Page 90 of See You Maybe
“Tomas doesn’t have a game this weekend, so we don’t need to worry about his curfew.”
Declan’s mind finally supplied the information. Tomas Davros was a professional hockey player, who played for Atlanta’s new franchise team, and Tracy, his wife, had been in school with Fiona.
Declan had zero interest in having dinner with two strangers, but he focused on the only important bit of information. “You’re coming to Atlanta?”
Silence.
“Yes.” Fiona’s words had a distinct bite to them. “Have you heard a word I’ve said? I’m coming for Tracy’s baby shower.”
The muscles in his neck eased. Fiona wasn’t coming for him. Declan supposed the least he could do was spare a night to keep her father happy. “Saturday night.”
“My father said you’ve leased a condo.”
The comment sent up a red flag inside him. “Did he?”
He hadn’t yet, but he had contacted a real estate agent.
Fiona’s father was an investor in Bloom Capital, but not someone who was involved with operations. There was no reason he should know that Declan was still in Atlanta. Which meant Alan was having him watched, and that pissed Declan off.
Ever since his father’s murder, the sharks had circled. Waiting for the misstep that would take Declan down and leave an opening for someone else. His jaw clenched. Fiona’s next question didn’t help his mood.
“How long are you planning on being there?”
Declan didn’t answer. Their relationship wasn’t one where Fiona should feel comfortable asking Declan something like that. In fact, they barely knew each other despite Fiona’s efforts to make them appear like a couple.
“I know you have that shareholder meeting coming up… Things need to be settled before then.”
She trailed off and Declan’s irritation grew. If Fiona imagined she could blackmail him into giving her a ring, she was dead wrong.
“Let my assistant know what time and where dinner is.”
Fiona hesitated before she spoke again. “Everyone is talking about what you did with that drunk woman at the gala, Declan. I was able to spin it that you felt responsible for her because you wanted to buy her company. That she’s just a nobody who drank too much, but you need to be more careful. Appearances are everything in our world.”
Declan’s blood boiled. “You did what?” He didn’t bother to hide the anger from his voice.
Fiona didn’t back down. “You and I have reputations to protect, and you making a fool out of both of us is unacceptable. We are getting married.” Her voice suddenly lightened. “We will be very happy together, as long as you don’t push me. I don’t care if you fuck a dozen, drunk sluts before we’re married. But after… If you touch another woman, I will do something about it.”
The rumors Luke shared with him flashed in Declan’s brain, and rage swept through him. “I’m sure you aren’t stupid enough to threaten me, Fiona. You won’t like the result.”
Fiona laughed. “Don’t underestimate me, Declan. I may not be able to get to you, but I promise I’ll ruin anyone who touches what’s mine. See you Saturday,” she trilled, and then hung up.
As much as Declan wanted to blast the woman, he couldn’t. Not while he still relied on her father’s votes. Declan sat for a minute trying to calm his breathing, but the more he replayed the conversation in his head, the angrier he became.
She was threatening Olivia. Maybe not directly, but it was clear she knew something was going on. And if she did… who else?
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Atlanta—Present Day
The halls were quiet as Olivia made her way to Declan’s office, her nerves already jumping beneath her skin. The last week had proven to be her own personal blend of heaven and hell.
Over the past several days, she and Declan had two more meetings, and both times, Cecile was there. As hard as Olivia tried to stay impervious to Declan, the magnetic pull, that had existed between them from the moment they met, drew her. Olivia couldn’t stop thinking about him, and that was a problem.
Once the memo about severance packages had gone out, many employees grabbed the opportunity. Olivia admitted it was a generous package. More generous than it needed to be, which only furthered her confusion over Declan.
The hard, dangerous man she’d watched battle Chris Keller in the conference room was hard to reconcile with the man who made sure her employees weren’t left empty-handed. Declan wasn’t soft by any means, but he also wasn’t the monster she needed him to be in order to protect her heart.
Olivia had witnessed Declan be harsh and exacting, but she’d yet to see where he wasn’t fair. Most importantly, he didn’t automatically dismiss her ideas out of hand as she had expected.