Page 44 of Worth the Risk

Sure, it had potential emotional landmine—the kind I avoided like the bloody plague—written all over it. But had I really left the landmine behind after Damian’s betrayal or had I simply been too numb to feel the detonations? I rose, prowled to the window and stared unseeing outside the porthole.

What the hell was she doing to me?

I should be concentrating on finding a way for Vadim to fall in line. Instead I returned to my desk, pulled up the programme that listed all The Mortimer Group’s work in progress around the world, specifically the Far East file.

After a quick perusal, I fired off a text.

I received a response within minutes.

WTF? I don’t hear from you in over a year and you get in touch to criticise my work?

I grinned at Bryce’s belligerent tone.

The Diamond Bay’s rooftop pool should’ve been twenty metres longer. At least.

It still won the award for the largest suspended pool in the world. And shouldn’t you be concentrating on a certain Russian who I hear is drinking our coffers dry?

I wasn’t surprised Bryce was up to date with my stalled deal.

It’ll be in the bag before the week’s out.

Big talk. Want to back it up with a bet?

A case of Macallan 1926 when I bag the deal?

Make it more interesting. A bottle of Macallan M hand delivered by the loser.

My fingers paused above the keyboard, a curious sensation I recognised as elation expanding in my chest. I placed the blame squarely at Leonora’s feet.

You’re on.

I look forward to enjoying it with the view from my rooftop pool.

I was chuckling when the next message arrived.

It’s good to hear from you, Gideon.

Part of me wanted to stay pissed that Bryce had consulted with Damian on a few projects against my express wishes after Damian had relocated to New York. But then I’d never told him why I suddenly detested Damian. Bryce hadn’t taken that well.

I sighed and typed. It’s good to be heard.

I sat back in my chair, feeling lighter than I’d felt in a very long time.

And when the urge struck me to find Leonora and tell her about my exchange with Bryce, I killed it dead.

I couldn’t deny that whatever it was that pulled me towards Leonora, she had me hooked. Nor could I deny that I was looking forward to riding the storm. But that was all.

And right now, I had a bet to win.

I tackled my paperwork for the next two hours, then fired up my laptop. My assistant had done a good job of streamlining my inbox, which meant that email was at the top of the queue, highlighted and screaming for attention.

The lightness faded. Everything blurred away until only a single image remained, one I’d been trying to forget for the better part of three years.

Damian and Penny.

Their double betrayal had derailed me for a long time. Enough for me to keep tabs on Damian for almost a year, the need for vengeance burning harsh and bright.

He’d more than succeeded with his business ventures in the States. Hell, he’d thrived, the addition of his name to a popular venture capitalist TV show elevating not just him, but The Mortimer Group by association.

---