Page 14 of Forbidden Touch
My face tightens. “That’s a strength.”
She looks at the floor and says nothing.
As heat flushes through my chest, I straighten my back to gain composure. “You are nobody to trot in here and tell me what to do in my own goddamn house. And if me and your son want to go out and paint the town red, that is no business of yours.”
She tilts her head, frowning. “My son is none of my business?”
Not bothering to hide my scowl, I wave a hand of dismissal. “Jonathan is a grown man, and he’s doing well for himself. You should be embarrassed about your visit here today.”
Fierceness flashes through her eyes. “I don’t know what embarrassment is, Fiona.”
Prying my clenched fists loose, I glare at her. “I can see that.”
Her shoulders fall slightly. “You’re childless, so you don’t understand. The world is a dark place, Fiona,” she says, the lines between her eyebrows creasing. “I’m just trying to protect my son from it.”
My jaw tenses. “He doesn’t need you to do that.”
Shutting her eyes briefly, she reopens them, and they’re filled with despair. “My husband—Jonathan’s father—passed away six years ago. My son and Lane Entertainment are all I’ve got left.”
Focusing on her, I take a second to breathe. “I’m sorry about your husband. Truly, I am. But that doesn’t give you the right to own this city and everybody in it.”
Her eyebrows draw in. “Don’t be silly, girl. I’m not trying to own the entire city. I only want to protect what’s rightfully mine.”
Refusing to let her sway me, I continue my hard glare. “How will snapping pictures of him on a sidewalk protect him?”
She grimaces, her posture straightening. “I know what you’re after. Your brother got the ball rolling by sinking his claws into Lane Entertainment Group and marrying my niece. And stupidly, you think you can follow in the same footsteps.”
My hands clench. “Are you kidding me? Your family fraudulently sold us that company. Your husband’s brother cashed out, rendering the whole deal useless,” I inform. “My brother, Ethan, saved your ass by agreeing to work with it and not turning you over to the authorities.”
She cocks her head to the side and shakes it. “We didn’t need your help. The company was doing just fine until you all showed up.”
As my mouth falls open, I rise from my seat. “Okay. I’ve had enough.”
She doesn’t move. “I can plainly see what you’re doing. First Ethan marrying my young niece, and now you. You Wolfes are trying desperately to lead us all into your den, and I will not let it happen.”
Grabbing hold of her bony arm, I usher to the exit. “It’s time for you to go.”
Her feet are slow and hesitant, forcing me to press harder. She attempts to shrink out of my grasp with an innocent look on her face. “Why? Because I’m refusing to let you hunt and prey on my son?”
Opening the door to my penthouse, the warm Nevada breeze circles my face, and a sudden unapologetic rage rushes through me. “This conversation is ridiculous. Get out. Now.”
She steps outside before turning and opening her mouth to speak.
“Thanks for the lovely photos,” I interject before she utters more nonsense. “And yes, your son and I spent the entire weekend together, and guess what, Lorelle? We enjoyed every minute.”
Her mouth gapes open, and her eyes narrow before she holds an index finger up. “Young lady—”
Before she can say anything more, I slam the door closed in her face.
A beat of silence ensues before her flustered voice resonates through the closed door. “You’ll be sorry for this, Fiona. And you’ll be hearing from my lawyer too!”
Is she insane? First barging onto my property and then threatening me with a lawyer? Tension creeps across my back. I thrust my head forward to yell into the large steel door. “Can’t wait!”
Standing frozen with my ear glued to the door, I finally hear her footsteps marching away. I exhale a breath and clutch a workout towel to my chest. I can’t believe this just happened. Was it an overreaction to kick her out? Maybe. Do I have good reason? Absolutely.
She can call every lawyer in town, and the response is still the same. No one comes into my home and treats me like that. No one. Good riddance.
How could she even think of coming here to threaten me?