Intense (Dark Hearts)

“Okay. I may have lied. He was going to keep you away from me. I couldn’t let him do that.”

“From this point on, don’t ever speak to me again. I want nothing to do with you. Find your own way. Fuck some other poor sap into giving you everything, but you’ve fucked up my life for the final time. Goodbye.”

I pull my copy of her key out of my pocket, rub it with my handkerchief so my fingerprints aren’t on it and then dump it in the bowl by the door and walk out, slamming the door behind me.

I choke on the truth as I take the elevator down.

As soon as I’m in my car, I speed out of the city. Then I take out my phone and dial.

“Dad,” I whisper.

“It’s good to hear from you, son.” Tears slip down my cheeks as I think about all the time wasted. “How about we do lunch?”

“Name the place.” I make a quick turn-around and head back into the city to right a wrong.

Chapter One

Roman

I loosen my tie after another long day at the office. It’s been two weeks of straight meetings, including the weekends. That’s what I asked for. That’s what I wanted. I own an empire at the age of thirty because I live a life without distractions. I sigh as I power down my computer. It’s nearly six, and I’m just calling it a day. My soul is tired. Sometimes, I wonder if I’ve really lived at all, though.

My phone rings, and I don’t want to pick up the damn thing. I’ve chased dreams, tackled goals, and made a name for myself that my dad would be proud of. Well, the man I call my dad, although we haven’t spoken in two months. Normally he reaches out to me, but lately I’ve been unavailable for more than a minute or two because I’m at the point where I’ve reached global status and everyone wants my time. I’ve just purchased another failing company, and I have six months to turn it around. It’s what I do, and I’m great at it.

Running my hands through my thick black hair, I make a mental note to visit my barber. My cell phone rings again, and I angrily pick it up to curse out whoever’s calling when I read the caller ID. Madison General Hospital. What the fuck? I answer immediately. “Roman Edwards speaking.”

“Hello, my name is Jenny Stewart, and I’m a nurse at Madison General. I’m calling because your father has been taken into surgery and you’re his emergency contact.”

I can actually feel the color leach from my face. “What? I’m on my way there.” I hang up without asking for any details because I’m too damn frantic to think straight. I buzz for my assistant, and she enters my office while I’m packing up. “Inga, I need you to cancel all my meetings for the next twenty-four hours. I have to head to Madison now.”

Her brows knit in confusion. “Madison?”

“Wisconsin,” I add.

She sighs with a frown. “Oh. I thought you’d finally found a girlfriend.”

Now it’s my turn to look at her crazily. “Don’t be silly. Forward anything important to my email.”

“Yes, boss. What about the Mitchem meeting? It’s a big one, and you pushed it back last week to handle the Sorenson one.”

“Damn it. Okay—keep it on the books. I’ll be back for it by then.” I hope it’s a minor scare. Suddenly I feel like a little boy all over again.

Storming out of my New York office with my briefcase in hand, I call my driver. “Be ready to get to the airport in ten. Call my pilot. I need to be in Madison ASAP.” My penthouse apartment is in my company’s building because I don’t like to waste time on travel, so I head to the elevators, pressing the button frantically. As soon as I’m up there, I see my housekeeper, Grizelda. “I’m leaving in five minutes. No need to cook for tonight. I’ll be back tomorrow night.”

“Yes, Mr. Edwards.” She’s a nice older woman who came highly recommended three years ago, but I don’t speak to her about anything other than my home and food requirements.

I dash into my bedroom and pull out my typical travel case, in which I quickly pack a change of clothes and my toiletries. I’m walking out the door within three minutes.

My relationship with my dad has been strained over the years because of my mother. I cut ties with her five years ago when I learned of her deception, and then I begged my dad to come back into my life. He welcomed me with open arms. Still, it hasn’t been an easy road because I’ve let go of any love for anything but money. I don’t chase women. I don’t believe in happily ever after. Fuck, I’m a thirty-year-old virgin because one woman fucked up my whole reality, turning me into a soulless machine.