Then, Niles cheated on me with my best friend at the time. We broke up and everything spiraled from there. Dad threatened Mr. Tanner, who fired back with the release of some very personal information. Information that almost sent my father to prison. One of his former employees was embezzling money and somehow Mr. Tanner was able to pin it all on my dad. Nothing came of it, but when my dad filed a lawsuit for copyright infringement, it was found that there was money laundering happening at Tanner Enterprises. And that's what I will dig up if worse comes to worse. I overheard my dad talking about how crooked Richard Tanner is and that's when I was one-hundred-percent certain that I would never allow them to have a role in my father's business. Now that he's sick, they are trying harder than ever. Lance and I will have full authority and they are coming like snakes in the water, ready to wrap around us until we agree to merge.
Over my dead body.
Being that this house is so big, it takes us five minutes just to get to Nile’s wing. "Wait here a moment," Lester instructs me. He walks about eight feet to Nile’s bedroom and knocks quietly. "Mr. Tanner, Mira Glasson is here to see you."
Before Lester can drop his hand, the door flies open. Niles stands shirtless in a pair of gym shorts with his phone in his hand. The smirk he's wearing is egotistical at best. He's pleased with himself and has no idea that I'm about to wipe it off his face.
"And then she came running," Niles says in a cocky tone. His head is way too fucking big for that little brain of his. "Lester, you can go now." Niles waves a hand toward his room. "After you, darling."
I step past him to enter his lair and he purposely brushes his bare chest against my arm. Aside from his well-toned body, Niles is not attractive at all, at least not to me.
The room hasn't changed much. Still looks like a teenager’s living quarters. There's a mini kitchen to the right, a sitting area in the middle, and his bedroom furniture to the left. No wonder the kid doesn't leave. His mom probably still does his laundry, too. I shouldn't judge, my parents take care of me, but I have life goals and want to spread my wings and fly on my own one day.
Niles closes the door and I don't even turn around to look at him. My arms cross over my chest as I face the kitchen. "You think you're pretty clever, don't you?"
I can feel his presence draw closer. His warm breath slithering down my neck like tar. "No idea what you're talking about, Sunshine."
I spin on my heels to face him, refraining from smacking the smug look off his face. "Don't play dumb with me. I know you're the one who shared my return. Tito's? Really?"
"Maybe I just thought the city should know that there's a homewrecker lurking in the area."
I bite down hard, my jaw popping as I lift my hand and plant my palm right on his cheek. He just stands there, unaffected. "Why, Niles? What's your angle here?"
"My angle? Hmm, let's see. You agree to my terms before more information is shared. Face it, Mira, the companies will merge one way or another."
"Never. I'd sell the company myself before I let that happen."
Niles breaks out in hysterics, only enraging me further. "You'd really sell the company your father built just so you didn't have to marry me?"
I lean forward, invading his space and then grit through my teeth. "I'd burn the fucking place down before I ever let your dirty hands touch it."
"Have it your way. Burn the place down. Destroy your family’s dreams, your brother’s career, your nest egg.”
I have to get out of here before I do something I'll regret and throw this guy out a window just to keep his mouth shut.
Without a word, I pull open the door and walk out, slamming it behind me. Little good it does, because Niles opens it back up. Instead of following me, he hollers, "I've always loved fall weddings. What do you say, Sunshine?"
Ignoring him, I keep on my path. Down the hall. Down another hall. And another. A winding staircase. Through the corridor. Past the sitting room. Until, finally, I see the door. Lester stands abruptly from the chair beside the door. He folds the newspaper in his hand in half and drops it on the chair. "I hope you enjoyed your visit, Ms. Glasson. Will we be seeing you again soon?"
"Oh, you can count on it." Lester opens the door for me, but I stop in the doorway. "Lester, could you tell me what the trucks were for? Are the Tanners moving?"
"No, dear." He looks left, right, then behind him before speaking in a hushed tone. "The Tanners were forced to relinquish some of their assets." His brows rise. I've always known I liked this guy. The whole Tanner family treats him like shit and he deserves as much respect as a CEO or the President.
I smile kindly, thanking him without words. "Have a good day, Lester."
"You as well, dear." The door closes behind me. Well, I got a confession, which is more than I expected, and I now know that the Tanners are having some financial troubles. I'm not sure what that's all about, but I'm sure as hell going to find out.
Right now, though, I just want to see Sawyer and feel his arms around me.
Chapter Twelve
Sawyer
I'm cutting out early today to go talk to someone about a job prospect. By the sounds of it, I'll make six times the amount that this job at Glasson plans to pay me. It's exactly what I've wanted and I'd be a fool to pass it up.
Just as I'm about to walk out the revolving doors to the main entrance, my phone rings in my back pocket. I pull it out and see that it's another unknown number. This time, I decide to take it, just in case it's about the new job. "Hello?"
"Hey, Sawyer. It's Mia. I just got back and I really want to see you. Can you come up?"
"I was just heading out, but I've got a few minutes. I'll meet you up there." The call ends and I turn back around to take the elevator up to the corporate offices.
When I get upstairs, I see Mia standing in front of her desk, or the permanent assistant’s desk, that is. "Hey. What's wrong?" I walk to her side, brushing my fingers down her bare arm. She looks like she's on the brink of tears and I fucking hate it.
"Let's go into Mr. Glasson's office and talk where it's more private." I follow her lead, but I'm not sure how I feel about us being in here so much. I can't imagine the man in charge would like it.
As soon as the door closes, I'm at her side. My hands wrap around her waist and I pull her close. It's been three days since I've touched her and she hasn't left my mind since. "I've missed you," I mutter into the crease of her neck. Her head tilts, but she doesn't say anything. Pulling back, I look at her. "Something really is wrong, isn't it?"
"Just a bad day. This is making up for it, though."
"Well, maybe I can cheer you up with some good news.” I wasn't going to say anything until I knew for sure I’d get the job, but I'm hoping my good news will brighten her day.
"I love good news. Spill.”
"I got a call about a job. A good job."
"That's amazing. Is it local?"
I take her hand, pulling her over to the two-seat sofa. I drop down and pull her onto my lap. "It is. It's actually only fifteen minutes from here. It's a marketing director job and I was actually heading to talk to the guy in charge when you called."