Daddy's Rich Enemy

“Allie, you really are growing up,” she says. “But don’t you want to wait until after class?”

I shake my head. “No. I have to go now. If I don’t, I’ll lose my nerve.”

Mara nods. She looks nervous and excited – if she looks like that, I’m sure I look like a complete mess!

I take a deep breath. “I’ll call you later,” I say.

Mara pulls me into a deep hug. “Good luck,” she says. “Not because I think you’ll need it, but just because you’re my best friend and I care.”

Leaving campus, I expect to feel anxious and scared. Strangely, though, I feel as light as I’ve ever felt. By the time I descend into the subway, there’s a huge grin on my face.

I may have wasted a lot of time in my life, but I’m sure as heck not going to waste this chance.

Chapter Eighteen

Dane

The press conference leaves me exhausted and wrung out.

They all do.

Ever since James Carter was arrested, my life has been one never-ending press conference.

I’ve had to resort to traveling around the city in a giant pair of aviator shades just to stay out of sight. There are always hungry reporters outside of Lockdown now, milling around like bugs that I want to crush beneath my Ferragamo loafers.

I almost wish that he hadn’t been arrested.

At least then, I wouldn’t be tortured by thoughts of Allie. Knowing that her father is gone makes it worse than ever. She’s so close to me and yet so far at the same time.

But I have to stay away from her. I’ve already done too much. I can’t ruin an innocent girl’s life with my sadistic perversions.

No, Allie has to grow up and find someone who will worship every robust curve of her soft body.

“Mr. Andersen?”

Lea’s timid voice brings me back to reality and I sigh as I turn around to face her. She’s standing in the doorway to my office, wearing an unflattering suit and a fearful expression.

“What?”

“Hanson is downstairs for you,” she says. “You’re taking the afternoon off, remember? The real estate agent is coming by to appraise your condo and I’ve arranged for you to meet with her in half an hour.”

“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath. “All of this shit made me forget.”

“I’m sure you can make it if you leave quickly,” Lea says hopefully. She holds out my briefcase.

After a second, I snatch it from her. The last thing I want to do is spend an hour with a real estate agent – somehow, they’re the only professionals more annoying than lawyers – but I don’t have a choice.

I’ve decided to move out of the city. Realistically, the attention from James isn’t going to die down until after his trial, and his lawyer is good enough to push that back as long as he can. I’m sick of dealing with greedy assholes outside of my building who think it’s their God-given right to shove a lens in my face.

I haven’t decided where to go yet. A total change of pace would be nice. I’ve been in the city for almost twenty years.

After donning my coat and giant sunglasses, I head down to the parking garage. Hanson is waiting right by the door with the Town Car and I crawl into the back without greeting him.

As he drives me home, I close my eyes and sink into the soft leather seat. For one of the first times in my life, I feel truly old. I should feel triumphant and happy, but instead I feel like crawling into a cave and sleeping for a thousand years.

God, what happened to me? When did I lose my lust for life?

Inside, I know the answer. Ever since Allie left with tears in her eyes on that morning, I’ve been a soulless husk of a man. It doesn’t even matter that James will never threaten me again.