I nod my head in their direction as I walk up to the counter. Isaac comes up beside me, “I’ve already got your latte on the table.”
I snarl, “What’s he doing here?”
Isaac sighs, “He’s been staying with me. As soon as I told him about bumping into you yesterday, he didn’t hesitate in coming here to meet you.”
“You should have warned me.”
“If I did Olivia would you have come?”
That’s an easy question as I reply, “No.”
Most people wouldn’t be able to resist when someone dangles millions of dollars in front of them, to spend time with a woman. One that’s as innocent as I was until I found out their dirty secret.
Sure, Neil is the mastermind behind the plot, but if Isaac had even an ounce of integrity, he would have told his grandfather to go to hell. But instead, he went along with the plot so that he could be filthy rich.
“Olivia,” Neil says as I approach the table. “You look as radiant as ever.” I ignore him. I can’t even bear to be in the same room with him right now.
“Thanks for coming, Olivia,” Isaac adds as I pull out a chair.
“I wasn’t expecting you, Neil?” I say. “I hope you feel as good as you look seeing as you’re not dying.”
“I was afraid you might not come if I told you my granddad was coming,” Isaac says, and I don’t hesitate in replying, “I would have moved to another city to be as far away from him as possible.”
I lift up my latte and put it back down. All of a sudden I don’t feel like drinking coffee.
“How’s Autumn?” I wasn’t going to reveal how much I missed my horse, but the moment I saw Neil my love for Autumn washed over me, and I felt overwhelmed.
“She’s doing great. I brush her daily. But, I can tell she misses you.”
I sigh. “I miss her too. Maybe I’ll find a stable here in town and bring her to Houston once I get a job.”
I see Neil flinch when I suggest bringing Autumn to the city and boarding her here.
“Of course. She’s your horse, and you can do as you please. I’m sure you know she loves being there on the ranch, and she may have a hard time adjusting to being in a different place, particularly one that is so different from what she’s used to.”
“Yeah, well we don’t always get what we want, do we, Isaac?” I can’t help asking as I glance at him.
“Olivia, I’m trying, as hard as I can” He motions to his grandfather. “We’re both trying.”
I don’t answer. I ju
st take another sip of my latte. I’m waiting for one of them to tell me why we’re here, but it’s clear that they’re great at manipulating people but not fantastic at confessing when they’re in the wrong.
Chapter 15
Isaac
I can’t believe that we’re just sitting here facing each other and no one’s saying a thing. Granddad begged me to tag along, and he’s not even making an effort. I watch as Olivia tries to sip on her coffee and then she doesn’t have the means to taste it. I don’t blame her; I don’t feel like drinking myself.
“I want to try again, Olivia.”
“What?”
Both Olivia and Granddad blurt it out at the same time.
“I’ve forgiven granddad for what he did. My dad killed himself in our house. Maybe he was pushed for the business or whatever, that’s all in the past. I was living a dangerous life, and he saw an opportunity to help me. What he did with you was inexcusable, but I know that in time he did it out of love. He’s not a mean man. You’ve lived with him for two years. Did you at any point think that his feelings for you were of a man that’s just using you?”
She shakes her head, but I know that I shouldn’t guilt trip her into this because it wasn’t just her fault.