Bound Beneath His Pain (Dirty Little Secrets 1)

“I went back over Richardson’s financials,” Travis continues. “And considering we’re requesting a meeting with Bennett, I thought this conversation shouldn’t wait.”

“Go on,” I say.

Anderson speaks now, voice grim. “It’s still not looking good. In fact, reading the reports a second time makes things appear worse.”

Before I can reply to ask for more details, Isabella adds, “We bought Richardson as an acquisition. If the plan was to save the company, we should have offered less than what we paid, and then used keeping the company alive as a bargaining technique. We all know that Henry Richardson would’ve sold for less if he thought someone would keep the company afloat. We backed him into a corner and gave him no choice but to sell to us, because we paid him more than our competitors offered.”

“She’s right,” Anderson agrees. “In time, of course we could see success with Richardson. But hiring Bennett Inc. to give the company a deeper look only takes away from our profit. And we all know that this isn’t an easy fix. Bennett’s team will need to stay around for at least a quarter to get things moving in the right direction, which won’t come cheap. It’ll be a good year or two before we ever see a return on the investment.”

I ponder taking the rest of Richardson’s employees and moving them into Holt, but immediately toss out that idea. That’s the simplest answer to this conundrum. But, right now, we don’t have a big enough residential real estate department to support them and likely won’t for some time—which is why I originally acquired Richardson, so we could grow that business at Holt.

“Which brings us back to my original point,” Isabella adds, dryly. “Why are we doing this? Financially, strategically, it doesn’t make sense, Micah.”

I hesitate, considering my next steps. It is possible to come up with a new direction for Richardson that will somehow benefit Holt. I feel my instincts telling me not to give up yet, and I never doubt myself in regard to business.

My team isn’t seeing the possibility, because I pay them not to see it. They make smart financial decisions for Holt, and this isn’t a smart decision. But I won’t force them to agree either. The last thing I want is a bunch of drones—yes-people—around me.

I realize this can’t work for Holt, because it’s about me. This is a personal decision I made because of Allie. Richardson is my risk. “I hear what you’re saying and I know what I need to do.” Either go back on my word with Allie or take this on as a personal investment. “Leave this with me for now, so I can make some decisions.”

“All right, Micah,” says Anderson, voice strong in support of me. “You’ll let us know of your plans?”

“I will.” I end the call then drop my phone back into my duffel bag.

The game is changed now. Financially it makes no sense to dump money into Richardson, but I gave Allie my word in that second of complete insanity. A second where I acted like someone I didn’t even know. Yet now it doesn’t seem so insane anymore. I saw something in her then that I didn’t want to disappoint. I still see that in her now. I’m done questioning my choices. I’m done acting like a guy I don’t know.

I concur. I overpower. I take whatever the fuck I want to take.

“You should’ve warned me of your mood.” My driver’s, Levi Ward’s, amused voice drags me from my thoughts. He scrapes a hand over his buzzed-cut brown hair, his wise copper eyes assessing me. “Then I might have brought an ice pack with me.”

“Pussy.” I grin.

He barks a laugh, dropping down on the bench next to me, and begins removing his running shoes. Levi’s not only the best fighter I know, he’s more like family to me than a hired driver.

His father, Arthur, had worked as my parents’ butler since my birth. But five years ago, I gave him a million-dollar retirement package to walk away with that he could not refuse, forcing his retirement.

Levi’s father had been kind to me.

He pitied me during my childhood, and brought Levi over so I didn’t spend my days surrounded by adults who talked business. My life was different than Levi’s, but our youth together bound us so strongly that I knew Levi didn’t want from me like everyone else did. There’s no one in my life I trust more than Levi. That’s why he’s my driver.

“So, do tell, what did the world do to piss you off today?” Levi asks, pulling me from my thoughts. “And how badly will you punish me for it?” I see the fire in his eyes for the fight ahead. Perhaps it’s his military background or that we grew up together or it’s his nature, but Levi doesn’t hold back when fighting me. And he’s nearly as good as me in the cag

e, being trained in mixed martial arts alongside me while growing up.

What I want to say is that a woman is weakening me, leading me to make bad business decisions, and is seeing past all my expertly crafted barriers. I feel the heat of the beast swirling within, and that fire needs to stay buried, while I pursue the sweet, innocent Allie. But she also has me by the balls, making me do things I would never otherwise do, and I don’t like it.

Instead of saying all of that, I reach into my duffel bag and grab my gloves. “No one pissed me off. It’s business.”

“I’ve never seen you like”—Levi freezes halfway from reaching for something out of his bag and studies me long and hard—“this over business before.”

I slide my left hand into the open-fingered glove then tighten the strap around my wrist. “It’s because it’s not entirely business.”

Levi pulls out his gloves and starts laughing, shaking his head. “Ah, so that’s what this is all about—a woman. Of course. I should have known that the second I saw the look on your face.”

I snort, putting the glove on my right hand and tightening the wristband. “I’m not even going to dignify that with a comment.”

Levi rises, grinning at me. “So, princess, what are you going to do about your dilemma?”

“First, I’m going to kick your ass for calling me princess.” I slap my gloves together, standing in front of him, wearing a smile I know could intimidate some, but doesn’t intimidate Levi. “And then I’ll decide what to do about the girl.”