Hate to Love You (Strong Brothers 4)

“I guess I can call her later. I had such a lovely time with her. She’s so smart and clever.”

I gritted my teeth. “She won’t be seeing you again.” Andi would rip my dick off if she knew I was doing this. She would see my actions as being brutish. I could picture her telling me what she did or didn’t do was her own decision and I had no right to intervene. I had every right, I thought. She was mine, another sentiment she wouldn’t like.

Chen arched a brow. “Am I encroaching on your territory? I'll admit, I had a feeling that you might have a problem with my relationship with Andi.”

“You don’t have a relationship beyond a professional one,” I said, trying not to reach over his desk and throttle him. “And

that one ends today.”

“Oh? Why? Did you fire her?”

I jerked back. “No. Why would I fire her?”

He shrugged as he sat back in his chair, resting his elbows on the arms and steepling his fingers. “Because she was seeing me. Clearly you don’t like it.”

I shook my head to regain control of this meeting. “I’m here because I know you’re the one fucking with our supply chain.”

I waited for him to deny it, but instead he studied me for a moment and then clapped his hands. “Bravo. I’ll be honest, I didn’t think an unfocused party boy would figure it out. Turns out Margaret was right. You are good at computers.”

This was a joke to him. “So, you’re admitting it?”

“No. Of course not. I’m not stupid either.” The sinister smile on his face told me he did do it. “I am concerned that you’re about to accuse me of something for which you have no proof. You can’t break our contract without ruining your business here, and I have enough influence to make sure that you can’t find new sources. Before you say any more, perhaps you need to call your grandmother. Get permission as I doubt she’s handed over that much responsibility to you.”

My teeth ground at his words. This was the reason I didn’t want to work with the family in the first place. How could I be respected if everyone believed I didn’t earn my position?

“I don’t need my grandmothers permission to withdraw from a contract from a partner that is fucking us over. I have the proof and am sending it to the lawyers.”

To Chen’s credit, he seemed completely unfazed. It was almost as if he was expecting this. Maybe even wishing for it. “You’re welcome to tie up the court’s time and slow down your family’s expansion, or we can make a deal.”

“Deal?” What the fuck was he talking about?

“We could be partners.”

“You’re already partners with Strong Incorporated.”

He shook his head and had an expression that suggested I was dense. “Not the company. You and me. Let me buy your interest in Strong Incorporated, and we can use my network to expand through the world.”

He had to be kidding me. I had an interest in the company that I controlled since I turned twenty-one. While I’d never intended to work for the company, I wasn’t going to sell my share, and if I did, it would be to my family.

“Sabotaging a company isn’t the best way to negotiate a business deal,” I said. “I’m certainly not going to do business or trust someone who’d resort to those tactics.”

He sighed. “Such a shame.”

I stood. “I’ll see you in court.”

He nodded. “Of course. I hope you’ll be good to Andi.”

My brows furrowed. What the fuck? “You don’t need to worry about her.”

He looked at his watch. “I’m sorry, but I have another date.”

“No problem. I’m done with you anyway.” I left his office. On my way out of the building, I called my grandmother, even though it was late in San Diego. She was able to conference us in the call with my brothers as well. I told them what we’d found and what Chen had said.

“I’ll call the lawyers,” Ryan said.

“How did he breach the system?” Carter asked.

“We know the hack came from here, but we haven’t located the malware source. We’re working on that. I’ve already called the IT people there to review docs sent to the main office and we’re searching here.”