Take Me: Part 3 (Power Play #3) (8 page)
Read Take Me: Part 3 (Power Play #3) Online
Authors: Kelly Harper
“I’m not afraid to give it a shot. It’s just that it isn’t a smart decision.”
“Look, I know I’m not the best person to be taking dating advice from, but I’m going to give it anyways.” She fixes me with a flat look. “Relationships aren’t about making the smart choices. They’re about finding someone that you can be happy with. They’re about finding someone who treats you well and puts a smile on your face. And when you find that person, you hold on to them as desperately as you can. Isaac seems like that kind of guy—the kind that you hold onto, desperately. So… don’t fuck it up.”
I let out a groan, knowing that there’s more than a little truth in what she’s saying.
“I know all of that,” I reason.
“Then what are you scared of?”
“I’m not
scared
.”
She tilts her head, giving me a look.
“Oh, please. You don’t really believe that, do you? You’re terrified.”
“Terrified?” I repeat, incredulous. “That seems a little over the top, doesn’t it.”
She lets out a soft sigh, fixing me with a serious look.
“You hang out with him all the time. And even when you guys aren’t together, you sit around pining for him. It’s kind of pathetic, really.”
“I don’t
pine
for him,” I say, saving what little of my self-respect I have left.
“Anyway… it’s obvious that you like him--that you’re
crazy
about him. So what’s the big deal? What’s stopping you from going away with him for a weekend? It’s not like he’s asking you to spend the rest of your life with him.”
My insides twist even more. I wave a hand, dismissively, trying hard not to think about the
forever
possibility.
“It’s just not a good time right now.”
“It’s never a good time. You just have to figure it out as you go.”
I shake my head.
“But with everything going on at BMG… Declan might need me for something. I can’t just up and take off in the middle of all of this stuff—it’s too important.”
She gives me an
Are You Kidding Me
look.
“I’m sure Declan can handle things if you’re gone for a weekend.”
I give her a flat look.
“Well, I’m not so sure. It’s not really the best time for me to be running off on vacation with some guy.”
“Do you really think Isaac is just
some guy
?”
I let out a frustrated sigh. Why is she pushing me so hard?
“I know that he’s more than that, but that doesn’t change anything. Daddy used to always tell me that you have to make sacrifices to follow your dreams…” I give an uncertain shrug, “…my love life is just one of those sacrifices.”
Tawny lets out a soft breath and makes a motion with her finger, like she’s pointing at something.
“And there it is…” she says.
“There
what
is?”
“The reason you don’t want Isaac to get too close to you.”
“I never said that I don’t want him getting close to me.”
“Oh, please, Hannah. He’s obviously making an effort to take things to whatever the next level is, but you’re so preoccupied with your job that you can’t even see it.”
“Why do you say it like that? Since when was taking your career seriously such a bad thing?”
Tawny shakes her head.
“It’s not a bad thing… if you’re doing it for the right reasons.”
“And you think I’m doing it for the
wrong
reasons?
Someone
has to pay for that expensive apartment we live in.”
Her face hardens as she fixes me with another look.
“You have the money to pay for that apartment, with or without your
career
. You’re not working at BMG because it’s
your
dream—you’re working there because it was your
father’s
dream.” She puts her hand on my shoulder, squeezing it softly. “When are you going to stop living your father’s life and start living your own?”
Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. I stare at her for a long time, completely unsure and unable to make a response.
Is she right? Have I just been chasing my father’s dreams all this time without paying any attention to what I might want? I don’t even have to ask myself the question to know the answer to it:
Of course she’s right.
Tawny gives me a soft look and runs her hand on my shoulder.
“Answer one question for me,” she begins. “Have you ever thought about what you might be doing with your life if your father were still around? Have you ever considered what
he
would have wanted you to do?” The blank stare on my face is more of an answer than she even needs. “See? Maybe you should let yourself give Isaac a chance.”
A tiny groan escapes my lips. I know she’s right. I should call him right that very minute and tell him that I want to run away with him. But it’s not just Isaac that Tawny is right about. She’s also right that I can’t keep trying to be the person I’ve always thought I was supposed to be, instead of the person that I actually am. It’s a hard thought to swallow, but I know it’s probably for the best.
When I am finally able to recompose myself, we go back to doing some shopping and making small talk about what Tawny thinks is going to happen with Calvin. But we aren’t walking for long before something catches my eye. In the center of the Trump Tower shopping plaza is a little restaurant. A tiny, decorative fence separates the tables from the rest of the shopping area, and just on the other side of that divider I notice the familiar form of a man. It’s Declan. He’s sitting across from a lady, but from this distance it’s hard to get a good look at her. Still, there’s something familiar about her, something that immediately nags at me and sets me on edge.
