The Billionaire’s Forbidden Desire(48)
Three years ago. That explained Mexico.
Sophia thought back to meeting Dane for the first time. He’d been quiet…and hurting. And he hadn’t sought solace with his family or friends. Bottles of scotch, no matter how expensive and soothing, couldn’t compare.
Maybe he hadn’t had anybody he could turn to. Maybe he still didn’t, as he’d grown colder and more aloof since then.
Crazily enough, she wanted him to be able to turn to her. She didn’t know why—she wasn’t the type who opened up to people easily, and most people didn’t confide in her, probably because she didn’t invite them to do so. Libby and Chad were the only confidants she had, but it’d taken her years to warm up to them.
Roxie sucked down the last of her latte. “Ladies, are you finished? If so, we need to get back.” She looked at Sophia. “We have those reports and statistics for the latest portfolio to organize before COB today. I’d hate to make him wait.”
“Me too.” Sophia dabbed her mouth with her napkin. “Ready whenever you are.”
* * *
Dane reviewed the slides and memos from the morning’s presentation. The concept was excellent, and the man behind it was smart, driven and ambitious.
It was a sizzling proposal with incredible, industry-changing potential. Dane should be excited.
Except he wasn’t.
His thoughts kept drifting to the woman sitting outside his office, and it irritated him that his attention was wandering. Normally a woman would never have disrupted his focus.
But Sophia wasn’t just any woman, was she?
His mobile rang. Glad for the interruption, he answered without checking to see who it was.
“Is it true you’ve moved back in with your father?” came Ceinlys’s voice.
Damn it. He put a hand behind his neck. The muscles there felt like rocks under his fingers. He really should be screening his calls.
Just hang up? The idea was seductively appealing. “Yes.”
“But why?”
“Haven’t you heard?”
“The Reed girl?”
“The Reed girl.”
His mother sighed. “What does it matter who your father dates? And when did you start caring? Once he signs the papers, he’s free to do what he wants.”
“So you aren’t even slightly jealous of this younger, prettier woman?”
A slight pause. “Are you certain you’re well? It’s not like you to worry about my feelings.”
“I’m fine.” He wasn’t acknowledging the second part of her statement.
“Dear, I know being near your father makes you uncomfortable. There’s really no need to linger around on my account. I’m not at all bothered by his little houseguest. It’s not as though I expected him to remain celibate after our divorce. He”—her voice cracked for a moment before it returned to normal—“he couldn’t even stay faithful during our marriage.”
Dane leaned back in his seat. She was saying the same things he’d told Vanessa when she’d freaked out about their “stepmom.” Somehow, hearing Ceinlys say them made the whole situation sound much worse.
Like she’d simply given up.
Well, she didn’t get to give up now, not after putting him and his siblings through any number of ringers. “Don’t even pretend you’re hurt. Every year your men got younger, like you wanted to signal to the world how older men just didn’t have what it took to keep you happy in bed. You’re no better than Dad, and I wouldn’t lift a finger on your behalf.”
She gasped. “How could you say such a thing?”
Suddenly he couldn’t stand it anymore. “Why do you care what I do, Mother?” he asked. “You stopped playing the game with him. Gave up your seat and walked away from the board. Who gives a damn what happens to the pawns?”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“Isn’t that what I was? A pawn? Except I disappointed you because I didn’t get Dad to do what you wanted him to.” Dane breathed roughly through his nose and kept his voice down. “It didn’t take me long to figure out what my purpose was, and how I failed miserably in my role. He hated the fact that I was ever born, and you were embarrassed about me.”
“That is absolutely not tr—”
“Admit it. Neither of you thought I should’ve ever been born.”
Ceinlys gasped. “Dane!”
“Why did you keep having children while your marriage was falling apart, if not to create new pawns?”
“It wasn’t like that. You have to understand.”
“Oh, I understand quite well. I’ve had decades to understand.”