Going Down Hard (Billionaire Bad Boys 3)
Page 63
Derek laughed, obviously pleased.
The waiter tilted his head and excused himself, pulling the door closed behind him, but he returned quickly and poured their wine, pausing for the ritual tasting.
Finally, though, they were alone.
“Well,” she said into the silence.
“Well.” He raised his glass. “To … us.”
Before she tapped her glass to his, she wanted him to know everything. She lowered the glass. “There are things I think you ought to know first.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Let me make this easy on you. Your brother was the one who stole the necklace, not my mother.”
“How do you know that?”
He leaned in close, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “I had a visitor. Someone else who wanted to make things right.”
Her mouth went dry. “Who?”
“Your father.”
She swallowed wrong and began to cough. She picked up the water and took a few sips, waiting until she could speak again.
“Are you okay?” Derek asked.
She managed a nod. “I don’t understand.”
“Apparently, your mother had a long talk with him following your discussion with her.”
“What did he say?”
“Believe it or not, he told me Spencer stole the necklace.”
“Did he apologize?” she asked hopefully.
Derek let out a laugh. “No, I wouldn’t say that. Not specifically. He did, however, excuse his behavior by saying he really had thought my mother took the jewelry. And then he said he wanted to make things right. With you and with my family.
Cassie’s insides were trembling at the thought of Derek meeting with her father. “How?” she whispered.
“To make up for being a bad father to you, and to make things right by me, he accepted the offer I made on the company all those months ago.”
Her head was spinning with the information Derek had given her and the implications of it all. “Slow down. How did he know you made the offer?”
“Investigation.”
“Does that mean Spencer’s no longer chairman?”
Derek nodded, the pleasure he got from that change evident in the broad smile on his face. “Your father hadn’t yet finalized your brother’s transfer of power in writing. He was still in charge of the company, and of course, he still holds majority stock. He can make any decision he chooses. And he chose to sell to me. I, in turn, chose to throw your brother out on his entitled ass.”
“I’m speechless,” she murmured.
“Good, because I’m not finished. I have more to say.”
She blinked, sensing something big was coming. “What is it?” she asked.
“I’m signing the company over to you.”
“What? You can’t do that!” she said, her hands beginning to shake.