The Reluctant Heir (5 page)

Not bothering to hear him out, she turned, shaking her head.

She bent down to pick up her panties and when he moved towards her, she straightened and placed a hand between them. “Don’t.”

Not even wanting to argue with him, she went towards the living room and picked up her discarded dress, ashamed at herself.

“What was I supposed to think?” he asked as he followed her.

She ignored him as she searched the room for her shoes. She didn’t know how she had fooled herself into thinking that he was really that glorified person she’d always made him out to be and not the jerk she’d met at the funeral. That had been the real him that day and she’d just been fooling herself, thinking otherwise.

She spotted her shoes and groaned inwardly when she remembered that she was staying with him.

Regretting that she hadn’t even tried getting back her room last night, she rushed inside of her room and slammed the door.

Now that he couldn't see her, she didn't bother to stop the tears from falling as she leaned into the door.

Of course, she’d heard the rumors of her and his grandfather, but the sting of Landen believing it as well was worse than all her co-workers combined.

Thank God she leaving tomorrow and would never have to see him again.

Chapter Seven

Relief coursed through Rebecca when she hit “send” on an email to a client.

It was finally time to go home.

She couldn't wait to kick off her heels and take a nice long bath. For a second, she wondered what Landen was doing before she cursed herself.

After last week, she shouldn’t be sparing the bastard a thought, but some part of her couldn't let him go.

Intent on not wasting another thought on him, she turned off her computer and felt a movement. She turned and felt her heart stop when she saw Landen looking down at her, his dark eyes piercing her as if they could read her very soul.

She had used to like that about him, she remembered dully. She had liked the closeness she felt whenever he looked at her, because she’d thought that they had a connection.

But now that she knew how he felt about her, it irritated her deeply. Had he seen how much she had cared about him and thought that she was an easy lay? The very possibility that that was what happened was too much to bear.

“What are you doing here?” she asked as she stood up, trying to ignore how good he looked in his suit. She had spent the past week miserable because of him and she couldn’t believe that he had the nerve to just show up at the office.

He held up a manila envelope and laughed. “I’m the firm’s largest shareholder. I think I have a right to visit.”

Her heart thudded as he leaned against her cubicle wall. Ignoring the nerves that were running haywire all over her body, she reached for the envelope. “If you can just give that to me, you can be on your way.”

He flipped the envelope back towards himself, his eyes silently challenging her.

She sighed.
What did he want from her?

Hadn’t he already done enough? Or did he want to make her look incompetent as well?

“You have a small desk.” He turned around and saw the empty floor. “And horrible hours,” he added. “I guess you can’t catch a break, can you?”

Her lips thinned. “What did you expect for a person finishing a training contract? I’m lucky to even have a desk to myself.” She’d heard stories of trainees at other firms who’d had to share desks. She was lucky she had a cubicle all to herself. “Now, why are you here?”

He nodded at her. “Dinner.” His eyes darkened, hinting to what he really wanted and she hated herself for wanting the same thing.

But, thankfully, she knew better. “You come here with the sole purpose of insulting me and then ask me out on a date?” The man was impossible. “I think you made it pretty clear what you think of me. I don’t need to hear anymore about-”

“What was I supposed to expect?” he grated as he straightened and took a step closer to her.

“No matter what kind of bizarre world you live in, my grandfather loved women. It wasn’t a secret that he went from one gold digger to the next and they just kept getting younger and younger. What was I supposed to expect with you?” He crossed his arms and added, “And you lived in his house.” As if that explained it all.

“To help watch over him!”

He shrugged as if the words seemed to bounce right off of him. “A simple misunderstanding.”

“No, it’s not! Ordering a medium drink and receiving a small is a simple misunderstanding. This!” She gestured wildly at him as she tried to find the words to say. “This is just your sick pessimism and I don’t want any part of it.” Realizing how loud she was, she groaned inwardly. Thank goodness none of her co-workers had been around to hear her. She shook her head as she lowered her voice. “I think it’s best if you leave.”

He raised his eyebrows. “I wouldn’t talk to your superior that way,” he said in a calmly voice that had her feeling hysterical again.

“You don’t have the time to deal with a law firm like ours.” He didn’t even have time for himself, she remembered dully. He’d spent most of his time in Hawaii working.

She couldn’t believe that she’d actually felt sorry for him. “I doubt that was your grandfather’s intention when he left it to you.”

He smiled devilishly and she wondered how something so beautiful could look so sinister. “Ah, but the beauty of it is, things don’t have to turn out as planned.”

“And what?” she countered as she crossed her arms. “You’re going to fire me if I don’t sleep with you?”

His eyes flashed wildly and she instantly regretted her words.

“I have never forced a woman.” His eyes flashed red and she gulped.

Of course he didn’t force women. Who wouldn’t want him? He was handsome, rich and charming when he wanted to be.

She forced a laugh. “Simple misunderstanding,” she quoted lightly.

“Go to dinner with me tonight. That’s all I’m asking.”

Her fists tightened as she looked back at that cruel, handsome face.

Frustrated, she felt like screaming, but she couldn’t. He would see how much he affected her and she wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. Knowing full well that she didn’t have a choice, she sighed wearily. “Then you’ll leave me alone?”

He tilted his head in a show of manner that told her he would leave her alone when he felt like it.

She sighed. He was a man who was used to getting what he wanted and she didn’t want to risk him using his power to make her life a living hell.

