Heart Of A Destitute

TER

CH

sun, was a sanctuary of opulence-dark mahogany furniture, rich green drapes, and a collection of rare b

lk," he snapped, slammi

chair, trying to maintain my co

hell are you letting your guard down? Julian's starti

at, James? You're the one who's supposed t

fusion and defiance mingling in his expression.

rom my place. She's not stupid, James. She's starting to piece thing

ne defensive. "So what if s

st. If she finds out we've been manipulating her, everythin

minance. Just as I was about to continue, a knock on the door interru

with determination and betrayal. "I

lly. The elegant decor of the room contrasted sharply with the turmoi

demanded, her voice shaking

hem, my mind racing to find a plausibl

e off, glaring at James. "I need the t

and to silence him. "Julian, please, just listen t

ure defensive. "Complicated ho

We met through mutual business connections. It wasn't

ortant? You knew how much I hate him, how much he's done t

ing glance, silently telling him to let me handle it. "Julian, I underst

. "And what reaso

laced with annoyance. "We were trying to protect y

ow fully directed at James. "P

to defuse the situation, to make her understand. "Julian, please. James and

"Not what I think? Then what is it, Michael? What

ss to clean up. "Julian, you have every right to be angry. But you nee

tect me from what? You keep saying that, but I do

p towards her, reaching out to take her hand. "Julian, I swear to you, I will explain

her eyes breaking my heart. "You had y

me standing there, feeling more helpless than I had in yea

ult. If you had just stayed away,

You knew this was going to get messy. You can't have expecte

hair. "I know, but I hoped it wouldn't come to this

lips. "Good luck with that. You're the one who got

the weight of my decisions bearing down. Julian deserved better than this, better than the lies and deceit.

yes from my mind. She deserved the truth, but I wasn't sure how much of it she could h

stand. I picked it up, my heart sinking when I saw James' name on the

?" I answered, my voic

orrow. There's someth

of my nose. "Can it wait? I'

isted. "Trust me, you'

s, it couldn't be good. But I'd deal with it in the morning. Right now, I

place where we wouldn't be overheard. He was already seate

rtant," I said, sitt

ng a folder across the tab

documents inside. As I read, my stomach ch

aid, his voice low. "If she fi

was already on edge, and this would push her over. We h