Stolen:The Billionaire Deception(20)

"I'm pleased to meet you both," I told them.



"Howard is one of our shareholders," Seth told me. "Howard, Erin is our   CBDO. She's been with us a few months now and I have to say we're lucky   we found her."



"And where did you find her?" That voice came from behind us. I was   still holding onto Seth's arm and I felt his muscles tighten as he   turned us around slowly to face James Hunter. My stomach drew up into   instant knots.



"Good evening, Father."



"Seth." James Hunter was looking at me. His blue eyes were the same   shade as his son's, but they were as cold as ice as they held my gaze.   "And you are?"



I held out my hand, praying that my palm wasn't sweaty and said, "Erin Summers."



James took my hand, very briefly and then said, "Summers …  do you have family in the business?"



"No sir."



"Hmm," he said. "Well, it looks like you got the job and the CEO. I   don't know if your work is any good, but it's fast, I'll give you that."



I was in shock. Did he really just say that to me? In front of people,   no less. I had to remind myself to shut my mouth when I realized it was   agape. I waited a few beats, just knowing that Seth would say  something.  When he didn't I finally said, "If you come by my office  sometime sir,  I'd be happy to show you how good my work is. I'm well  qualified for the  position."



James smiled, but it wasn't a pleasant or happy expression as he said,   "I'm sure you're qualified for many positions, wouldn't you agree, son?"



I could feel my face turning bright red and it was burning up. I was   furious and only got more so as Seth continued to do nothing. I glanced   at him and he wouldn't even meet my gaze. Howard and Louise were   standing behind him and they both looked as embarrassed as I felt. I   finally realized that Seth had lost his spine when his father walked in   the room.         

     



 



"Maybe I'm misreading you sir but your implications are offensive to me. I'd appreciate it if … "



He didn't let me finish. He gave a glance around the ridiculously large   room we were standing in and said, "This is my place and I won't be  told  by anyone what I can and cannot do in it."



"Father, please … " Seth's voice was a whisper, and instead of an outraged tone, it was more of a whiney plea.



"Please what?" James said. When Seth didn't answer he turned back on me   and said, "I do believe you two deserve one another." Then he walked   away as quickly as he appeared.



When he was out of range Seth looked down at me and said, "Erin, I'm … "



"Don't bother," I told him, wrenching my arm free. I heard him say my   name again as I stormed off, but I wasn't about to stop. How dare he   stand there and let anyone talk to me in that fashion. I was appalled. I   found one of the circulating waiters and grabbed a glass of champagne   off his tray. After downing that I took a few deep breaths and tried to   calm down enough to think. I could let my anger get the best of me, or  I  could take this opportunity to further my own agenda. Looking back   across the room I saw Seth was conversing with another one of his   executives, no doubt once again acting like he was on top of his game. I   saw my chance and turned towards a hallway that was as wide as a city   street and made my way down it. On one side of me was a wall decorated   with expensive artwork and the other side was made of floor to ceiling   windows that looked out onto the bay. It was gorgeous and it made me   hate James Hunter that much more.



As I was gazing out the window with those thoughts running through my   head I heard a man's voice and a name I shouldn't be hearing.



"Adele Morgan?" In spite of myself, I shivered. I hadn't heard anyone   other than Louisa call me that in over six years. I continued staring   out the window. I could see the reflection of an older man in a sharp   suit standing behind me. "Adele?" he said again. This time I took a deep   breath and turned around.



"I'm so sorry; I think you must have mistaken me for someone else … "



"No, there is no way that you aren't little Adele Morgan. That is unless   she had a twin sister I didn't know about." I wracked my brain trying   to think of where I might have met this man. Was he a friend of my   father's? How the hell did he know who I was? I decided to keep up the   charade.



I smiled sweetly and said, "I'm Erin Summers. I'm not sure who Adele Morgan is … "



He laughed. Somehow this man knew who I was. He was going to blow this   for me. Everything I'd struggled for over the past ten years …  gone. I   had to wonder if I'd be better off admitting the truth and asking him to   keep it between us. But, if he knew who I was, he obviously knew who  my  father was and what James Hunter did. If he was an ally of James's  then  I was screwed.



"I'm not sure why you want to insist you're not her. You look just like   your mother." When he said that another woman suddenly came around the   corner towards us from the other end of the hall. I smiled at her and   when she was out of sight I took the older man by his arm and pulled him   into the room behind us.



We were in a library of sorts …  maybe an office. At that moment, I didn't   care. "What makes you so insistent that I'm this Adele person?"



"I knew your parents well. I was one of your father's clients when the   company was still in his hands. He was a good man and your mother was a   great lady. I was at your home for dinner more than once. I think the   last time I saw you, you were only four or five, but your face and your   hair …  those jade green eyes, that's all Sally Morgan through and   through."



"What is your name?" I asked him.



"Oh dear. Excuse me. I'm Phillip," he said, holding out his hand. "Phillip Granger."



"Mr. Granger, are you a friend of the Hunters?"



"Please, call me Phillip. No Miss, I'm not a "friend" of theirs. I   suppose Seth is okay but I don't know him that well yet. I am no fan of   James Hunter …  unfortunately I bought my shares before I realized just   how badly I disliked the man, I may have invested elsewhere."



Knowing that I didn't have any other choice at the moment I said, "I am Adele Morgan …  but please Mr. Granger … "



"Phillip," he corrected.


         

     



 
"Phillip. Please, I don't want anyone to know that."



"I'm capable of keeping a confidence," he said. "But I'm terribly   curious as to why. Why would you change your name? Your parents were   wonderful people, I was so sad when they died. Then I heard about you   being left with nothing … " He looked sickened by that and I suddenly had a   feeling that perhaps I'd found an ally.



"You know what James Hunter did to me?"



"I heard rumors that James's purchase of the company wasn't solely done   on the up and up, so to speak. I always wondered what happened to you.   Your father was so proud of you, you know? He used to brag all the time   about how smart you were and how someday you would take his company to   new heights." I felt the tears burning the corners of my eyes as I   listened to him. His words only served to renew my convictions. He   suddenly said, "Adele, why are you here? Does James Hunter not know who   you are?"



"I'm not sure," I said. "I didn't think he did …  but he was so rude to me   earlier. Tonight is the first time I've actually met him face to face,   although I've worked for the company for nearly three months. I came   here with Seth tonight … " I felt my chest tighten at the thought, at the   memory of him just standing there, cowering in front of his father as   James proceeded to walk all over me.



"How do you know Seth?"



I looked into Phillips eyes and what I saw there was compassion and   sorrow. I needed to trust someone and something about this man told me   that I could trust him. I began talking, telling him everything from the   day I found out my parents were dead until tonight. I told him about   intending to use Seth and developing feelings for him as well …  if I was   going to trust him, I was going all out. When I finished he looked even   more sad.



"I'm so sorry for you, Adele. I can't imagine being so heartless that   you could take away a child's legacy from their dead parents and still   look at yourself in the mirror every day."