How to Resist Prince Charming(62)

Braxton’s mouth dropped. He stared until his eyes went hard, and his mouth went flat. “Tell me something, Lenna. Why should I bother with the truth? It’s not like you’re going to believe me anyway. Not when your precious daddy says otherwise. I mean, this is about choosing him or me, right? And it sounds like you’ve already made your choice.”

She started to counter him, but he quickly added, “Since the moment I first laid eyes on you, I haven’t been able to look at another woman, much less think about sleeping with one. And you’re a complete fool if you think I have.”

“No,” she hissed. “I was a fool to ever get involved with you.”

Spinning away, she strode toward her car and hopped into the driver’s seat, slamming the door behind her. As she started her engine and peeled out of her parking spot, she risked a glance in the rear view mirror. He stood in the middle of the street, staring after her.

The tears came in a rush. She could barely see where she was driving. “Oh, God,” she sobbed.

She’d fallen in love with Braxton Farris, and now it was over.



As Braxton watched her leave, he knew she was carrying a part of his soul away with her. He wanted to chase her down and beg her to believe him. Then again, he’d like to chase her down to wring her pretty little neck.

But, cheating?

Ha!

The idea that he was actually capable of being unfaithful to her was so laughable he let out a sour chuckle. Was she insane? He was in love with her. He loved her more than he’d ever loved any woman. He couldn’t even look at another female without comparing her to Lenna.

How dare she? How dare she accuse him of such a thing? How could she believe her father—

Wait a second.

Her father.

That lying bag of shit. This was his fault. Tom had to know about them. That was the only explanation. But how in the hell had he found out? What in God’s name could’ve tipped him off?

Braxton could only figure Tom had learned at work somehow. But how?

Braxton didn’t have anything sitting out in his office with Lenna’s name on it. He didn’t have her picture—

Oh, Lord.

Her picture.

His computer was full of those pictures he’d copied off her camera’s memory card. But how would Tom have gotten onto his computer? Braxton had set passwords.

Okay, no, he didn’t have a hi-tech security protection on his office computer. But he honestly hadn’t thought someone would ever try to break into it.

Still, there was no way Tom—Tom of all people—could’ve gotten past his passwords.

“Brax?” Tyler’s voice came from behind him.

Braxton spun around and realized he was standing stupidly in the middle of the street.

“You okay, bro?” his brother asked. “I heard the fight. That was brutal.”

Braxton glanced in the direction Lenna had fled. “I have to go,” he murmured and started toward his Land Rover.

“Good luck.”

Curious to find out exactly what had been done in his office, Braxton didn’t chase Lenna down. He drove to Farris Industries at nine o’clock on a Sunday night. He hurried through the empty building until he reached his office. Seating himself at his desk, he fidgeted as he watched his computer boot.

As soon as he logged on, he could tell someone had been snooping. But it hadn’t been Tom. Whoever it was must’ve shown him Lenna’s pictures, though.

His face heating with indignation, Braxton used his techno-savvy knowledge to decipher exactly when and where his cyber-guest had gone.

What he found left him sick to his stomach.





CHAPTER 22




Tom walked into work Monday morning, having no idea what the day would bring.

Though he refused to regret lying to Lenna, he still feared the repercussions.

Farris might be a punk, but he wasn’t stupid. He’d figure out Tom knew the truth...that was, if Lenna had dumped him yet. But knowing his girl, she’d already visited the kid and stomped all over his nuts.

Strolling slowly toward his office, Tom almost expected a pink slip waiting on his desk. But he never made it to the room. On the way, an anxious Ben intercepted him, grabbing his arm and yanking him aside.

“What the hell did you do to Farris?”

Tom froze. Oh, shit. “Why?”

“He’s called an emergency meeting this morning,” Ben hissed. “He wants everyone in the conference room...immediately. Tasha said he’s pissed. Dear God, Tom. You didn’t tell him I snuck onto his computer, did you?”

“No. God, no.” Tom drew in a deep breath. “What’s the meeting about?”

Ben could only shake his head. “No one knows.”

Even more on edge, Tom changed his course and moved toward the conference room. He wondered if this had anything to do with Lenna.

Lord, he hoped not. He did not want the boy to announce he was screwing Tom’s daughter. God, anything but that.

Fearing publicity and termination, Tom entered the room and was doubly shocked to find Spencer Farris seated to the right-hand side of the head spot at the table.

It was a surprise to see his former boss in the first place, but to see Spencer anywhere other than the lead chair was even more disconcerting.

Pat Foley walked in behind Tom and also halted when he spotted Spencer. But Pat grinned at their former boss instead of sending him the sickened I’m-going-to-lose-my-job-aren’t-I look Tom gave him.