My feet bring me close to them without even realizing what I’m doing. And as I get closer, the familiar form of that lady begins to solidify.
My heart sinks when I realize who it is.
“What the hell?” I say, not realizing I said it out loud until Tawny gives me a surprised look.
“What is it?”
I don’t answer her. Instead, my feet carry me even closer to the two people sitting at the table—Declan, and a woman that I haven’t seen or heard from in years.
My mother.
Why in the world is Declan talking to her? How do they even know each other? Why didn’t Declan tell me that he was going to see my mother?
My heart is pounding in my chest as I sneak up on them, slowly. I’m hoping they don’t notice me approaching, I want to hear what they’ could possibly be talking about without them knowing I’m there. It’s sneaky and deceptive of me, but none of it is making sense. There has to be
some
reason that Declan is talking to her. Groups of people are passing all around me—an endless flow of shoppers separates me from the table they’re sitting at. I think I can get pretty close before they see me. Maybe I’ll find out whatever it is they’re talking about.
“The deal is almost done,” Declan says. “We should be final by the end of next week.”
My mind goes racing. What deal? Is he talking about the European deal? But, more importantly, why is he talking about it with
her
?
“And Hannah still doesn’t know?” she asks.
The sound of my mother’s voice sends shivers running through me. It’s familiar in a distant, haunting way. How long as it been since I’ve spoken with her? How long has it been since my mother has even tried to get in contact with me?
Declan shakes his head.
“She’s too focused on the thought of us going bankrupt to worry about anything else.” A sinister smile spreads across his face. “She fell for it, just like you said she would.”
My mother scoffs.
“She gets that from her father. He was always so gullible.”
The world stills around me. Am I really hearing this? Is this really happening?
I inch a little closer while my mother continues.
“And what about Drake? Is he playing his part?”
Declan nods, an even more satisfied smirk spreading across his face.
“He’s playing his part alright. He’s got her… hook, line, and sinker. The deal will be done before she ever realizes what’s going on…”
Click here to purchase Take Me: Part 4!
Thank You!
Thank you so much for purchasing my book. You have no idea how much it means to me that you would spend your time and money on my books. It truly means the world to me.
If you enjoyed this book, please remember to leave a review on Amazon. These reviews let me know what my readers are looking for so that I’m able to deliver an even better story!
For more information about upcoming releases, stay tuned to my official homepage.
Also, if you’d like to connect with me personally, please LIKE my page on Facebook. Without the support of EACH OF YOU, none of this would be possible.
Thank you, so much!
Join My Review Team!
Did you enjoy this book? Are you interested in receiving
FREE
Advanced Review Copies of all of my new releases, including the rest of the Take Me series?
Then join my Review Team!
Click the link below and signup for my Review Team. The only requirement for joining is that you have left a review for one of my books on any of the major sites, including Goodreads! Enrollment won’t be open forever, so don’t miss your chance to get exclusive and early access to
all
of my latest releases.
Review Team Signup:
kellyharperauthor.com/review-team
Subscribe to Kelly’s Mailing List
To receive exclusive updates from Kelly Harper, and to be the first to get your hands on all latest releases, please click the link below.
You’ll get instant access to cover releases, teasers, and special, exclusive offers! Click below to signup now!
Newsletter Signup:
kellyharperauthor.com/newsletter
Books by Kelly Harper
The Professor Series
The By You Series
Surprised By You (found in “LOL Vol. 1”)
The Power Play Series
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Like for many, my life didn’t really begin until my 30th birthday. That was when I decided I was done with the corporate ladder and was going to start publishing some of my stories to see if people liked them. Fast forward a couple of years, and I’m still amazed that I’m able to spend my time doing something I’ve loved doing since I was a little kid.
Most of my free time is spent working in front of the computer at various coffee shops around Houston. But when I’m not working on my next book, I’m probably sitting in front of the TV with my eyes glued to whatever Netflix show I’m currently binge watching. Do we really have to wait this long for the next season of Orange Is The New Black?!
Feel free to leave me a message over on Facebook. I love talking with all of my readers and work diligently to respond to every single message I receive!
To ensure that you are the first to hear about exclusive updates, such as cover releases, teasers, giveaways and so much more, please sign up to my mailing list by clicking the link below!
Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/kellyharperbooks
Newsletter Signup:
http://www.kellyharperauthor.com/newsletter
