Page 22 of An Alpha's Romance

Brooke sighed loudly. “He might be blue collar, but he’s a millionaire. Plus, he’ll keep me in the life that I’ve grown up in, I’m accustomed to being pampered, and Conner will make sure that I am. And he’s pretty to look at.” Brooke giggled, but Conner’s frown deepened.

Brooke didn’t defend his character, or his love for her. Shit, she didn’t even claim to love him. All she could say was that he could keep her pampered… The hell?

“Oh my God, Brooke! Your father can take care of you until you find a suitable husband. You can’t just bring any trash off the street into this world.”

Annalise was wrong, and what she didn’t know was that Brooke’s father had cut her off. His newest bride made sure of that. Brooke was given a lump sum and thrown into the deep end to sink or swim on her own. And Brooke was sinking fast.

When Conner met her, she was working in a high end boutique as a clerk. He was well aware that she was struggling with her bills although she would pretend that she wasn’t. Conner didn’t know until months later that she had grown up wealthy.

“Annalise…” Brooke whined like a child, “Conner is suitable. He does anything that I say, and he has money. If I married someone within our circle, I would have to be second best to his family. Conner puts me above everyone else, even his ghastly family.” Conner could see her face break into a triumphant smile.

“It won’t take me long to separate him from them. Once I get that ring on my finger, and we’re married, I’ll be sure to start cutting them off one by one until I’m all he has left.” She cackled like a villain in a horrible low budget movie.

“What about children?” Annalise asked, and he could almost picture a horrified expression on her face.

“Children?” Brooke laughed. “I would never. He doesn’t have the pedigree or the background to raise children in upper society. You can only buy your way in so far. Anyway, my body isn’t made for children.” Brooke said almost absently.

Conner was horrified, but he could finally recognize the person that he had failed to see.

Conner never revealed to her that he heard the conversation. He just told her that things weren’t working out, and he didn’t want to see her anymore. They weren’t living together, and they weren’t even engaged. He couldn’t believe that Brooke was simply using him for his money. It hurt. The thought of him putting his all into a woman that didn’t give a damn about him, cut him deep. But the thing that pissed him off the most, was her plans for his family. No woman would ever come between him and his family.

As Conner sat across from Brooke, he thought that maybe it was time to tell her what he overheard, so that she could understand there was no going back for them.

“We need to work this out between us. We were good together once, and we can get back to that.” Brooke whined with an insincere smile on her pretty face.

Conner could see her so clearly now.How could I have been so blind?

Conner sighed and put his hands on the table. Brooke placed her cold hands on top of his. She smiled victoriously when he didn’t immediately move.

“Brooke, we will never go back… or forward. We. Are. Done.”

Brooke sighed dramatically. “I know you think that…”

Conner shook his head. “I heard your conversation with Annalise.”

The shocked expression on Brooke’s face was priceless. And Conner finally had hope that she would get it.

“You will never get a chance to separate me from my family.” Conner shook his head firmly then smirked. “Or my money.” He removed his hands from beneath hers. “You have a nice life. If you continue to harass me, I’ll take out a restraining order. Just think about what yourcirclewould say about that.”

Brooke’s face turned grim, and then red. She snatched up her purse and coat and stormed out of the restaurant.

Conner knew that his Brooke problem was effectively solved.