It took everything in Worth to keep from following Sin to her apartment and to leave for his own home. He had no idea what Sin was playing at but it was working. He wanted to say that when he’d asked her to date, it was a test; a way to see if that was her new strategy; force him into a relationship by denying him sex. But the truth was that he was half-hoping that that was what she wanted and that they could go back to how they were before her sudden pulling away. Worse, after that kiss, he’d been ready to give her what she wanted. Want to date? Sure, just take me back.
What the hell was the matter with him?
The following day, Worth couldn’t even look Sin straight in the eye for fear that he’d beg her for one more kiss if their eyes so much as met. When she called his phone at around mid-morning, he actually considered not answering. Even hearing her husky voice would be a reminder of everything they’d done and everything he wanted to do with her.
He answered anyway. “Yes?”
“Your father is down at the lobby.”
“What?” Worth sat up straighter.
“Security says he’s on his way up,” Sin said. “Should I let him in as soon as he gets here?”
“No…” Worth paused. Realizing that his father would only make things hard for Sin if he refused to see him, he sighed. “Yeah… just send him in.”
“Okay.” Sin hung up.
Five minutes later, Worth’s door flew open and Senior sauntered into the room like he owned it.
“Don’t you know how to knock?” Worth met his father’s eyes.
“Why should I have to knock?” The older man settled on the couch and tossed a brown envelope on the coffee-table. “This is practically my office.”
No, no it’s not, Worth wanted to say, but he didn’t because he knew it wouldn’t have any effect on his father. Watching the other man from behind his desk, Worth asked, “What are you doing here?”
Instead of answering the question, Senior asked, “I heard you had a new secretary, but I didn’t know that she was so pretty. Have you had a go at her?” The older man waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Anger like Worth had never felt before shot through him. He’d heard of sons punching their father but he’d always thought that regardless of how much of a dick his father was he’d never be one of those sons. However, right now, he was considering it. How dare his father be so disrespectful to Sin? A second later, he realized that he was being hypocritical. Until a few days ago, he’d treated her like she was just a body to warm his bed.
“What are you doing here, Dad?” Worth gritted between his teeth.
“Does that mean you haven’t had her yet?” Senior grinned wolfishly. “Send her to my office. She can be my secretary.”
“I’m not sending her to your office,” Worth bit out.
Almost as if Sin knew they were talking about her, she pushed the door open and came in carrying a tray of refreshments.
Worth couldn’t help himself, he barked, “Get out.”
“What?” Startled, Sin stopped moving.
“Get out,” Worth ordered harshly.
“What are you so mad about?” Senior said even though his gaze was now trained on Sin. He gave her a lingering onceover, leering at her body. “The pretty lady just wants to quench our thirst. Bring it over, sweetheart.”
Worth gripped the arms of his chair so hard to keep from standing that he was surprised his fingers didn’t break. But instead of going at his father, he glared at Sin. “Get out.”
She looked at him then at his father as if deciding whose order to follow. However, before Worth could haul her out of the room himself, she turned and walked right back out, closing the door.
“Well, well, well.” Senior whistled as he stared at the door. “I can see why you don’t want to let her go.”
This time Worth couldn’t hide his rage as he enunciated, “What. Do. You. Want. Here?”
“Damn! Okay, okay. You don’t have to get your panties in a bunch.” Senior chortled derisively as he sat back in the seat. “I’m here to introduce myself.”
“I already know who you are,” Worth bit out.
“No, you just know me as your father and the owner of RGC.” The older man grinned. “Meet Wentworth Ransom the Second, your newest equity partner. We’re partners now.”
“What?” Shock ricocheted through Worth.
Maybe someone else would’ve been happy to have their father as their partner, but Worth wasn’t. He was sure that this was just another attempt by Senior to run him out of W Sport and straight into the arms of RGC. The old man was probably planning to stage a coup in W Sport or to damage it in some way so Worth had no choice but to kowtow to his wishes.
“Orwell Martin sold me his share of the company,” Senior gleefully announced as he picked the envelope and waved it around.
“You bought out Martin?” Though Worth owned the most equity in W Sport, Orwell Martin owned a significant enough share that he could influence company decisions.
Senior explained, “He had some outstanding gambling debts, and the mob was on his tail.”
Worth was surprised that his voice was so even as he asked, “You know that’s illegal, right?”
“What’s illegal about it?”
“Did he show you our agreement?” Worth said, “It clearly states that there has to be notification before transfer of ownership, and that I have first buying rights.”
“Yeah, that’s why he notified you,” Senior said, “then he sold it to me.” He laughed before adding, “I bet you didn’t know that Royden was my company.”
Worth narrowed his eyes. “When?”
“When what?” The older man frowned.
“When did he notify me?” Worth clarified, “I didn’t get any notification. He didn’t tell me he was thinking of offloading his share of W Sport.”
