Control Me(28)
“Why’s that?” Marco asked.
“Well, they won’t say. However, from my experience, when they don’t disclose a name it probably means it is someone in the public eye. The most my partner and I could ascertain was that the victim was female and aged in her mid-twenties.”
“That’s it, nothing else? You need to get more information about this young girl, Zane. She may know something that is important. Maybe something that could possibly keep Turner in there for a very long time.” If that bastard gets out, what’s to say he won’t hurt anyone else?
“I’ve tried, Max, and I’m still trying. No one is giving me any information on the victim, but I know the assault on this girl was quite vicious and the hospital report states she almost died.”
“Okay, well, I’ve contacted Archie McBride, our lawyer, and he is drawing up the contract as we speak, so those shares can be in the Brunetti name. I’m meeting with him this week so I can sign some paperwork and draw up the contract. As soon as you have that file ready, I will get it to him. The engagement party is this Saturday, and I hope to have the wedding by the end of the month; that will give us plenty of time to get the ball rolling. I will see you Saturday night, Zane.”
I closed the meeting, turned to Marco and confidently told him, “Turner will never get his hands on those Sinclair shares. Not if I can help it, anyway.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
JADA
When Max walked in later that afternoon, I was lounging on the couch reading a trashy girlie magazine I had brought with me, and I was still dressed in the same clothes. Mia had popped in, as well, and between the three of us, we had unpacked, folded and put away all my belongings. I was exhausted and he looked frustrated.
“So, my sister texted me saying she was coming over. Did you tell them both the truth when she rocked up?” Max demanded.
“No, I did not. Milan thinks that because I haven’t been regaling her with tales of our kinky sexual exploits this must be the real thing. As for your sister, she was too busy fawning over my clothes to ask. Don’t know why, but they both believe this charade.”
“It’s not a fucking charade, Jada; when are you going to get that through your head? We are getting married, and we need to organise it soon. If it wasn’t for that stupid engagement party this coming Saturday, I could have set the ball rolling and have the wedding organised by the end of the month.”
“What? No way; it’s a busy month, Max. I’ve got to be in Sydney for work soon, and harvest season is coming up. It’s just insane to plan a wedding by the end of the month,” I pleaded.
“Why not? We are engaged, babe, and we are supposed to be hopelessly in love, if you remember correctly? So the sooner we get married, the sooner those shares will be in my hands and safe. I cannot let those shares get in the wrong hands, and you know that.”
“Why, you bastard!” I stood up and yelled at him. “That’s all you think about, isn’t it, the shares? You just want to have control over everything, don’t you? What about my feelings?”
“For fuck’s sake, Jada,” Max spat out, now roaming around the room. “You just don’t get it, do you? Have you ever met Tate Turner?” I paled at the sheer mention of his name, again. Max didn’t seem to notice this time; he continued pacing and talking. “He’s a fucking greedy slime-ball, and we can’t risk him getting anywhere near those shares. In fact, I’m surprised he never made any contact with you while you lived in Sydney. He purposely set up those shares for an easy takeover.”
I sat back down on the couch, feeling awfully dizzy and clammy. That feeling of utter panic began to take over my body. Why did this happen? Why couldn’t I control it? Just the mention of his name and I felt sick again, painful memories flooding back and consuming me.
“Yes…Yes, I have, Max,” I stammered. “Unfortunately, I have had the displeasure of meeting Tate Turner before.” I wasn’t not sure how I managed to get his name out of my lips, but I did.
“You did?” Max asked, completely surprised.
“Yes, I did,” I continued. Did I dare tell Max everything? The thought of that bastard trying to get his hands on the Sinclair shares made me sick. He tried once; what was to say he wouldn’t try again, even if he was locked up? Maybe now was the right time to tell Max the truth about what Turner did to me. Or, maybe not? Max looked angry and stressed, and I sure didn’t want to add to it. I could feel the hard planes of his body as I sat beside him. He draped his arm around my shoulders, and I relaxed into him. It felt incredible to be this close to him, feeling wanted by him. The last thing I wanted to do was ruin this moment by talking about my sordid past with Tate Turner. Maybe I should wait to tell him—wait just a little bit longer to see how things progressed between us. Yeah, that was a good idea. That’s what I would do.