Page 97 of Boss from Hell

She smiled. “Poor guy.”

I glared at her. “Don’t freaking pity him. He’s a monster.”

“You know he’s not. He’s one of the good guys. I like him. I like his house and I liked the way he looked at my little girls. He’s a good guy.”

“But it’s over. I could never trust him again.”

“I’m sorry, Lillian, but if I was him and I had to choose between a business that I’d spent the best part of life building and some come lately PA, I know which one I’m prioritizing. He had no choice. Don’t you see that?”

She didn’t understand. She didn’t understand what had gone on between us. Of how deeply we had bonded and yet the wholetime he’d kept this massive secret from me. I could never trust him again.

But God, how I missed him. I missed his laugh, his scent, even his grumpiness. Oh, to have those strong arms around me. The pain in my chest expanded with every thought.

We stayed for an hour, then Rose had to go.

That night, I fell into bed physically and mentally exhausted, but I couldn’t sleep. Then the crying started and I couldn’t stop. I ugly cried, burying my head into the pillow.

Once, I’d vowed that whatever happened, I would never regret my affair with Max. Now, I wished we hadn’t started it. It wasn’t worth the unbearable pain I was feeling now.

Somehow, in the early morning hours, I managed to fall asleep and when the phone alarm woke me up the following morning, the first thing I saw was a message from Max.

I need to talk to you. Please, Lillian, it’s important.

I did the only thing I could do. I blocked his number. That door must remain closed forever.

What he did was unforgivable.

Chapter 56

Max

Iwalked into Elizabeth Bates’s outer office. Immediately her PA looked at me and asked if she could help.

“Not really,” I said and strode past.

“Hey, you can’t go in there,” she wailed, but I’d already opened the door and walked in.

Elizabeth was on the phone, but when she saw me, she abruptly ended her phone call.

“I’m sorry, Miss Bates, but he barged through. Should I call Security?”

“No, that will be all, Susan.”

Susan left and I went to sit opposite Elizabeth.

“I like what you’ve done with your father’s office,” I said.

“Thank you. What can I do for you?”

“You can sell La Zaire back to me for the price you bought it for.”

For the first time she looked unsettled, but she didn’t back down. “Why would I do that?”

“Because if you don’t, you’ll be selling it back to me for half the price next year.”

She frowned. “Is that a threat?”

I smiled slowly. “No, it’s a promise.”