The Initiation (Filthy Rich Americans 1)

Royce had his father on the ropes and wasn’t going to let up until he could claim victory. “It’ll be mine eventually. Signing the house over to me is really just a formality.”

“I was too generous.” A humorless smile twisted on Macalister’s handsome face. “I didn’t have to offer you anything. It was my money that brought her here. You didn’t make the deal and you don’t have any leverage.”

“I don’t?” Royce’s smug smile was almost as evil as his father’s had been. “Maybe things aren’t working out, and I break off the engagement. Doesn’t make much sense for her to keep living here, does it?”

If I wasn’t here, Macalister couldn’t control. He wouldn’t be able to get at me.

“One hundred thousand shares.”

Royce turned to stone, but I flinched for him. That had to be more than ten million dollars, and at that volume, it’d increase his stake in the company considerably—all while decreasing his father’s.

Macalister’s unexpected swing had landed and caught Royce off guard. He blinked rapidly, trying to clear the disorientation from the blow. It was so much money and power.

“One hundred thousand.” He repeated his father’s words because there was no way he’d heard them correctly.

Realizing his opponent was stumbling backward, Macalister went on the attack. “You’d have the second highest controlling stake in the company after me.”

Outwardly, there wasn’t a change in Royce, but still—it was unmistakable. I was on the edge of a collapsing cliff, and rather than help me, he took a step back. Brutal, unforgiving awareness washed through me.

He was going to save himself.

I’d been warned by both of them. Royce had told me the only thing he cared about was taking over at the company, and Macalister had said his son would sell me out the first chance he got. But no amount of warning could prepare me for the cold, distant look in Royce’s eyes. It was like he was already counting his stacks of money.

He was already planning how he’d use this new influence to his advantage.

Whatever deal they’d strike, they’d both lose. I’d never let Macalister get what he wanted, and Royce’s betrayal would be too much. But this wasn’t about winning me. It was a power struggle between father and son, and I was merely a pawn to battle over.

I had to do something, stop this from happening. He’d tell me the truth if it was only us. It burst from me. “I’d like to speak to Royce alone.”

“No.”

The word came instantly, but not from Macalister, and my insides broke like glass. Shock turned my head toward Royce. No? How could he deny me after everything I’d done for him? I’d waited. I’d let him keep me in the dark. I’d saved him from the worst of it in the dining room downstairs.

My voice shook just as I did. “You owe me at least a conversation.”

The man who I believed lived inside him, the one who’d been so caring in the wine cellar, was nowhere to be found. A terrified voice in my mind cried out that maybe he never existed at all. I’d been manipulated. I’d always known he was a spectacular liar. Perhaps the Hale who’d been telling me the truth was the one seated behind the desk and not the boy currently obliterating my heart.

Royce’s tone was impersonal. “I don’t owe you anything.”

The engagement ring on my hand was suddenly so tight and heavy, I wanted it gone. Hot tears stung my eyes.

“Don’t do this,” I whispered, but hearing my plea did nothing to break through his façade. I fractured, and hopelessness seeped through each crack, forcing them wider.

“Tell me again,” Macalister’s tone was condescending, “how it’s just about sex.”

His father’s challenge was the final blow.

“One hundred thousand shares,” Royce demanded, “and I want that in writing.” He said it fast, like a bandage being yanked off a wound, but it didn’t make the pain any easier.

I went numb as Macalister stood and held out his hand.

No, I wanted to scream, but horror held my tongue captive. He was going to destroy everything.

They say when someone shows you who they really are, you should believe them. Now I’d have no choice.

It all moved so slowly and too fast at the same time. Royce rose from his seat and clasped his father’s hand. Whatever was the truth between us, it died in that moment. It hurt to breathe, but then I didn’t have to because my body refused to work. Every system ground to a halt and shut down.

Like I wasn’t even in the room, Macalister gestured to the prenup on the desk. “I’ll have this revised to reflect your new assets.”

Royce nodded. He turned and started for the door, refusing to look at me. Maybe he couldn’t, or maybe he didn’t fucking care.

“Royce,” I hissed.

He paused.