Forbidden Kiss (Carson Cove Scandals 1)

“I’m sorry, Jon.” I sat down behind my desk and sighed.

“I got the notice this morning—the only way to keep my company is to go to trial and try to get a judge to enforce the original agreement.” He took a gulp of his drink. “My lawyer says the chances of that happening are pretty fucking low.”

“You still have to fight.” I narrowed my eyes. “You can’t give up.”

“It’s a fight that I won’t win, no matter what.” He took another drink. “The people I do business with? The blood will be in the water the instant they realize I may have to sell the company—distribution is a volatile business and if they think their sources might get compromised, they’ll find someone else to handle their account.”

“I’m sure your customers will be loyal…” I shook my head back and forth.

“If things are certain? Sure.” He nodded. “But they don’t know what will happen if someone buys the company. Hell, I don’t even know myself. The new owner could raise prices, negotiate contracts with their competitors—all of the stuff I would never do.”

“Fuck it.” I leaned forward. “I’ll buy Alcott Inc. Tell your lawyer to draw up the agreement.”

“What?” Jon blinked in surprise.

I can’t watch my best friend wallow in his own grief—nor can I stomach the thought of him losing everything.

“You’ll stay on as CEO. Nothing will change. You can settle with your ex-wife, and then you can buy the company back from me with the profits you make.” I nodded quickly.

“Fuck man, I can’t ask you to do that.” He drained his glass and shook his head. “You have too much going on with Benson Enterprises.”

“I trust you, Jon. I won’t be involved with the company at all. It’s basically a loan.” I stood up and walked over to grab the whiskey so I could refill his glass.

Jon was practically brought to tears when he realized that I was serious. A handshake didn’t make it official, but it did for me. Jon promised to have his lawyer get the paperwork together and clear the sale with his wife’s new counsel. I doubted there would be any issues—she just wanted the money and didn’t care where it came from.

I didn’t have any meetings scheduled after Jon, so I was alone in my office once he was gone. I sent a couple of messages to Taylor to see if she would be able to see me, but she had too much going on with school. If I couldn’t see her, the best thing to do was get some work done—especially since I was planning to buy Alcott Inc. I crunched a few numbers and realized that the purchase was going to stretch me thin. It wasn’t enough to hurt, but I wouldn’t be buying a Yacht anytime soon—not that I really had any intention of doing that anyway.

Jon doesn’t deserve to lose everything he’s worked for. Maybe this will take some sting out of the divorce and help him find a way to start healing—it’s the least I can do.

Chapter Fifteen

Taylor

The next day

I should have ended things with Bryant. I went to his house with every intention of doing it, but I couldn’t make myself say the words that needed to be said. I got lost in his stare—consumed by his touch—and as soon as he kissed me, the only place I wanted to be was in his arms. The last thing I should have done was melt into his embrace and have sex with him—that wasn’t fair when I knew the relationship had to end.

Focusing on school with everything else tumbling around in my head was difficult. My first couple of classes just turned into a blur. Thankfully, the information my professors were relaying came straight out of my textbooks, so I could look over it at home when I had a little more clarity—not that I thought there was going to be a switch I could flip and get it. The only way I was going to be able to find peace was to do what was so damn difficult—and I couldn’t keep delaying it if Victoria was planning to come home—especially if she wanted her parents to put aside their difference and reconcile. I had no idea if Bryant would go for it, but I didn’t want to be the reason that he wasn’t willing to consider it.

“You look like you’re a million miles away.” Melanie walked up to me in the hallway and gave me a nudge.

“Oh? Yeah…” I turned towards her. “I was just thinking about school stuff.”

“Maybe my grades would be better if I stood in the hallway and daydreamed about my classes.” She shook her head and laughed.

What the hell? Is that…why is she at my school?

“Uh…” I took a step to the side and motioned to the woman that was talking to one of the professors at Carson Cove University. “Why is Alexis Devereaux here?”

“Oh, her?” Melanie looked over her shoulder and shrugged. “She was invited by the dean to give a speech to some of the first-year students about being a successful woman in business—I guess you could call it a pep talk or something.”

“What does she know about being a successful woman in business?” My words left my lips before I even thought about it.

Unless she opened her speech by telling them to marry a guy with a lot of money—and a successful company.

“You’d be surprised.” Melanie turned back towards me. “There was a girl in

one of my marketing classes who was upset that they didn’t let seniors attend the speech. She said her dad used to work for Devereaux Properties and Alexis was the one calling the shots—she called her an inspiration.”