Page 51 of The Billionaire's Second Chance

James took a sip of his whiskey. “It would be a big deal for you. An acquisition like this would be great for Veritech. Scott Global is a serious company.”

“Veritechis a serious company,” I said.

“Right,” he said, looking at me with one eyebrow raised. “But not likeSebastian’s.”

“No, not like Sebastian’s,” I said. “Because it’smine.” My hand tightened around my glass. “I built that company fromnothingwhen I could have been partying, and fucking models, and whatever else you and Seb were doing before you two got your businesseshandedto you.”

Jameslaughed, the sound grating against my skin.

“I’m serious about this, James,” I said.

“Sure,” he said easily. I frowned, my brows pulling on my forehead, but he just put down his empty whiskey glass on the table between our chairs and clapped me on the back. “Just don’t let your ego get in the way of business, Charlie,” he said. “Whatever he’s offering you, it’s probably a good deal.” He stood, making his excuses–Edie’s at home–and heading toward the door. I stared after him, my hand so tight on my lowball that I wondered that the heat of my boiling blood didn’t melt the ice cubes.

Whatever he’s offering you, it’s probably a good deal.

I didn’t have to have to see the paperwork to know that it would be. Because what he’d offered was something I couldn’t get anywhere else.

But it wasn’t my ego that was getting in the way.

It was the strange feeling that had crawled over my skin when I saw Samantha’s name on the screen of my phone.

The feeling that it wasn’t myold friendSebastian who I was deceiving, keeping my relationship with his sibling a secret.

It was Samantha.

* * *

I was still thinking about it the following Monday when I sat in the library at the school alone, waiting on an increasingly delayed Samantha. I checked my phone. I hadn’t heard from her on Friday night, or over the weekend, and today’s texts followed the one I’d sent at the Bankworth.

Yeah, why?

Did you forget our meeting?

Your books will still be there tomorrow, Sami.

Where are you?

Hey, are you okay?

If you can’t make it today, just let me know. I’m worried about you.

CHAPTER26

Samantha

Did you forget our meeting?

Your books will still be there tomorrow, Sami.

Where are you?

Hey, are you okay?

If you can’t make it today, just let me know. I’m worried about you.

I stared at the last of the texts as I sat in the backseat of the taxi I’d caved and hailed.

“Where we going?” the driver asked for the second time. “Miss?”