Bought: Highest Bidder(36)

"Go talk to him, Dahlia." Sandra's words make my eyes snap to hers. "Let  him know what you need. I hope he can continue to help you and that  you're able to work on this foundation you've built."

I hope so, too, I think to myself feeling growing resolve as I leave her  office and knowing that there's only one thing left to do.





Chapter 25





Lucian





I'm no good for her. I've already come to terms with it. I don't know  how to help her. I know some of my own desires and needs could harm her.  Emotionally, psychologically. I want to be strong enough for her. I  want to have the experience to know how to heal her.

But I don't have all the answers. My heart clenches, knowing I should  let her go. Cut ties from the contract and make sure she gets the help  she needs from someone else. I keep hurting her. I don't mean to, but I  know that I am.

I clench my jaw and pull out my cell phone, waiting on my sister to get  here. I'm in the same spot that I was before. The same cafe we always  come to. Today it's darker. The grey clouds block the sun and rain  threatens to start falling at any second, but I don't care. I'm staying  outside. At least for now.

A glance at my phone shows a text from Isaac.

It's done.

My body stiffens slightly, and adrenaline spikes through my blood.

Her uncle is dead.

That bastard took my treasure's innocence. Even worse, she wasn't the first and she wasn't the last.

The law gave him five years in prison, that's all. And he never even  went to trial for what he did to my treasure. That's not justice. And  the last girl, the second one he was prosecuted over after hurting  Dahlia, was his neighbor; there wasn't enough evidence for the judge to  proceed, but I know the truth. I saw what they had on him. I read the  testimonies. He needed to die.

I should feel guilty, and maybe I should even be disgusted with myself.  But I don't feel a damn thing other than satisfied. He hurt my treasure  in a way I know I can never fully understand.

"Your coffee, sir." The waitress flashes me a sweet smile, her cheeks a  bright red from either the chill or more blush than necessary. "Can I  get you anything else?" she asks, leaning in slightly. Too close for my  comfort.

"No, thank you." I'm short with my words, and the look on her face falls. Again, I should care. But I don't.

"Lucian!" My sister appears from behind the waitress, sparing me whatever looks the young woman was giving me.

She wraps her arms around my shoulders, not even giving me a moment to stand.

I always look forward to seeing Anna. But as I look down to click my  phone off and ignore the text message, I feel …  broken. Everything is  off-center and an emptiness fills my chest.         

     



 

She squeezes me one more time and looks for the waitress, but she's gone.

I huff a humorless laugh as Anna pouts and almost shrugs off her coat,  but decides against it, falling into her seat and looking past me, into  the cafe.

When her eyes reach me once again, that bright smile lights up her face.  "You have a girlfriend," she says, and her voice etched with awe.

I pick up my coffee and blow on it, not knowing how to handle this. I  don't give a fuck what anyone thinks really. Zander and Isaac know the  truth. My sister's the only other person in my life who matters. But I'm  sure as fuck not going to tell her the truth.

She leans across the small table and playfully smacks my arm as I set the cup down.

"Come on," she urges me, "spill it!"

Her excitement brings a small smile to my face, although it doesn't  reflect what I'm feeling at the moment. "She's a sweet girl, but I'm not  sure how serious it is." Lies. I tell my sister lies. I've never been  more serious about anything in my life. But I know I'm not good for her.  I don't know if I can keep her.

"She's so pretty!" Anna's eyes go wide and she lets out a soft sigh. "I  can see it in your face," she says, and her voice is teasing.

I grunt out a laugh. "Leave it be, Anna."

"You'll bring her to the Christmas party?" she asks me. The hopeful look  on her face is too much. Christmas is less than three weeks away. I  already turned her down for Thanksgiving. I'd only just gotten my hands  on my treasure, and with neither of us committed to spending the holiday  with family, I made sure she spent it on her knees. It was the most  successful holiday I've had in years.

