Page 104 of Stanton Adore

She smiles. “No, nothing like that. It relates to my son’s…paternity.”

He smiles and nods. “I see.”

She smiles a nervous smile at him. “If this information gets out, it will destroy the lives of my husband and son, but it will be catastrophic for a very powerful man who stands to lose everything.”

“How would this information put you in danger?”

“My son is deeply in love with his…first cousin. I have kept this information from him for twenty-seven years but if this relationship continues, I will tell him. I will not let him live a life of guilt when he doesn’t deserve to.”

“Maybe this affair will end.” The solicitor kindly smiles.

“We can only hope. He has been in love with her for seven years and they have recently reconnected. He is not letting her go this time. That I am positive of.”

The solicitor writes the necessary instructions and walks Mrs. Stanton out of his office. “My discretion is assured. Thank you for your trust.”

She smiles and wipes the tears from her eyes. She hopes to god her son never has to see that letter. It will break his heart as he idolizes his father. Pain lances through her as she realizes Joshua is going to lose either way. The love of his life or his father. Either way it’s a loss she doesn’t know if he will be able to bear and definitely not one that he deserves.

You know what the problem with dating a very intelligent man is? Just that. He’s a smart son of a bitch. When he agreed that I didn’t have to go to his stupid fight I did have an inkling that it was all a bit too easy—he was too agreeable. So why was I surprised when Abbie, Bridget, Cam and Adrian came around to my house tonight to pick me up to go to the fight? And when I refused, drank wine with me until I was tipsy enough to be talked into anything? Diabolical. So here I am, three hours later, at the bar in Luna Park Convention Centre wincing as I watch the big screen. Thankfully, Adrian and I are staying at the bar boycotting the activities. It seems Joshua made Adrian come too because he knew I would come if he did. Thankfully, we are having a really good time and we are very tipsy.

“So, tell me, Adrian. What goes on with you? Do you have a boyfriend?” I point my wineglass at him.

He smiles and rolls his eyes dramatically. “No, sort of, yes.”

I raise my eyebrows. “What does that mean?”

He shrugs. “To be honest I don’t even know. My stupid boyfriend’s phone calls are getting fewer and fewer. When I first got here, he rang me twice a day and now it’s down to once every three days.” He shrugs and talks into his wineglass. “He couldn’t even wait three months.”

I give him a sympathetic smile and he smiles and shrugs. “Josh hates my boyfriend.”

My eyes widen. “How come?”

“Josh knew him a long time before I met him; he’s on his polo team.”

I nod and raise my eyebrows and take another way too large gulp of my wine. “And,” I prompt.

“Josh thinks he is after my money.”

I choke on my wine. “Don’t tell me you’re fucking rich too.” I giggle as I wipe the wine from my chin.

He laughs and shakes his head. “I’m only rich because of your overgenerous boyfriend.”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“Josh bought me a condo and a Corvette and pays me three million dollars a year.”

I choke again. “Fuck off.”

He nods and smiles as he drains his glass. “Don’t you talk. I think he paid off your mortgage yesterday.”

“What?” I snap. “Tell me you’re joking.”

“You know how overgenerous he is.”

I frown. Weirdly enough I don’t. I point my wineglass at him again. “So why does he hate him?”

He rolls his eyes. “Josh is just overprotective because I don’t sleep around.”

I frown, not understanding. “What do you mean?”