Page 49 of Someone Like You

She stalked off and headed down the hallway. I still wasn’t sure how to convince her that she belonged to me, but I would find a way.

Casimir

“. . . s

igned all the documents, and the acquisition is complete.” I had only heard the tail end of that statement because my mind was a million miles away.

I stared out the expansive glass window over the city, and from my view, I could see The Vista. That was one of the reasons that I decided to purchase a penthouse in the condominium building. Although Jude had shown me all the amenities and his argument had been persuasive, it was simply because I could see that building from most places in Downtown Cherokee Springs.

Although I didn’t plan to be here much longer, it was still nice that I could temporarily see what would become my home.

“Sir, did you hear me?”

“I uh . . . Yes, Monica. I heard you.”

“Would you like me to schedule the meeting so that you all can begin to discuss transition details?”

“If possible, make it next Tuesday.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Have a good day, Monica.”

“You, too, sir.”

“Oh, and Monica?”

“Yes?”

“Please, call me Casimir.”

“Oh . . .” I could tell by the way she responded that she was startled and caught off guard. But if I was going to discard this persona that I’d allowed to be crafted, then I was going all the way. In some ways, I knew that I could never completely get back to my old self. I had seen too much and been through too much ever to be that man again. But I didn’t have to be who they said I was, either.

“Thanks, Monica.”

“You’re welcome . . . Casimir.”

I could even hear the smile in her voice as she spoke my name. I ended the call and sighed. The sun was going down, and the lights were coming on all over the city to signal the day’s end. I wasn’t looking forward to heading home as hundreds of thousands of people around the city were. I had nothing to look forward to. But if I were to head to that building that I could see across the way, I knew that happiness would be waiting for me.

I had just completed the acquisition of The Apex Hotel and pulled it into my portfolio with my travel company, Atlas Dreams, and two other hotels that I owned, The Pinnacle and Edgewater. From the moment that I married into the Huffington-Bradwell family, I had begun to etch out the plan to acquire my dreams. I knew that I didn’t want to be under their thumb for long.

I started the fledgling travel agency a little over four years ago, and I turned it into one of the top travel agencies in the country. But I held it under an umbrella company, C.A.P. Those were my initials, and not a single soul knew that I owned the company or anything under its umbrella. I wanted it to stay that way.

The way that I moved from the moment that I took those vows with Bethany was to secure my future. I didn’t trust herand especially her father and grandfather. If they sunk my battleship, I needed to make sure that I had a lifeboat to save me. Only, that lifeboat had turned from a lifeboat to a cruise ship, and today’s final acquisition secured my position.

I glanced at my watch and realized that it was time to go home whether I wanted to or not. It was time to let Beth know that I was moving out. I planned to announce my resignation from Glenco in a few weeks. That was sure to shake the foundation and make heads roll. I wanted to do it in a way that wouldn’t have a huge impact on their stocks. But if they gave me hell, I would give them terror.

“What do you think you’re doing, Casimir?”

I turned and spotted Beth standing in my doorway.

“What does it look like?”

She scoffed and shook her head. “It’s time for you to stop this foolishness. You’re not going anywhere.”

I sighed and ran my hand over my head. “Did you forget that we’re divorced?”

She shrugged. “So. People do it all the time. But then they remarry, or they remain divorced and just live together. We’re no different than anyone else.”

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