Page 30 of Fated Love with You

“I’m not making a request.”

“Then you’re wasting your breath.”

“Ryder—”

“I protect anyone and everyone who I care about, and that now includes you—” he doesn’t let me finish. “This isn’t a fucking punishment.”

“Then it’s a complete disregard of privacy.”

“My men aren’t getting into bed with you or listening to your phone calls.”

I have a feeling that might be next. “You can’t force me to work under you,” I say instead.

“We’ll agree to disagree,” he says. “Why did you pack a getaway bag?”

My eyes widen. “What?”

“You heard me,” he says. “Are you planning to go somewhere when you leave this store tonight?”

“This is exactly what I mean about lack of privacy…” My voice falters. “Since your men tell you everything I do, ask them.”

“Okay.” He slips a hand around my neck, craning my head closer to his, rendering me powerless with his touch. “I’m not going to ask you again.”

“How about you answer some of the hundreds I’ve asked you first?”

“Your ex-husband’s firm owed me money,” he says. “That’s how we know each other. Satisfied?”

“How much money?”

“An excessive amount.”

“Can I get a ballpark figure?”

“After you tell me that you’ll unpack your bag.”

“Fine.” I shrug. “I’ll unpack it.”

“Good.” He pulls a few hundred-dollar bills from his wallet and slips them into my pocket. “I don’t like the idea of you paying for anything, so use those, and I’ll see you soon.”

“What about?—”

He presses a finger against my lips before I can ask the question.

“Twenty-six million dollars,” he says, looking upset, but then his expression softly shifts as he steps back. “I’ll be waiting for you at the estate.”

I nod, my mind spinning from the amount as he walks away.

“Oh, and Autumn?” he says, looking over his shoulder.

“Yes?”

“Don’t ever pack another bag to get away from me…”

End of Episode 10

Close to the Vest

EPISODE 11