Page 70 of How to Break My Heart 1

It was five hours of torture listening to plans of how wecouldcome out on top after my father single-handedly destroyed my hard work from the past year. The Beaumont Group is known for its property investments, and my father’s ego is causing our stakeholders to lose confidence in us. Thispanic planis not how I intended to spend the last five hours.

“That is the result of my father giving zero fucks,” I answer coldly.

I push the chair back and stand, facing the window. With my arms crossed, I give myself a much-needed moment to think.

“We need to come up with a game plan. Strategize against these old fuckers because this willnothappen. You worked your ass off the last year, and those acquisitions will go ahead, mark my words,” Will responds sternly. “Your father has officially gone mad.”

“He certainly has,” I mumble, gazing at the tall buildings surrounding us. “I need some time to think about how to handle this.”

“But time is of the essence,” Will reminds me. “Look, I know you have your sister’s wedding, but do you really need to go back to Cinnamon Springs?”

“Yes, eventually. There’s other business I need to take care of.”

Will remains silent behind me, but then he can’t resist when I don’t offer. “What other business?”

I turn around. “Just someone.”

“Someone?” Will grins annoyingly, only to shake his head. “Are you getting laid in your small town?”

My lips press together into a grimace, refusing to answer his question. Technically, I amnotgetting laid, despite thinking about how sweet Everleigh would be to fuck. I’ve laid in bed every single night since I felt her explode all over my fingers,thinking about ways to forget it happened so I can move on with my life.

“I am not,” I state simply. “Things have gotten a little complicated with someone from the past.”

Will nods with an arrogant smirk. “I know that look, buddy. Been there, and hey, look at me now.”

My lips curve. “You’re married to the ball and chain?”

“Hush. You let Amelia hear you say that, and you’ll wish you’d never said a word.” Will grabs his phone and slides it into his pocket. “Let’s sort out this shit here so you can go back to your small town and get laid by whoever it is you can’t stop obsessing over.”

“I don’t obsess over a woman.” I’m quick to set him straight, clearing my throat and fixing my cuff links. “That’s not my style.”

Will rests his hand on my shoulder. “It may not be your style, but with the right woman, you’ll have no control. Mark my words, Beaumont.”

The week doesn’t get any better. I fly to DC to meet with an investor to ensure we still have them on board despite the legal proceedings surrounding my father. Our attorneys are working around the clock, but assure me this will be settled in the next few weeks, and business will resume as usual. I crave normalcy, wishing I could sleep at night without all this grief weighing on me. I’m surviving on caffeine and adrenaline to get me through the back-to-back meetings. It’s taking its toll on me, but I know I can’t slow down. The moment I slow down will be the moment the wheels come off the tracks, and my father will have another thing to hold over my head.

I sit in another meeting, wired on my third espresso of the day. A text message from Ramona, oddly, finds its way to me. The random question surprises me, since I forgot all about Ramona. I ignore the message, not wanting to meet for dinner. Aside from the fact that I couldn’t think of anything worse, I’m in the city with far too much work on my plate.

Then, my phone pings again.

Little Brat

BTW, Everleigh made Ramona text you. Please don’t sleep with her then ghost. This wedding is already stressful enough.

The text catches my attention. It makes no sense that she would encourage me to date another woman unless, of course, Everleigh wants to date someone else.

That thought pushes me into action.

I need to be back in Cinnamon Springs.

“Gentlemen, I need to be somewhere important.”

Will observes me with a smug expression. As for Lex Edwards, his father-in-law, I expect him to question my decision to leave, but he glances at Will and something passes between them.

“We’ll resume this via video chat tomorrow, shall we?” Lex says, keeping his expression neutral.

I nod, then leave the boardroom without another word. Instead of going to my penthouse to pack a bag, I drive straight out of the city and onto the parkway.

The open road gives me too much time to think, so I put my foot on the gas, speeding through the mountains until the town’s lights appear before me. Night has fallen, and despite my reluctance to return, I’ll admit there’s something about being here that gives me a sense of peace.