Chapter 17
(Tanya)
I couldn’t wrap my mind around what had just happened. One second, I was sitting through an awkward family dinner with Everett and then the next thing I know, I’m running for my life. This had to be some dream – no, a nightmare.
Even when Everett came to my rescue like a bad boy hero, I still couldn’t believe it. Things like this didn’t really happen, especially to girls like me, did they?
Before I could gather my thoughts, Everett pulled over. He got off the bike and gently lifted me to my feet, hands on my hips.
I looked up at him; my breath hitched in my throat.
“Tanya, tell me what’s going on. Why were those men chasing you? Did they hurt you?”
I just kept looking at him, unable to answer.
“Tanya.” He looked into my eyes, his face so close to mine that I could smell his cologne. Dammit, he was too close. “I…”
“Please. Tell me. Let me help you.”
I shook my head. “No…” I didn’t know what to do. On the one hand, I didn’t want to betray this man. Despite everything he had done, I truly did care about him. On the other hand, I was furious that he would try and use me.
“Tanya…” He placed his hand on my shoulders. “I understand what you must think of me. You probably think I’m some monster who just wants you for your body, but that’s not true. You have to believe me. I know, I acted like an asshole, manipulating you into the situation, but if it’s any consolation, I do care about you, a lot. For a long time, I’ve been very guarded. Nettie and a few other women hurt me – bad – they made it hard for me to trust people. I was scared that if I trusted you, then you’d turn around and do what they did. I was so afraid that I decided that a contract would stop that from happening. I understand now that I was nothing but a fool.” He took my hand, squeezing it. “Please, tell me you believe me.”
I studied his face, watching his features. From what I could tell, he was genuine. His eyes were a soft pale blue, pleading with me.
This was real. He truly cared about me? At the thought, my heart started to flutter. I knew there was something between us. Still, that didn’t mean he was completely off the hook for the way he treated me. First, I had to tell him about Nettie. “She’s up to something.”
“What?” He furrowed his brow in confusion. Obviously, it wasn’t the response he was looking for. “Who?”
“Nettie,” I clarified. “She’s trying to take Walton Corp. I don’t know how she plans to do it, but she wanted me to break into your office. I told her I wouldn’t betray your trust like that. Well, she didn’t take to that very well, so she sent those two men after me.”
His eyes widened. “Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure. You can’t make this shit up!”
“Fuck.” He growled under his breath. “I should have known she was up to something when she came sauntering into my office… sitting on my desk…” His eyes widened even further. “That’s it!”
“What?”
“You remember how I noticed that there was a file missing from my desk a few weeks ago? I told you to look for it, but it was nowhere to be found.”
I nodded. “It was the list of stockholders for the company.” Just then, everything started to make sense. “You don’t think that she’s going to buy out the company, do you?”
Everett didn’t respond. Instead, he took me by the hand, hoisted me back on the bike and a second later, we were peeling down the road. Since I was behind him this time around, my arms instantly wrapped his torso, holding on tight.
Everything was happening so fast that it was hard to think straight.
A part of me refused to believe that this was happening. A takeover heist on Christmas Eve? Anyone else would be enjoying time with their family, singing carols and eating chestnuts. I waited to wake up, but it never happened.
The wind whipped through my hair as Everett pushed the bike to fly faster and faster. I could feel my heart pound as fear wrapped around my chest. I had never ridden on a motorcycle before. My stomach twisted into a knot, threatening to make me sick. I bit the inside of my lip, trying to keep myself calm, eyes closed, head pressed against his strong shoulder. I reminded myself to keep breathing, concentrating on Everett’s smooth, musky scent. So long as we were together, nothing was going to happen – I was sure of it.
Finally, we arrived at headquarters.
“I want you to stay here,” Everett commanded. “I have no idea what she’s planning, but I don’t want you to get mixed up in this mess.”
I shook my head. “Too late, she already involved me. I’m coming with you.”
“I can’t let you do that.” He took my hands, pulling them to his chest. “I do care about you, Tanya, and I can’t bear to see you get hurt. Please, stay out of this.”
“No.”
He frowned. “I’m not going to change your mind, am I?”
“Nope.”
He ran his fingers through his hair before letting out a huff of air. “Fine, but you’re staying by my side, got it? If Nettie hired those two men to chase you, she could have hired more. She comes from a rich family. She has the money.”
“Then, why is she trying to steal the company away from you?”
“She’s greedy. Cruel. But most of all, vindictive. I broke up with her as soon as I found out she had cheated on me. She thought she was innocent in the whole matter but as soon as you severe my trust, it’s nearly impossible to get it back. I never forgave her for what she did. She never forgave me for keeping her from the Walton fortune.”
I listened to his words. It was all starting to make sense now. Everett had only acted so coldly toward our relationship because he was afraid of betrayal. I offered him a soft smile, locking my fingers with his. “I would never do anything to hurt you,” I promised.
He returned the smile before leaning down to kiss the top of my head. “I know. I was wrong to ever think you could.”