AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I didn’t want to mistrust her but Luke’s words bored into my mind. Whatever he said made too much sense.
Why did Dad hide her away all these years? He saw how much my brothers and I suffered in her absence. Why didn’t he at least mention that she was alive?
Was this all about caring about Eva’s daughter?
He’d never mentioned Eva until the day he married her. They were involved in a serious relationship for over eight years but he never mentioned her to us.
Was he trying to pull a similar trick on us again?
Could it be possible there was some truth to what Luke said? Dad wouldn’t support someone to take over the company unless it was family. Milla was adopted on paper but it meant nothing in reality.
Suddenly, my mind conjured up a vision of him and her with a baby in her arms. My gut swirled sickeningly. Was that the game Dad was playing? Did he want to hand over the company to Milla andtheirchildren?
My fingers raked through my hair.There’s no way, I told myself.
My phone vibrated inside my jacket’s pocket. Taking it out, I looked at the flashing screen.
“Hey, Dad,” I said, picking up the call.
“I’ve invited Milla home this evening for dinner,” he said. “Thought you should know.”
“Why are you telling me this?” I asked. “You know she doesn’t like me. Do you want me to stay out tonight? Is that why you’re calling me?”
He let out a sigh. “I was simply letting you know she’d be there. It’d be good for all of us to sit at dinner and reduce the friction between us. We’re family. In the future, all of you will be responsible for taking care of the company. It doesn’t matter who’s the CEO. It belongs to all four of you.”
“She’s family, Dad?”
“She is,” he said without hesitation. “I expect you to act your age. No more childish behavior, Noah. Make her feel at home.”
He switched off the call, leaving me with my wretched thoughts.
I walked out of Milla’s office premises, hoping the distance would give me a chance to calm my mind.
I can’t let my resolve break so easily, I decided.I can’t let another misunderstanding ruin everything again. Milla can’t have done something as sick as marrying the man her mother married.
I desperately prayed I was right.
14
Camilla
A dull headache pounded my forehead.
A stack of files sat on the table before me, screaming for my attention.
My gaze went to the ornamental clock on the far wall, reminding me how most of the day was wasted today. It was already close to six P.M. now.
The day and afternoon went by in calming Luke to make sure he kept his word and didn’t go after Noah. As much as I disliked him, a scandal would put both him and Brian in trouble.
A shift in leadership was about to come. We couldn’t risk Amhurst Co.’s reputation at this critical juncture.
Luke promised me he’d never let anything bad happen to me, but he said nothing about Noah and his brothers. I couldn’t exactly blame him either. Noah’s punch had been hard enough to smash his lips and make him bleed profusely.
Thinking of Luke, I realized the incident gave me enough insight into the way he conducted business.
He was ambitious and wouldn’t back down from playing dirty.
The combination made him a dangerous adversary. I’d rather have someone like him as a friend rather than an enemy.