She could always find work somewhere else, but she had to at least finish her training contract here or it would look bad. Really bad.

She didn’t even want to think of what would happen if they fired her before she finished. The other firms would think she was either incompetent or hard to work with.

And it wasn’t as if she could’ve explained her situation.
I slept with the boss and then I wouldn’t.
It would just make her look like a tease and a slut.

Even with two departments wanting to hire her, Landen could get rid of her at a snap of his fingers and there were always other solicitors just waiting for her spot.

Anger bit into her when she realized that she was trapped. She lifted her chin and met his stare. “Sure thing, boss.”

Chapter Eight

The table’s candle flickered softly across Rebecca’s beautiful face as she poked at her food.

Knowing that he’d angered her, Landen regretted how he’d acted earlier. He shouldn't have taunted her and he certainly shouldn’t have brought out the boss card, but he'd been frustrated. He’d missed her all week and it grated him to know that she hadn’t felt the same.

He watched blandly as she moved the lettuce pieces around her plate, doubting if she even knew what she was doing. It was as if she was in her own little world and it frustrated him that she was close, yet so far away.

Finally, she placed her fork down, having eaten nothing and stared at him, the sadness apparent all over her beautiful face and his gut twisted.

"Just to clear the record, your grandfather had been nothing but kind to me since I started working at the firm.”

There had to be some kind of shield to help protect the unsuspecting from that powerful gaze of hers.

He wanted to believe her. He really did. Knowing first hand that his grandfather hadn’t touched her should’ve made it easier to believe her, but he just couldn’t.

"I think it’s horrible that you paint him in such a horrible light,” she continued, her disdain apparent in her voice. "It’s despicable and he certainly doesn’t deserve that.”

Even though it was a bad sign that he wanted to believe her, relief coursed through him at her words. It was the first time she’d spoken without being prompted tonight.

She laughed bitterly as she continued, "I can’t believe I actually felt bad about not calling you when we found out he was sick.” She threw him a weary look. "At least you’ve relieved me of any guilt I might have felt.”

"I said I’m sorry.”

But of course, he wasn’t.

Well perhaps a little about what he thought about her and what she must've gone through when his grandfather was sick.

But he certainly didn’t feel sorry for what he’d thought of the man. The man was a pig. He was known for sleeping around with women half his age.

He would’ve been stupid for not thinking the same applied to Rebecca. But if saying sorry meant that there was a chance he could amend things with her, he’d be stupid not to.

She’d been on his mind nonstop since he’d met her and even more so after Hawaii and for some reason, he couldn’t sum up the will to call someone else who would could satisfy his baser needs. For the time being, only she would do.

"It’s sick.” She shook her head softly, continuing as she looked at him with hurt eyes that tore into him. "You’re sick,” she emphasized. "He was like an uncle to me.”

He shrugged arrogantly. Perhaps his grandfather had been planning on making her his mistress, but had gotten sick before he could make his move or perhaps his grandfather had decided that he needed her more as a solicitor than a mistress. And who was to say that she wouldn’t have?

Loads of women had before her and he shouldn’t start to think that she was any different.

"He was always known for liking younger women,” he said plainly. He didn’t know how his grandfather had resisted someone as bewitching as the woman before him, but somehow he had.

He had to learn to do the same, he realized.

If he wanted to forget her, he would have to learn the same control.

"What, so I’m supposed to believe everything I read about you in the papers?”

Intrigued, he smirked. "You read about me?”

Her eyes narrowed adorably. "It wasn't like I had a choice. Your grandfather kept clippings of you and was shoving them in my face whenever he had the chance.”

Landen smiled wryly. He doubted that his grandfather would read about him in the tabloids, but a woman who was interested in him might.

Male satisfaction surged through him at the thought of her trying to get more information about him. She leaned in closer and he couldn't help admiring the swell of her breasts. "The thing is not everything you read is true.”

His mouth tightened. It was time to end her delusions where his grandfather was concerned once and for all.

"He hit on my mum when she was engaged to my father,” he said flatly.

"Your grandfather?” she blurted.

Watching her closely to gauge her reaction, he nodded.

She gulped. "Did he know that she was your dad’s fiancée?”

He nodded. "It was after they’d just announced their engagement.”

A mixture of emotions crossed her face. "I don’t believe you.”

Guilt coursed through Rebecca for even considering it. Even if it was just for the slightest of seconds.

"I’m just telling you the facts.”

She shook her head. "You’ve got it wrong and you’d know it too if you had ever bothered to visit him.”

"A man who was nothing to me?” he asked incredulously. "Surely, you know why none of his children or grandchildren ever bothered to visit him?”

She gulped. Mr. Shaw had never mentioned any family except for Landen.

"That I know of, of course,” Landen added. "He’s had so many affairs over the years that we frankly don’t know what to think.”

Unsettled, she tried to think of Mr. Shaw as a womanizer and couldn’t. Her instincts told her that it wasn't possible, but Landen had no reason to lie.

Besides, it would explain why it was always newspaper articles that Mr. Shaw showed her whenever he talked about Landen.

At the time, she’d figured that he’d been proud about Landen making the news and had wanted to share it with everyone, but now she knew that the magazines had been his sole source of information about his grandson.

She considered what Landen said.

If it was true about Mr. Shaw liking younger women, it had to be a long time ago. Mr. Shaw had been eighty six when he died. Surely, he hadn’t been like that in his later years?