Chapter Two

ELENA

I should have just stayed in my office.

Because the moment I walked in, splattering my nonsense about that damn note, everywhere became silent. And I was suddenly faced with three pairs of eyes, all staring at me.

But one in particular stood out, and try as I might, I couldn’t get myself to look away.

He was here.

I mean, he had to be. It was his father’s company after all.

He did look different from how he did before. And good different. He had grown some beards, which had definitely added to his sexiness.

I would have continued with my scrutiny, if someone had not cleared his throat in the room, making me blink and turn sharply in the direction of the sound.

The older man in the room, adjusted his glasses and glanced at me briefly, before looking at the file that was opened in front of him.

I frowned.

What the hell was I doing here? And why had he left a note for me?

Other than a ‘I left it in your office, since your phone was switched off’, he had said nothing about the note.

“Now that you are here Miss Peterson, I will proceed with the reading of the last will and testament of late Mr Paul Richardson.” He said and flipped a page on the will.

“Excuse me?” I heard myself say as I digested what he had just said. “Who are you? And why do I have to be present at the reading of my former boss’s will?” I asked incredulously, wondering what the hell was going on.

A voice from behind startled me, and I turned to finally look at, and notice the fourth person in the room.

“Apparently our father wanted you to be present during the reading. We don't know why yet, but just stay and let the lawyer speak so this whole thing can be over.” His voice was calm, and he looked way different from the man who stood close to the lawyer. 

I knew who he was though.

Tyler Richardson.

The younger, of the Richardson sons.

And boy was he handsome! Although i knew someone who looked better....

I did as I was asked, and turned to face the lawyer who gestured for me to sit, before starting.

But my mind was filled with so many questions. So many things…

Like what I was doing in this room with these men in the first place. And why out of every opportunity to sit close to Jason, it was a situation as awkward as this!

~

“…..finally, my company, it’s branches, and the house in New York, would be given to my dear personal assistant, Miss Elena Peterson….” Paul was saying, but was immediately cut off abruptly.

“What?”

“What the_”

“Excuse me?”

Where the words that chorused from three out of the four occupants of the office, including me, as we heard what the lawyer had just said.

I jumped out of my seat and shook my head. “I’m sure you are sorely mistaken. Or you just made that up.” Those were the words that left my mouth.

But Paul wasn’t having it, because he continued like we didn’t speak. “….should anyone try to contest this will, every single property listed in here, would be liquidated, and the proceeds, shared amongst the charities of Miss Peterson’s choice.” 

My mouth dropped open, and I dared to spare a glance to my side, to see that I was now flanked by the two brothers who were each giving me murderous looks.

Before any could say anything, Paul continued.

“The only condition with which any of my sons can get a share in my company, and in the house, is if anyone of them, would be willing to get married to Miss Peterson for the duration of five years….”

This was ridiculous.

I couldn’t listen anymore. I didn’t want to hear anymore of this bulls crap.

I was dreaming. 

I had to be dreaming.

There was no way this could be happening to me. Not right now. Not ever.

I didn’t realize what I was doing until I felt the cold knob of the door, just before I flung it open and fled the room. I couldn’t stay there anymore.

I rushed into my office and locked the door before crumpling took the floor from both shock and disbelief.

What the hell was that?

What the heck had just happened in there?

JASON

Three hours later, I was pacing inside the office, glad I was alone. Paul had left immediately after rounding up. Tyler had followed suit, after I had convinced him to do so. I had assured him that I was going to handle it all.

I mean, there had to be an explanation somewhere.

My first thought had gone to the possibility that she had to be my fathers mistress, or that she had tampered with his will. But the latter seemed impossible, since I knew Paul Knightly well enough to know that he was an honest lawyer.

He had been my family’s lawyer for years. Even when my parents had wanted a divorce, my mother had gone to him, and he had ended up talking the two of them out of it.

So it had to be the former….but how?

If she was my fathers lawyer, why was she still working as his personality assistant and living in a small modest apartment? And her salary…..was as normal as any personal assistant would earn. It had taken me just barely an hour to get enough information in her to know that she lived a very modest life.

She wasn’t a mistress….

So why?

I couldn’t even think of any reason why my father would do such a thing.

Normally, I wouldn’t have given a fuck about who was incharge of the headquarters, since I was taking care of the branch in London. But now, everything was going to her.

What had been going on in the twisted mind of Paul Richardson to make him decide on such nonsense.

What?

I took a deep breath and walked to the door, very intent on going over to the office that sat opposite the one I was in.

She hadn’t left. Hopefully.

We needed to talk. And fast, because there was no way in hell or heaven I was going to give up the very thing I had worked so hard for, for the most part of my adult life, just for a personal assistant to take it all away from me.

What was my mother even going to say if she heard this nonsense.

I had asked Tyler not to say a word. Something he had readily agreed on.

With that in mind, I made my way over to her office, knocking once I got there.

It was as I heard the lock turn, that I realized I could have just called her to my father’s office, from the office phone in there.

But heck! Now wasn’t the time for such luxury.

We had a lot to talk about and I didn’t care where.

The door opened to reveal a face that looked more disheveled that it had looked when she had come into the office earlier, looking like she had just been in a train wreck.

But…the truth was, I had still found her attractive. 

Even now…

“We need to talk.” I said icily, pushing open the door and soon as she stepped back, and walking in, before shutting it behind me, and locking it.

Elena walked away from me so fast that I though she would miss a step and fall, but she didn’t.

What got to me, was the fact that she was looking at me with….apprehension?

Wasn’t it more understandable if I was the one looking at her that way?

I ignored her expression and just stood by the door, going straight to the point. “You need to tell me what your relationship was with my father, that he literally had to ruin my life in just a matter of minutes with that will. You owe me that, Elena.” My voice was harsh, but I didn’t care.

She needed to explain to me.

At my words, she looked visibly shaken. “I beg your pardon?” Even her voice shook as she looked at me with a lot of venom. “What are you implying, Mr Richardson?”

Oh hell no. 

I wasn’t going to let her get to me with such a look. I knew the way the mind of a woman worked. And I wasn’t going to fall for that. “Who knows? I mean, you are the one who has just literally won yourself a whole ass lottery. So the least you owe my family, is an explanation.” I said, in a voice that was devoid of any kind of emotion. “Why did my father give you every fucking thing?” I asked again. This time, my voice was a little bit higher.

Elena looked like she trying to hold back, and I watched as she let her hands fall to the sides, and snapped. “I don’t fucking know, Jason!” She spat. “I don’t fucking know! So don’t you dare come into my office and accuse me of something that even I, don’t understand!” She brought one hand to her hip, and ran the other through her disheveled brown curls. My hands itched to touch those curls of hers....“I just want to go home and lay down, sleep, and wake up to see that this is a fucking nightmare and nothing more.”

Something in her voice and demeanor actually touched me.

She wasn’t admitting anything. But she wasn’t denying anything. And her voice dripped with innocence.

If she was lying, then she was doing a very terrific job!

I sighed. 

God help me, but I was going insane.

“Elena…”