Cruel (The Buck Boys Heroes 2)

I hold tightly to the handle, wanting to maintain control over something. “Thank you, but I’m fine.”

He offers me a small smile. “I realize this may seem unorthodox, Juliet, but I assure you that you’ll find your office comfortable.”

“I’m sure I will,” I say, even though I don’t believe it because I didn’t think I’d ever step foot in the penthouse again.

“Shall we head up?” I take one last long lingering look at the SUV that I just climbed out of.

It’s my escape route. It’s the way back to the normalcy of the life I had up until a few days ago.

It’s also the direct route to either my desk in the RumorMel office or more likely, the unemployment line.

“I’m ready,” I say with all the confidence I can muster as I head into the building where Kavan Bane is sitting in wait for me.

I get the once-over as soon as I enter the penthouse.

Mr. Bane, dressed in a dark gray three-piece suit, black button-down shirt, and matching tie, rakes me from head-to-toe.

I look professional. My outfit won’t win any awards for best-dressed journalist, but it’s fine.

I’m here to gain insight into the stunning man in front of me. That’s my only objective.

“I trust that the drive here was satisfactory.”

It was in a luxury SUV with a free hot cup of coffee and delicious berries and grapes.

I usually take the subway to work, so this edges out that ten-fold.

“Yes, it was fine,” I say because I don’t want to focus on a car ride when there are much more important things to discuss.

“I have a conference call shortly.” He glances at the big silver watch on his wrist.

It’s an Abdons watch.

I know that because several of the celebrities I’ve chased after for stories have had similar watches.

“All right,” I offer in response.

“Nigel will show you to your office.” His hand motions to a corridor. “If you require anything, he’ll help you.”

I nod.

“We’ll get started once my call is done.” He glances at Nigel. “I need you back at the office by eleven to meet…”

“Understood,” Nigel interrupts him in a rush as if Mr. Bane was about to reveal the name of someone notorious.

“Mrs. Baxter,” Kavan finishes his thought.

That’s a name I know, and there’s nothing notorious about her. Beverly Baxter heads a charity that is focused on helping young pregnant women. Baxter House provides lodging and medical care. They also have many programs that support the moms and their children after birth and beyond.

In the limited research I’ve done on Bane Enterprises, I haven’t found a link between Baxter House and Bane Enterprises.

I make a mental note to question Kavan about that.

He studies my face. “I’ll speak with you soon, Juliet.”

I stand next to Nigel as I watch Kavan walk down a corridor and disappear into a doorway before the door softly closes.

“Are you ready to see your office?” There’s a bright note in Nigel’s voice.

I look up at him. “How long have you known him?”

I can tell he’s debating whether or not he should answer the question. His eyes flit across my face before he looks down. “I was one of the first people to hold him after he was born.”

As hard as that image is to render in my mind, I try.

“His life has been spotted with misery, Juliet.” He lowers his voice. “He’s come out of that with a level of strength that I admire.”

Adjusting the strap of my purse over my chest, I nod. “You care about him.”

He lets out a heavy exhale. “Like a son.”

If a man as gentle as Nigel sees Kavan in that light, he can’t be as bad as all the books I bought portray him to be.

“I trust him with my life,” he adds. “There is no one else on earth that I can say that about.”

I take in the slight smile on his face.

It suddenly disappears and is replaced with laughter. “Don’t quote me on that, Juliet.”

I laugh too. “Consider it off the record.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Kavan

Scrubbing a hand over my forehead, I slam my phone on my desk.

My father’s connections in business are still haunting me.

He was the type of man who bought up companies that could barely stay afloat. With his magic touch, they’d blossom into something formidable. That always made the former owners proud.

Under my leadership, many of those same subsidiaries have breathed their last breath.

That’s not a reflection of my business acumen. It’s more about the ebb and flow of the economy and new trends that have taken over.

The conference call that just ended included two men who worked closely with my father for decades. They sought out those struggling businesses, made the introductions with my father and the owners, and took his direction when helping build them up.

Recently, I put both of them on notice.

They are well past the age of retirement, and it’s time for them to move on and enjoy the trappings of the salaries and bonuses my father set them up with.