me.

“Jamie? What are you doing here?”

“Shane,” I say to him, my voice going all soft and soaked with longing. I’ve missed him so damn much.

“Who are you?” His father has the same voice I remember from the past, but right now it’s missing its usual charisma. He’s aged, and not in a gracious way. Now more than ever, the dark heart he has shows on his ugly face, transforming the once likable man into a mean one.

At the same time Shane asks, “What are you doing here?”

I reply to the old man. “Jamie Wilson. Your appointment.”

“Hi Shane.” I smile at him, trying to convey that everything’s fine, that he no longer has to worry about his father.

“Hi,” he says with confusion showing in his tone and on his face. “What—“ Shane never gets to finish because his dad jumps in.

“Do you know him?” he asks Shane, and then he turns towards me and with manners as fake as a one-pound bill says, “I’m sorry about my secretary. She should have waited to let you in until I was done with this meeting with my employee.”

“You mean Shane, your son, right?” I can’t stand this man and I’ve been here less than a minute.

“Who are you, again?” I love how suspicious he’s become, only because I mentioned Shane and son in the same sentence.

“Someone who can buy your company and everything inside it.”

“My company is not for sale.”

“Only because Shane doesn’t want it.” I wink at Shane and then return my attention to his father. I love to see the anger in his eyes.

“Then why are you here?” he bites back, but I had worse bullies than him growing up.

“I’m here to thank you.”