"I have no idea if we'll still be seeing each other by then." As I say  the words, I realize how much pain they cause me. The very thought that  my treasure may be gone in less than a month physically hurts. Doubt and  uncertainty are two emotions I don't handle well.

"Tell me, how are your classes going?" I ask quickly to change the subject.

"Are you high?" she asks incredulously. "It's Christmas break." I take a  sip of the bitter black coffee, wishing this meeting were over. I have  three conferences left today and only then can I go home and take care  of her.

"So, Mom called me." Anna's words bring me back to the present.

I can feel my facial expression harden as I wait for more.

"She said she's sorry."

It takes a lot for me not to roll my eyes at my sister's naiveté. She's a sweet girl and I love her, but she's a fool.

"What else did she say?" I ask, although I can't keep my voice even.

She looks hurt by my harsh tone and I instantly regret it.

She softens her voice and says, "She's really sorry." Her eyes plead with me, but I can't. I won't.

"‘I'm sorry, Anna," I shake my head and look away, "I can't-"

She quickly reaches across the table, taking my hand in both of hers as  she continues, "I'm not asking you to do anything. I promise you." My  heart clenches looking at the tears in my sister's eyes.

"I know what they did, and it was wrong. I just wanted you to know … " her  voice cracks, and she sucks in a breath. "But I know you don't trust  them," she says as her face falls.

I stand up and hug my sister close, rubbing her arm as she holds me back.

I hate that she's so emotional and pulled in different directions. "It's  alright, Anna." She's put herself in the middle of this feud. She's  suffered from both sides. I went a long time without seeing her. I  regret it, but at the time I didn't want to be reminded of what I'd  lost. I wish I could take it back. I wish I could protect her from what  happened.

"I love you, Lucian." She looks up at me, brushing away the one stray tear rolling down my cheek. "I hope you know that."

I nod my head once, holding her gaze.

"I have to go, Anna."

She gives me a quick squeeze and regains her composure.

I hate that I have to leave her like this. But I have no solutions for her.

She sniffles and looks past me for the waitress as I put two twenties on the table and lean in to kiss her forehead.

"Take care, Anna," I tell her as I turn away from her.

"You too," she whispers.



This fucking meeting is never going to end. And it's only the first of  the three I need to take care of before the day is over. I'd run my hand  over my face, but it's a video conference. So instead I stare straight  ahead, listening to the pros and cons of moving the manufacturing of  casings for the new prototype to South Korea while leaving the remainder  in the US.         

     



 

I need the numbers and I need the statistics, but what I don't need is  the two heads of the two opposing divisions to get into a fucking  argument and take up my time.

I finally speak up, putting an end to this nonsense. "Mr. Crenshaw, I fail to see the point of this debate."

"It's about timing, Mr. Stone. This is going to destroy my timeline."

"The bottom line is what matters," Mr. Jenkins answers in a stern voice.



There's a knock at the door, interrupting the conference. I ignore it.

Knock knock, it comes harder this time.

Crenshaw and Jenkins continue to debate on whether or not their shipping  methods are reliable and I look up to the door as I say, "Come in."  Linda knows my schedule and she should know better than to interrupt me,  especially when the head of my development department is telling me my  timeline may be fucked because of this change.

I glance at the door when it opens, and I have to do a double take.

"Dahlia?" I look up past the monitor and ignore the conference. Their  voices pour from the speakers, but it's white noise. Dahlia's in my  doorway, with Linda right behind her.

"Mr. Stone," Linda says with an uneasiness as she looks between the two  of us. "I wasn't-" she starts to explain herself, but I wave her away.

"Leave us."

Dahlia looks unsteady. She seems lost with what to do with herself. I  wait for her to tell me what's going on. Or to come over to me, but she  just stands in the middle of my office, twisting her hands around the  strap of her purse. With doubt in her eyes and uncertainty clear on her  face.

My forehead pinches with confusion. What the hell is she doing here? It  looks like she's been crying. The realization snaps something inside of  me.