Saying Yes to the Boss

Carson chuckled bitterly. “So he’d rather talk about me with you than actually see me or spend time with me now that he knows I’m his son?”

Georgia looked genuinely pained by his words. “You know, I don’t think he’s the villain you’ve made him out to be. All you know about him is what your mother told you and what you’ve learned from your cutthroat business dealings. I really think you need to spend time with him and form your own opinion.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s your father, Carson. You should at least give him a chance to be one to you.”

“Yes, because that plan worked out so well for you and your mother.” Carson snapped. It was a low blow, but he didn’t care. She didn’t understand what she was asking of him.

“I don’t regret it, though. Yes, it didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped, but at least I tried. I learned more about my past and my family—things I never would’ve known if I hadn’t taken the chance. Yes, it cost me some personal belongings and some emotional pain, but it was worth it. You won’t even give Sutton the chance.”

After everything that had happened with her mother, and after Georgia had been at his side through all the drama with Sutton, Carson couldn’t fathom why she would encourage him to spend time with his father. “I don’t understand why you’re pushing so hard for this. Whose side are you on, anyway?”

“I’m on your side, of course. Your situation with Sutton is different from mine with my mother. You’ve got a better shot at making this work. I would just hate for you to miss the opportunity to have a relationship with your father. That’s what you’ve always wanted, right? You’ve lost so much time already. Every moment you can have with him is precious.”

Sutton had said something to her. He’d woven some sob story to lure her over to his side, because she’d never stood up for him like this before. Did twenty million buy her loyalties? “What did he say to you today? What’s changed?”

Georgia looked at him with conflict lining her eyes. “I can’t tell you.”

“You can’t or you just won’t? Where do your loyalties lie, Georgia? It sounds like you’re choosing Sutton over me.”

She gave him an indignant frown and crossed her arms over her chest. “I am not choosing Sutton over you. I want you. I only want you. I just care for you very much, and I know how important this is.”

“If you cared for me, you’d tell me what he said,” Carson stated.

“I can’t. I gave my word that I wouldn’t tell anyone before he got to talk to everyone, including you. I’m telling you this much because I care and I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret later. You’re going to have to trust me on this.”

“Trust you? How can I trust you when you’ve been spending so much time with him under the guise of being a spy? When my corporate rival sends me a check for twenty million dollars with you as the only courier he trusts? Am I not right to get a little suspicious?”

Georgia’s eyes widened. “Twenty million dollars?”

Was she really surprised? “What? You didn’t know how much he’d written it for? Certainly he didn’t give me this much out of the kindness of his heart. This had to be some kind of payment, like you’ve earned every penny on your back.”

Georgia gasped, her mouth dropping open in surprise. “That’s a hateful thing to say, Carson. My dedication to your mother’s charity only goes so far. I have not, nor would I ever, have something to do with Sutton outside business.”

“Why else would he give me that much? Does he have a sudden fondness for sick children?” He shook his head and put the check on the counter. “I guess I should give you a raise for going above and beyond for the company. Not everyone at the Newport Corporation has that much dedication to their job.”

* * *

Georgia stumbled back as though he’d struck her. It truly felt as though he had. She reached out for the counter to stabilize herself and gather her wits. “You can take that raise and shove it, along with the job, Mr. Newport. I thought we really had something, but I was being naive. You’ve spent your whole life thinking you aren’t good enough and didn’t deserve a woman’s love, so you wouldn’t know it if it bit you. You’d rather push me away, so fine. Your wish is granted. If you can’t trust me, then we don’t have anything. I didn’t go behind your back and I didn’t sleep with your father. I don’t want to be with someone, or work for someone, who could ever think otherwise.”

His brow raised in surprise. “You’re quitting?”

“Yes. I think I am.”

Carson crossed his arms defensively over his chest. “Are you going to run back to Sutton and beg for that job he offered you?”

“I’m not going to dignify that with an answer. I knew it was a bad idea to get involved with you. I shouldn’t have let my emotions rule my head. Lesson learned.”

Turning on her heel, she marched out of Carson’s apartment. Angry tears streamed down her cheeks as she exited the building and stopped at the street corner to wait for the light. She pulled a tissue out of her purse and blew her nose. She was getting tired of crying.

The day had started out so well. She’d been basking in her newly discovered love for Carson and her budding relationship with her mother. And now, only twelve hours later, she had nothing—including a reason to stay around Chicago. She needed a break from this town.

Raising her arm to hail a taxi, she climbed inside one as it stopped at the curb.

“Where to?” he asked.

“O’Hare Airport.”