Page 61 of Betrayal

“Ben was doing well.They were doing well.”

“I’m not going to like this, am I?”

“His partner got into financial trouble.Messy divorce, and he ‘borrowed’ money from the company.Ben lost his investment.”

“And Nick engineered that?”she asked.

“Nick outed himself in Ben’s partner’s divorce.Although he dropped the woman as soon as Ben’s partner declared bankruptcy.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry that I grew up with a man like Nick.”He leaned closer to brush a Sancerre-flavoured kiss to her lips.“I love the hope in you.”And then, as if he regretted the use of the word love, he hurried on, “I mean, despite all your experiences you still want to believe people are essentially good.”

Some people are.You are.

* * *

Aweek later, Hunterarrived back at his office to find a limousine in the middle of his drive.The second time in as many weeks, and Nick’s new interest in dropping in unannounced, had the hairs on the back on Hunter’s neck standing at attention.

The flashy chauffeur-driven limousine currently blocking the driveway was an irritation, Donna leaving early today for a parent-teacher chat an unfortunate coincidence.Anna due in the next half hour flashed a code red.

Hunter pushed through his door.The young staff present in the office this afternoon lacked the experience to deny Nick when he was being charming.

“Hunter.”Nick looked up from his position at the architect’s elbow, bent close over the woman’s arm and the drawings.A look seemingly innocent of industrial espionage.“I was waiting for you.”

“Nick.”Hunter headed for the meeting room, leaving Nick no option but to follow.Closing the door, he hit the button to lower the privacy blinds, then faced the man who’d sired him.His father.Even thinking of the relationship flooded his mouth with bile.“Next time, make an appointment.”

Nick made himself comfortable in a chair.“I’m spontaneous.”

You’re unwelcome.“Make an appointment.”

“Talented architect you’ve got there.Nice designs.”Nick made the outline of a female figure with his hands.“Pretty too.Handy having a bed upstairs.”Nick laughed.“You learned that from me.”

“Did you come for a reason?”Disgust and shame roiled in Hunter’s gut.

“I’m giving you a last chance to sign a partnership deal with me.”Nick kept his eyes on the table, his fingernails drumming on the wood, while he made his threat explicit.Trying to bankrupt Raed Hariri had been a preliminary skirmish.Initiated through intermediaries, Nick could claim plausible deniability for any hostile behaviour by overzealous lawyers and accountants.Nick was shifting to open warfare.Fuck him.

“Thanks for the offer.”Hunter bared his teeth.“I don’t want to trade on your name.”

Nick’s gaze lifted, momentarily curious.“You don’t use my name.”

So, that was part of Nick’s grievance.Stupid not to have calculated the payback for erasing his obvious connection to Nick.Although Nick had shown no interest in him until Hunter had started making a name in property development.

“Same reason,” Hunter said neutrally.“Can I see you out?”Staying polite made this his victory.

Hunter accompanied Nick to the door of the top line Merc Nick favoured.Not that Hunter was making sure Nick left the premises, more settling himself before he spoke to his staff.

Standing in the middle of the open space, he didn’t need to lift his voice to be heard.“I know Donna usually handles this stuff, but when she’s out of the office, I rely on the rest of you to show visitors without appointments into a meeting room.”

“Sorry,” the young architect said.

“He was pushy,” Georgie offered from her desk in the corner.“No concept of personal space.”She crossed her arms challengingly.In her shapeless dungarees, Georgie wouldn’t have merited a second look from Nick.

“Sounds like the green meeting room was the right place for him.”

Hunter scanned the young architect’s face to see if he needed to apologize for Nick’s behaviour.

“He said he was your father.”

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