“You didn’t hit Amanda...” My voice was shaking. “Did you?”
“I’ve never hit a woman, Claire.” He looked into my eyes. “And I never will...I told her that you weren’t interested in being contacted by either of them again, and that I didn’t want my future wife to have any more sleepless nights due to their interference.” He lifted my hand and circled his thumb around my knuckles. “I paid for her surgery since it might be a little harder for them to afford since Ryan isn’t working, and I’ll have the hospital bill me for his injuries as well.”
I was sure there was still fear in my eyes, because he cupped my face in his hands and pressed his lips against mine. “I’ll hurt anyone who hurts you, Claire. Anyone.”
I nodded and he pulled me up against his chest, stroking my back with his fingertips. “You’ll never have to worry about either of them ever again.”
Chapter 18
Jonathan
“Is there a reason why I just received a call about you assaulting a man in a hospital bathroom?” Milton walked into my office. “Please tell me that’s a joke.”
“I didn’t mean to break his nose. Only his jaw.”
“Well, thank god you broke his ribs and his clavicle bone too. I’m sure they were feeling quite neglected in the brawl.”
“I already paid his hospital bill, and that includes post-therapy treatment. It’s been over a week. Is he trying to sue?”
“Damn right he’s trying to sue, Jonathan! He’s a lawyer! What the f**k did you think was going to happen?!”
I shrugged. “I’ll take care of it. Is there anything interesting you want to talk about today?”
He rolled his eyes and handed me a folder. “Here are the stock options that will be changed over to your wife’s name. I’ve already added her as an accessor to all of your personal accounts and she’ll gain full access the day your marriage license is approved...Full access...to all of your money...All of your—”
“Anything else?”
“Yes.” He pulled a small box out of his pocket and handed it to me. “Congratulations. It’s a rare pen—just in case you change your mind over the next few days...There’s also a real gift in there for your wife to be. I like her more than I like you.”
“Thank you very much. I’ll see you at the wedding.” I laughed as he walked out of my office.
Just as I was getting ready to follow suit, Corey came in and slammed the door shut, narrowing his eyes at me.
“Yes?” I narrowed my eyes right back. “Is there a problem, Mr. Walters?”
“Yes. There is a f**king problem.”
“That’s a very loaded sentence, don’t you think?”
“Greg is not going to be the best man at your wedding, Jonathan. I am. And if you have a problem with that—”
“I do have a problem with that.”
“Greg isn’t your best friend.”
“Greg isn’t sleeping with my little sister.”
“Neither am I.” His eyes turned to slits. “I like Hayley—a lot. Hell, I might even love her—I don’t f**king know yet because I don’t even know what that word means, but it’s different with her. She’s not like the other women I’ve been with.”
“Other women you’ve been with total or other women you’ve been with this year? You’ve f**ked over fifty women in the past nine months.”
“I know that.”
“Does she?”
He didn’t answer, but the look in his eyes said it all.
“I’m not Hayley’s guardian anymore.” I shook my head. “I can’t tell her what to do or who not to date, but you’ve known her for years. You protected her right there with me some of those years and now you...Surely you can see why I would have a problem with her entertaining the man who previously promised to A) never commit to one woman B) Fuck as many women as possible and C) Live life with no attachments. Forever. You want me to believe that you’ve changed overnight? Because of a few heart to heart conversations with my sister? Because she didn’t hop in bed with you right away like all the other women did?”
“Jonathan...” He looked sincere. “I’ve never not told you about a woman I was with because I didn’t care. I’ve never cared about any of them or their feelings. I care about Hayley. I always have...”
A thick silence hung in the air between us, and as much as I wanted to beat him like I’d beat Ryan, I couldn't do it. I didn’t want to admit it, but I had seen a change in Hayley and she was the one that mattered most in this equation.
Sure, she was still a terrible employee—always had been, but she seemed happier now. And she wasn’t fake laughing and smiling like she usually did just to get me to leave her alone. Her happiness seemed genuine for a change.
I still can’t believe this shit...
“Corey...” I kept my voice firm. “If you break my little sister’s heart, if you are responsible for one f**king tear that comes out of her eyes, I will have you murdered. And then I’ll really go to work on you...”