“Yes, you did.” Senior tossed the envelope in the general direction of Worth’s desk. It fell just a few feet from him but he didn’t bother to pick it up.
With an annoyed sigh, Worth stood then circled his desk to pick up the envelope. Sitting on the edge of his desk, he drew a document from the envelope and quickly skimmed through it. Its contents had him raising his eyebrows. “Well, this is interesting.”
Senior grinned. “That’s what I thought too.”
“I doubt we think it’s interesting for the same reasons.” Worth looked up to meet his father’s eyes. “I didn’t sign this. It’s a forgery.”
All the glee drained out of the older man’s expression. “What?”
“Martin knew he’d never get my signature, so he forged it,” Worth informed his father. “You’ve been conned. I bet he got out of the country as soon as you paid him.”
Senior’s shocked expression left no doubt that Worth had guessed right. Worth almost laughed. That’s what you get for trying to screw me over.
“I still own his share of W Sport though,” Senior blustered angrily. “He’s already been paid, so it’s mine now.”
“That’s not how it works-” Worth folded his arms over his chest. “- as you very well know.”
They both knew that usually there was only one way these things ended. In court.
Senior’s anger immediately faded and was replaced by watchful caution. “You wouldn’t take me to court.”
“You know me, Dad. Wouldn’t I?” Even though he wasn’t in the least bit amused, Worth smiled. “You went behind my back to get a share of my company so you could disrupt our operations. You’re a businessman. Do you think it would be smart for me to just let you get away with it?”
“You can’t take me to court,” Senior insisted. Though the older man hid it well, Worth saw the panic that flashed in his eyes. “I’m your father. How would it look in the papers; father and son fighting?”
“It would certainly look better than ‘father trying to sink his own son’s company’,” Worth countered. “Give Martin back his share of my company or sell it to me.”
“And if I don’t?”
Worth arched his eyebrows. “What do you think?”
Senior watched him for a long tense moment before suddenly rising. His tall, lean build was stiff with anger as he bit out. “I need to talk to my lawyers.”
Worth forced a smile. “I’m sure you do.”
As he walked to the door, Senior threw over his shoulder. “I’ll be back.”
“Can’t wait,” Worth tossed back.
Senior shut the door behind him with a loud slam.
Worth shook his head. Really? Had the old man just expected him to take his nonsense lying down? He should know better by now. The good thing about this latest fiasco was that the old man would be too occupied trying to get himself out of the legal mess that he’d created to bother Worth for quite a while. Worth chuckled.
The sudden ringing of his phone cut into his thoughts. He picked it up. “Yeah?”
“I just sent you an email.” Sin’s voice echoed over the line. “The marketing team’s budget for the opening of the new store in Mesa is attached.”
“They’re already done with it?”
“Yup!” she said curtly before hanging up.
Worth stared at the phone. What was with that ‘yup’? Was she angry at him? It certainly sounded like it. A moment later, he realized why. Wincing, he dialed her number.
“What?” she greeted. She was definitely angry!
“Come into my office.”
She hung up without answering and for a second he thought she’d ignore him. However, just moments later, she knocked on his door. When she came in, he was still seated at the edge of his desk. Though her expression was indecipherable, her stiff movements as she closed the door and the way she stayed right in front of it as if getting ready to leave, left no doubt that she was mad at him.
He sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?” She frowned.
“For snapping at you like that.” He pulled in a deep, long breath. “It wasn’t about you.”
Sin was quiet for a long while, but soon her expression softened. “Who was it about? Your dad?”
“Yeah.” Worth nodded. Forcing a smile, he met her eyes. “So don’t hold it against me, okay?”
He expected Sin to escape his office then, but instead she asked, “What happened?”
Worth didn’t plan to answer her question. They were hiding too much from each other to be the kind of people to share their troubles. But somehow, he found himself saying, “He came to gloat about how he’d found a new way to screw me over.”
“What?” Sin frowned. “What father celebrates such a thing?”
“My father.” Worth shrugged. Sarcasm in his tone, he said, “I really won in the genetic pool, didn’t I?”
Sin smiled. “Trust me - you’re not the only one with a father you wish you could trade.”
“You too, huh?”
“Yeah!” She confessed, “My dad ditched me and my mom for a younger model.”
It was just a morsel of truth but it took Worth completely by surprise. Until now, everything Sin had said or written about herself was a lie. But he knew that she was telling the truth now. Why was she telling the truth? Was she beginning to trust him? No, right? Yet he couldn’t help the excitement that flooded him. Before he knew it, he’d crossed the room and taken her in his arms.
“Hey!” She struggled in his embrace. “What are you doing?”
“Just for a minute, Sin.” He tightened his hold around her shoulders and buried his nose in the crook of her neck.
