Page 85 of Hiding In the Dark (The Righteous 4)
His temper flared, and Trev must have sensed it because he gave him a hard glare and shook his head no. Kes waited until his father was a few strides away and then spoke. “Nezumi is not the only illegitimate child I know about.” His father paused mid-stride. “I know that Chelsea used to work here as your secretary, and that she was mysteriously fired. Nine months later, Nezumi was born. I also know that you’d had Chelsea shipped in special from Japan, a real beauty before she got hooked on drugs and forced out onto the streets. You left her pregnant, jobless and without immigration papers.” His father slowly turned to face him. “I know that you paid for both of Zumi’s heart surgeries, but signed away all rights to being her father and left her and her mother penniless and homeless on the street. Smart thinking on Chelsea’s part to put our family last name down on Zumi’s birth certificate. I didn’t think she had it in her to actually care about Zumi but looks like at one time she had at least thought she may need the insurance policy of what that name brings.” Kes took a step toward his father. “And do you know what else I found out? That there have been more than a dozen women from your company with similar tales. Huh, my father, the breeder of bastards.”
“Shut up. This is all speculation. You don’t have any proof.”
“Do you really think I would march in here like this if I didn’t have proof? I don’t play poker, so I never learned to bluff. Now, I do realize that almost all of those women took a sum of money and signed an NDA in return, but there were a few you missed before you got smart, and my brilliant lawyer here says that the NDA’s wouldn’t hold up in court because they were all signed under duress. A forced signature is not a real contract.”
“You son of a bitch,” his father said, his voice a mix of fear and anger.
“Since you brought Mother up, it’s amazing what Mom told me once she realized I was going to help her get away from you.” Trev laid another sheath down on the table. “You’ll find her divorce papers in there, and yes, they need to be signed today, too. It really would be a shame for all of this to become public. The board members would be forced to remove you, and the public ridicule, as well as the lawsuits I’m certain would start rolling in, would indeed bankrupt you and ruin this company within a year.”
His father was shaking from head to toe. The arrogant mask that he always wore had slipped, revealing the real man underneath—the man that was cruel and vindictive. The man who was a control freak and a narcissist.
“Now, before you freak out and start demanding that I get out again, you should also know that I already own forty-five percent of the company.”
“That’s impossible.”
Kes smirked. “But is it? Over the last two months, I’ve purchased large shares of the company from multiple shareholders under multiple shell companies. Now I, of course, didn’t personally have the money for all of that on my own, so it is a really good thing that I have a lawyer that not only has deep pockets but also sees the value in having this company under new leadership.”
Kes slowly made his way back to Ashley and wrapped his arm around her waist. The slight smile she gave him warmed his heart as her eyes told him how much she loved him. “So, Father, this is what’s going to happen, and I assure you, this deal is a better one than you would offer anyone else, but I’m a generous man that way. You’re going to sign the divorce papers and free Mom from you, and you will never reach out to her again for anything. You’re also going to sign the company over to me and hold an emergency press conference to announce the exciting news. And what truly exciting news it is, you handing over your company—its’ the best thing that has happened to you in a long time, even. I’d recommend a tear for effect. I mean your son is taking the reins of the company so you can finally retire. Don’t worry, though. In return, your disgusting infidelities will remain secret. I’ve also built into the contract a retirement package that will allow you to retain a reasonably comfortable lifestyle until you die. Won’t be what you’re used to, but such is life.”
He took a moment to stare at his father’s face and felt no remorse for what he was doing. He most certainly deserved worse, and if the man weren’t his father, he would already be bleeding out somewhere, but he’d let the Devil take care of that man’s soul.
“I hate you,” his father said through gritted teeth.
“I’ve hated you far longer. You owned my life, but I’m taking it back. You can consider this a hostile takeover.” He gave his father a cold smile. “I’ll leave Mr. Anderson here to speak with you and get the documents signed. Don’t take too long. I’ve already got the news stations on the way and a party planned in the lobby for the celebratory event.”
Not wanting to spend a minute longer in the same room as that man, he held Ashley close to his side and marched out the door he’d entered.
“That was the single sexiest thing I’ve ever seen in my life, and I couldn’t be more proud of you.” Ashley stood on her tiptoes and kissed his lips. It was a feather-light touch, but it sent a surge of desire through his body. And just like that, all the shit with his father was gone, and all that existed was her and how to get her laid out on a desk as soon as possible.
“Sexy enough to forgive me for being an ass?”
“So sexy that not only are you forgiven, but all I can think about is getting you home and out of this suit,” Ashley whispered a little lower, and his body instantly responded.
“How would you like to have some dirty sex on an office desk?”
“Lead the way,” she said, and he groaned softly as she teasingly bit her lip.
Grabbing Ashley’s hand, he led her down the hall. “Have I told you today that I love you?”
“A couple of times, but tell me again. I like hearing it.”
The smile on his face couldn’t get any wider as he glanced down at his beautiful fiancée. “I love you.”
Ashley was currently doing her best to remain unnoticed and out of the way as Kes, Trev, Arek, and herself all stared at the heated sibling argument.
“Do you think we’ll actually get married today?” Arek asked, nudging Trev’s arm.
“It would be a waste if we didn’t, but at this point, I’m not sure,” Trev responded as Renee took the beautiful bouquet in her hands and began smacking it off her brother’s chest. Cody was fuming and pointing at his sister and saying that she was forcing a sneak attack on him.
“Mom will be upset if this double wedding doesn’t happen.” Arek gave his brother a pout, making Trev roll his eyes.
“If you’re insinuating I should be playing negotiator, I don’t know if even my skills can handle this one. Cody is pretty determined not to speak to his father.”
“And Renee won’t get married without him here. Come on, man, you have to try. My skills are better directed at killing shit. I will only make this worse,” Arek pleaded.
Ashley wrapped her arm around Kes’s neck as she sat on his lap. “You’re awfully quiet. Is everything okay?” she asked, whispering in his ear.
“Honestly, this is the most entertaining shit I’ve ever seen. It’s likeMonster Bridesclashed withSurvivorto give you this.” He held out his hand toward the action that Trev was slowly inching his way toward nervously. Smiling widely, he popped a strawberry in his mouth and held one out to her.
