Page 28 of Suddenly Desired (APEX Billionaires’ Club #2)

BLAKE

“You did the right thing, Blake.”

Agnes hovered in the corner of Blake’s office, pretending to study the books that lined his extensive shelves.

“It’s the first rule of business,” she went on.

“The company must come first. Today may have been the result of your blatant stupidity. I mean, why anyone would make their innermost feelings public is a mystery to me, let alone somebody whose innermost feelings are as unpopular as yours. But you saved Heartbook. The share price is already recovering. Because of what you did today, seventeen hundred people will most likely keep their jobs. Including me, I should say. So, I’m sorry it has come to this, but thank you. ”

Blake didn’t reply. He was staring out of the window at the campus that stretched as far as the eye could see, right up to the glittering, sun-drenched river.

It was a landscape of memories, and each one hurt like a wasp sting.

He felt as if he’d built this place with his own two hands, brick by brick, and now Michelle and David had led a rebellion against him.

He grieved for the loss, calm on the outside, but a hurricane of anger raging within.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, breaking the heavy silence. His first instinct was to ignore it, but old habits die hard. There was still a part of him that expected a last-minute reprieve, a message from someone — anyone — telling him that this was all some kind of mistake, that they could fix it.

He pulled it out and glanced at the screen.

Devlin: Just seen the news. That’s brutal, mate. What are you going to do?

Christian: Yeah. We’re here for you, man. Just say the word and we’ll do anything you need us to.

Devlin: Anything legal!

Ruairidh: It’s your company. Doesn’t matter who signs the papers now — everyone knows you built it.

Devlin: And let’s be real, does anyone actually believe that crap?

Blake: Yeah, hordes of people. Wouldn’t change anything though. It’s done.

Nate: Maybe that’s not a bad thing.

Christian: Bold take, considering he just lost everything.

Nate: DID he, though?

Devlin: All right, just say it already.

Nate: Ellie?

Christian: Knew it.

Ruairidh: There it is.

Blake: Not the time, Nate.

Nate: Maybe it is.

Blake: . . .

Christian: He’s ignoring it. That means we’re on to something.

Devlin: Blake?

Nate: What do you want to do?

Blake: I don’t know.

Nate: Yeah, you do.

Blake: I’m signing off.

Devlin: FIELDING.

“Maurice is with the lawyers now.” As Agnes interrupted him, he pocketed his phone. “They’re drawing up the paperwork. It will be ready by tonight, tomorrow at the latest. You should really seek your own legal counsel, Blake.”

“I’m fine.” He turned away from the window, blinking the sunshine from his eyes. “Do what you have to.”

Agnes sighed, pulled a book off the shelf and flicked through it. Blake did a double take when he saw what it was.

It was his copy of The Swiss Family Robinson , the one that he had read when he was a child.

What were the chances that out of all the books here, she would pick that one?

He thought of Ellie and how it was one of her favourite books, and had influenced her designs for LifeWrite.

Seeing it made him smile, and Agnes frowned at him.

“You seem almost happy,” the old woman said. “Why? Has it not sunk in yet? It can’t be easy all of this. Losing everything.”

She was right. Practically his whole adult life had been spent building Heartbook, and in one moment it was over. He never thought in a million years that he wouldn’t be part of this company.

Thankfully, he still had savings and most of his wealth was in shares. Michelle and David couldn’t take those.

And, after all, he still had his books and — he checked his watch — if he was quick, maybe he still had Ellie.

“Blake, are you okay?” Agnes said again. “Are you hearing what I’m saying?”

“Yes,” he said. “I’m listening. But you’re wrong, I haven’t lost everything. My friends are right. They’re so right.”

“What?” Agnes uttered, one eyebrow shooting skyward.

Blake grabbed his suit jacket from the back of the chair, then walked over to Agnes and took the copy of The Swiss Family Robinson straight out of her hands.

He clutched it to his chest. “I have this,” he said. “And, right now, that’s all I need.”

Agnes looked at him as if he was mad, and he almost felt it.

But it wasn’t a scary madness, it was an exciting one, like the rush just before a skydive.

He didn’t feel afraid of what might happen, he felt strangely free.

It was as if he’d been wearing a weighted coat for decades, and had only just taken it off.

He had spoken the truth. The book was all he needed. Not because of what it was, but because of what it meant.

“Excuse me, Agnes.” He leaned over and kissed the old woman on the forehead. “I have somewhere I need to be.”

“But you can’t leave,” she protested as he walked past her. “The paperwork, we need you to sign it.”

“Email it to me,” he replied over his shoulder.

“But I don’t know where you’re going,” she said. “Blake? Blake!”

He stopped at the door and took one last look at his office.

“I’m going to Devon,” he said.