For a moment, she just stayed still in his arms, but soon her hands came up to rest on his back. Her palms eased up and down his back and shoulders in slow strokes, almost as if she was soothing him. He closed his eyes and inhaled, taking in her sweet scent. God, it felt good to hold her.
But it didn’t last long.
As if she’d just come to her senses, she shoved him away. “That’s enough!”
Before he could beg for one more hug, she was out the door. Long after she left the room, her scent remained, taunting and tempting him with memories of her being in his arms. Though it was difficult to admit, the truth was that he’d developed feelings for Sin.
Imagine that! He chuckled, but there was no amusement in the raucous sound. Wentworth Ransom III falling in love with someone he knew was trying to con him, falling in love with a crook! The gods were probably laughing their heads off.
* * *
“YOU WERE RIGHT when you told me to start with the gallery,” Ten told Sin just three days later when they met at the café.
“Did you find something?” a wide-eyed Sin asked.
For the last week or so, they’d continued role-playing for Claire through the bugs in their house while they investigated her. While Ten focused on the footwork, Sin had focused on researching Claire, her work and her family.
You’d think that with all the smartness Claire had demonstrated that she’d be a shrewd businesswoman. Nope, you’d be wrong. Claire’s gallery had been making a loss for five years running, which didn’t bode well for her already strained relationship with her father.
And that relationship was really strained.
As it turned out Claire was an illegitimate child. Mark Barnett had cheated on Mallory’s mother with Claire’s mother, and Claire was the byproduct. Claire’s mother inconveniently died while giving birth forcing the Barnett family to take Claire in.
If one read between the lines, it was obvious that Claire wasn’t wanted in the family. Unlike her other siblings, she was sent to boarding school the moment she turned twelve. Furthermore, if the gossip mills were to be believed, her siblings and step-mother were already laying the groundwork to make sure she didn’t inherit anything once her father died. Basically, she was living on borrowed prestige and it could crumble any time.
No wonder the woman was so intent on snatching power from wherever she could. Still, her unfortunate family life didn’t excuse what she was trying to do to Worth. Unfortunately, despite all her research, Sin couldn’t find anything to hold over Claire’s head yet. But obviously Ten had.
“Boy, did I find something.” Ten dragged her chair closer to Sin’s to show her her phone. She’d paused a video on the gadget. When she played it, it was just a video of Claire’s gallery and the various paintings on the wall.
Practically bouncing on her seat with excitement, Ten asked, “Do you see that? Do you see that?”
“Do I see what?” Sin peered at the video closely. All she saw was paintings and more paintings.
“The paintings. The paintings.” Ten pointed.
“Yes, I see the paintings,” Sin said, exasperation in her voice. “I just don’t see what you want me to see.”
“Ugh! You know nothing about art.” Ten shook her head in disappointment.
“Just tell me what I’m supposed to be seeing.”
Ten explained, “The paintings she has are just cheap replicas. They’re not genuine.”
“What?” Sin frowned. During her research, she’d come across a few articles describing the paintings in Claire’s gallery and the prices she’d bought them for. “If they’re just replicas, why are they so expensive?”
“Exactly!” Ten’s eyes danced with excitement. “I thought it was suspicious too. But what made it even more suspicious was the fact that she’s selling her replicas for way less money than what she bought them for.”
“She’s selling them at a loss?” Sin’s frown deepened. “That doesn’t make any sense at all.”
“It doesn’t. That’s why I got close to one of her employees and got a list of her sellers.” Ten smiled. “And that’s where I found our smoking gun. All the people she’s selling to are influential people – the district attorney, a few judges, senators, higher-ups at the income tax office, upper management in companies her father is eyeing-”
“Wait a minute!” Sin’s eyes widened as the truth dawned on her. “Are you saying that the gallery is being used as a cover for a slush fund?”
“And a blatant one at that. I’m surprised no one has busted them… Oh wait!” Ten suddenly slapped her forehead. “There were two cops on the list too. I think she buys paintings from people she wants to bribe instead of sending them money directly. That way the money seems clean and her bribees don’t need to worry about the government being suspicious of the sudden influx of cash in their bank accounts.”
“Wow! Wow! Wow!” Sin couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Are you sure about this?”
“Let’s just say that my hunch is so strong I’d bet my farm, if I had one, on it.”
After going through Ten’s phone and the evidence she had, it was obvious that she was right. This was their bomb. All they needed now was hard evidence.
“If we get one of the people she’s bribed to reveal the scheme on tape, then we’ve got her,” Sin said.
Ten frowned. “How do we do that? It’s not like they’ll just out themselves.”
“Don’t worry.” Sin smiled. “That’s my job.”
It was fortunate that most of the people on Claire’s list were men. It wouldn’t be hard to pluck the truth out of them. Soon, Sin could get off this rollercoaster. Soon, she wouldn’t need to be around Worth anymore, being tempted to dream of a life that she could never ever have. That thought should’ve made her happy. It didn’t!