Page 6 of Untamed Billionaire
No, he wasn’t going to waste his time any longer.
Moving around to the front of the house via the sidewalk that wound through some impressive gardens, he pulled the keys to his Jaguar out of the pocket and…came to a halt. Choe stood on the front entryway, looking like an angel as the overhead light shined down on her. Her dark hair glowed and her dress sparkled. And she looked painfully lonely and uncomfortable, even though an average looking guy stood on the steps in front of her. She also appeared to be a little bit desperate. The man moved away, heading into the night with an angry stride, most likely towards his car. Marco kept his eyes on Chloe, on the sadness in her shoulders, the heaviness weighing her down.
But she rallied, pulling her shoulders back as if she were shaking off another insult. He’d seen her do that a couple of times during the evening. Whatever she was trying to shake off, it was more than just a casual conversation. Another insult. He had no idea what was holding her here in this house, but Marco was going to find out.
He didn’t question the protective instinct that came over him every time he thought that Chloe was in trouble. He’d listened to his instincts ever since he’d escaped from home and started living on the streets. They hadn’t failed him yet!
Chapter 2
“Good morning, Father,” Chloe said as she stepped into her father’s office the following morning. He was sitting in one of the leather club chairs in his office with three other cronies, all of them sipping bourbon and laughing about their post-dinner party escapades at some exclusive men’s club, despite the fact that it was barely ten o’clock in the morning. Whatever had happened last night, it must have been hilarious because they were all roaring, slapping their knees and rocking back and forth.
“Sir?” Beth, Charles’ personal assistant, stepped further into the room and called out again to be overheard above their laughing.
All four men’s amusement died and two of them tried to hide the crystal glass of bourbon in their hands. Their efforts weren’t very effective since Chloe had been standing here for several moments, watching and listening. Plus, they were so drunk, the bourbon they tried to hide behind the leather arm of their chairs was in danger of spilling over the edge of their glass.
“What is it?” Charles asked, amusement still lingering around his mouth and eyes. He didn’t bother to turn around. Giving his personal assistant his full attention might imply that she was important. Charles would never indicate, by word or deed, that a woman was important. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, calling out his words over his shoulder. “Are the investors here?”
Beth cleared her throat and shook her head. “No, sir. Not yet. But your daughter arrived.”
“Chloe?” he snapped, all laughter gone. “Tell her to come back when she has an appointment. I’m busy.”
Chloe shifted slightly to the right so her father could see her. “I have an appointment, Father,” Chloe announced, her tone clipped as she tried to hide the pain as the three other men looked at her with pity in their eyes. “I made the appointment two weeks ago.”
Charles harumphed and slammed back the rest of his bourbon. “Well, honey, you can see that I’m busy. I have a lot of work to do.”
Chloe shook her head. “Father, I don’t think that bragging about the women you met last night in the strip club counts as work.” She probably shouldn’t have said that, but she was too irritated by his dismissal of her. Again! “Besides, you canceled the last five appointments I set up with you. This is very important.”
The other three men stood up, each of them tossing back the remainder of their bourbon and setting the glass on the table. “We can give you and your daughter some time, Charles,” one of them said, patting Charles on the back. “She probably just needs some advice from her daddy.”
The three men filed out of the room, each of them tipping their heads towards her as a greeting, but every one of them let their eyes trail up and down her figure, one of them smirking and another actually licked his lips. Chloe was disgusted with every one of them and she firmly closed the door after the last one left.
Turning to face her father, she stood in front of his desk, not waiting for him to offer her a seat because she knew that he wouldn’t. “I am here to ask for legal custody of Emma, Father. You don’t need to support her anymore. I will take full responsibility for her.”
Her father leaned back in his big, leather chair, glaring up at her. “No.”
Chloe wasn’t surprised. She’d anticipated his response and tried very hard not to reveal her anger. “Why not? You never visit her. Ever since her disabilities were diagnosed, you put her in that residence home and haven’t once visited her!”
Charles’ features didn’t change. “No!”
Chloe fought back the tears of frustration and anger. “Father, she’s your daughter! She’s so sweet! She laughs and sings, she reads books, and she’s…”
Finally, his features changed, but to a look of disgust. “She reads at a kindergarten level! She can barely feed herself and she’s embarrassing!” he snapped, pushing back his chair to pour himself another glass of bourbon.
Chloe inhaled deeply, then slowly let the air out of her lungs. It was a technique she’d read about that helped to calm one’s temper.
It didn’t work.
Following him, she turned her body but hid her hands that were now fisted at her sides. “If you hate her so much, then just let me take care of her! I love her!”
He sneered at her over his shoulder. “Like you could take care of her! Do you know how much that place costs me every month? I should move her to a cheaper place.” He lifted his refilled glass of bourbon to his lips and slammed the contents down, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “And if you don’t stop this conversation immediately, I will move her to a new place, and I will not tell you where she is! Do you want that? Is that what you’re trying to push me to do? Are you really that heartless that you would force me to hide your sister away from you?”
“NO!” Chloe gasped, terror making her go cold inside. “I’m sorry!” She backed away from her father’s desk. She hadn’t anticipated that kind of threat. If he hid Emma away from Chloe, then her sweet sister wouldn’t have any visitors at all! No one from her family even acknowledged Emma’s existence! Emma tried to hide her pain whenever Chloe came to visit, but she was so lonely at that residence. Emma was sweet and happy and such a caring, loving person! Yes, she had learning disabilities, but nothing that should warrant being shucked off to strangers to be raised.
“Get out of my office!” he snapped. “If you ever bring Emma up, for any reason, to anyone at all, then I’ll ship her off to the furthest residence I can find!”
Chloe’s mouth closed as fury almost choked her. She turned and walked out, disgusted with her father, and deeply ashamed of her whole family. Her father was probably drunk, and it wasn’t even past noon! How pathetic was that?!
She hurried out of her father’s office, horrified and ashamed. Resting a hand against the expensive paneling on the wall, Chloe took long, slow breaths, hoping the air might calm her anger and terror. Emma! Poor, sweet Emma was locked away, all alone. Chloe visited her as often as possible, but it wasn’t enough!
