Stolen:The Billionaire Deception(23)

 



"Um …  I really need to talk to Erin … "



"Yes you do," he said. I suddenly realized by the way he was looking at   me that she must have told him what happened at the party.



"Sure, I'll take some coffee," I said. "Black, please."



He disappeared into the kitchen. While he was gone I looked around the   little room. The photos on the walls were all of Erin and Grant. They   were in various places and they were dressed in everything from formal   attire to beachwear. This Grant was a good-looking guy. I suddenly   wondered why they weren't more than just roommates.



"Here you go." He came back into the room and handed me a steaming mug.



"Thank you," I said. He sat his cup down on the table.



"Sure, I'll be right back." He was only gone about a minute. He came   back with a t-shirt on and it looked like he might have splashed some   water on his face.



"So where is Erin?" I asked him.



"She went for a run in the park. She's usually gone an hour or two. I think she left around eight."



"Oh, I could come back," I said.



"Listen." Grant sat his coffee down again. "You might sit there when I   tell you this and think "who the hell is this guy and why does he think   this is his business?" I don't doubt that this is going to piss you  off,  but just so we're clear; I don't care. First, I'm going to tell  you who  I am. I'm her best friend. I love her more than anyone else in  my life.  I want only the best for her, and I will do anything to help  her  accomplish her goals. With that being said, Erin cares a great deal  for  you. She spent an entire week getting ready for that party last  night. I  don't know what your father's problem is and I don't care but  dude, it  is not cool for you to stand there and let her be insulted by  anyone. I  don't care if it's the Queen of freaking England. She  deserves so much  more respect than that."



He was right. It did piss me off. I was bothered by two things: One was   that Erin discussed me with this guy and two that he was a hundred   percent right. She deserved better. It's what I had come here to talk to   her about, but hearing this guy say it re-iterated what a cowardly ass  I  had been. "I know she does," I said at last. "That's why I'm here. I   hope that she'll forgive me."



"I can't speak for her, but I don't doubt that she will. Just remember   though, she's an independent, smart, strong, beautiful woman. The only   reason she is with you is because she chooses to be. She doesn't need or   want your money or your family name. If you don't treat her right, she   will eventually stop forgiving you and you will lose the absolute most   amazing gift that you ever had in your life."



I started to say something else, but the front door of the apartment   opened. We both turned and watched Erin come in. She had her pretty hair   tied back low on her neck and she was wearing a tank top and shorts.   Her long, smooth legs and chest were glistening with the sweat from her   morning run. She looked surprised to see me and then I saw her exchange  a  look with Grant. He looked amused and she looked annoyed.



"Hi Seth. What's going on?"



"Hi … "



"Seth and I were just having coffee …  getting to know each other. If you   two are finished with me though, I think I'll hop in the shower." Erin   cocked an eyebrow at him and he grinned at her again. He jumped up and   held his hand out towards me. I shook it and before he dropped my hand   he looked me in the eye with no smirk or traces of amusement and said,   "I hope you won't forget what we talked about."



I just gave him a nod. Erin watched him leave and she came over and took   the seat opposite me where he had been sitting. "What was that about?"   she asked. "Was Grant playing nice?"



"He was doing what I should have done last night …  standing up for you." I   saw a subtle shift in her eyes. I'm not sure what it meant exactly,  but  I went on, "My father is not a nice person …  obviously. He's  normally  not quite so blatant with his insults with someone he doesn't  know, so  that confused me but his rudeness didn't surprise me. I have a  very  complicated relationship with him. No one intimidates me except  him. I  can run a multi-national company and talk to anyone in any  position  anywhere in the world without a quiver of anxiety but that man  walks in a  room and I'm instantly a sniveling twelve year old boy all  over again."         

     



 



Erin was just looking at me, listening quietly. Her face was impassive. I   had no idea if she was going to be willing to forgive me, or if she  was  going to kick me out. Either way, I went on.



"All of that is not meant to be an excuse for my own behavior. It's just   my way of hopefully giving you enough of the facts so that you might   understand. When he insulted you last night I should have done   something. I should have said something. I wanted to. I was furious at   him. But the coward in me let you handle it yourself. I told myself you   were doing a great job and didn't need me. You were doing a great job.   You always handle yourself with class and it's obvious that no one  walks  all over you. But that in no way excuses me for not stepping in  and  saying something myself. I'm sorry Erin. I'm so sorry. I don't know  if  you can find it in your heart to forgive me, but if you can, I  promise  you that it will never happen again."



"So, your father treats everyone that way, it wasn't just me?"



"He treats almost everyone poorly. My mother buffered him a lot when she   was here. Once she passed away, his horrible, awful, rude side seemed   to completely take over. I can't apologize enough for him, but I know   that doesn't mean anything. But, if you give me a chance I will show you   how much respect I have for you and that I am nothing like my father."



Erin was quiet. She seemed to be thinking it all over. I was a nervous   wreck. I guess it was how I knew that she was truly special. No woman   had ever made me worry over whether she wanted to be with me or not. In   the past, my arrogance had convinced me that if she didn't, it was her   loss.



After what seemed to me like an eternity she said, "I have a lot of   respect for myself and for the things I've accomplished in my life at   such a young age. I won't let anyone take that away from me. You seem to   have a lot of respect for yourself as well. The way you carry yourself   and the way you conduct business …  it's all part of what attracted me  to  you. I was more shocked than anything last night, because I didn't  even  recognize the man you were in front of him. I can forgive you for  that  because I wasn't there when you were growing up and I don't know  what  experiences you've had with him. But Seth, if it happens again …  if  you  let anyone disparage me or you that way again without standing up  to  them, I'm afraid I won't be able to continue forgiving you."



I felt a wave of relief the size of a tsunami wash over me. That's all I   needed, another chance. I wasn't going to screw up again …  at least I   won't make the same mistake.



"Thank you," I said.



She smiled and then said, "Now, tell me what my hung over miscreant of a   roommate said. I might have some apologizing to do myself."



I laughed, and then suddenly not knowing what came over me I blurted out, "I love you."



She looked shocked and I was afraid I had screwed up again, already.   Then she got up and moved over next to me on the couch and she said, "I   love you too." As we kissed, I knew in my heart that life was never   going to be the same. I wouldn't find out for a few weeks just how   different it would be.









CHAPTER EIGHTEEN









ERIN





Seth and I spent a lot of time together at my apartment after the day he   came to see me to apologize. I had sadly put away the photographs of  my  parents and the mementos from my father's business, promising them  that  soon it would all be out in the open and I could once again be the   woman they intended me to be: Adele Morgan, CEO of Morgan Corp. I  think  in spite of the fact that Seth was James Hunter's son they would  have  really liked him. I know that they would be happy for me. I was  happier  than I had been in years. The only nagging little issue that  still  pulled at the back of my mind was how Seth would react when he  found out  the truth. It was inevitable if I planned to have a life with  him …  and I  did.