Page 117 of Crocodile Tears

“You and Mum were so busy with Charles that you wouldn’t have noticed I existed if I hadn’t been expelled.”

“So, this is all about getting my attention?”

“No! This is about me.”

“It’salwaysabout you. You’re a selfish brat who thinks only of himself – you always have been, and you always will be.”

“No! That’s the box you’ve put me in, and I can see now that you’ll never let me out. Even when Mum was alive, you didn’t believe in me.”

“Don’t you dare throw your mother’s name at me when it’s your fault she isn’t here!”

For several long seconds they stood facing each other, in shocked silence. Then Alex felt a wave of icy calm sweep through him. “It’s George Tyler,” he said quietly. “He’s giving me the money to develop my designs.”

“Tyler?” Noah looked stunned. “You’ve got to be kidding me. George Tyler? You went tohim, of all people?” He slammed his untouched glass of whisky onto the bar, causing the contents to spill everywhere.

“He believes in me, which is more than I can say of you.”

“Don’t be so naïve. He doesn’t believe in you – he’s using you.”

“Is it so hard for you to accept that someone believes in me, even if you don’t?”

Noah grabbed him by both arms. “No, listen to me, Alex. Tyler would do anything to get back at me, and he’s using you for that.”

“So, it’s all aboutyounow?” Alex gave a twisted grin.

“You don’t understand. You have no idea what you’re dealing with – Tyler hates me as much as I hate him.”

“Yeah, he told me about how you offered to take him on as an IS after you left university. I’m not surprised he turned that down.”

“Is that what he told you?”

“Is it a lie?”

“No, it’s true.” Noah released his grasp. “I did. I don’t deny I made some mistakes, but that isn’t why he hates me – or, at least, it’s not the only reason. He’s a bitter, envious man.”

“He’s rich, he owns a massive corporation, and he’s far more successful than you – why the hell would he be envious of you?”

“Because of your mother.”

“What?” That brought Alex up short.

Noah rubbed a weary hand over his forehead. “George was in love with her at university, but she chose me. He’s sure she only married me because of my family’s wealth, and he’s furious about that because he thinks my family built our fortune on the back of his father’s talent. He’s still bitter about it, even now.”

Alex stared at him. “I don’t believe you.”

“Well, it’s true. He hated me from afar while your mother was alive, in deference to her, I suppose, but since she died, he’s squeezed us every way he can. That’s partly why Lytton AV is suffering so much right now. He’s got influence, and he’s been using it against us. Yes, he’s a success, but he got there by being a ruthless operator.”

“I like him,” Alex said stubbornly.

“He’s using you to get back at me. First, he targets my company, and now he wants to take away my heir. That’s what this is all about – not your designs. Sorry to disappoint you, son.”

Alex shook his head, vehemently, refusing to believe it. “I’m not giving this up.”

“I’m not surprised.” Noah gave a rueful smile. “For all your faults, nobody could ever accuse you of lacking tenacity. I can only tell you that it’s a mistake.”

“I don’t care,” Alex said defiantly. He wanted this, and he was going to make it work, regardless of Tyler’s motives. “I’m still going ahead. I’ll move out of the flat, of course.”

Noah sighed. “There’s no need for that.”

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