The Broken One (Corisi Billionaires, #1)(47)

We hadn’t had embarrassing conversations before Sebastian.

After an initial period of disappointment when he didn’t call, I hoped I would soon go back to normal. Several of my clients were on edge because of the announcement that Romano Superstores had been approved for construction.

I sat down at my desk, dropped my purse into the deep drawer on the side of it, and turned on my computer. One hour became two as I lost myself in work.

“Knock, knock,” Teri said from the door. “There’s someone here to see you. Do you have a minute?”

“Sure.” I smoothed my hands down my skirt and stood. It’s not him. It’s not him. Don’t get all excited. It’s not him.

The man who filled my doorway was well dressed, clean cut, but no, not Sebastian. I did, however, recognize him. “Mr. Bhatt, come in.”

“Call me Rakesh. Thank you for seeing me, Miss Ellis.”

“Heather, please.” I moved to the front of my desk. “Why don’t we sit down?” We each took a seat in front of my desk. I took a moment to appreciate the contrast of his brown skin, dark hair, and light-blue eyes. Truly a handsome man who looked about my age.

So why did I feel nothing?

Where was the zing?

I didn’t like what that said about Sebastian, because I didn’t want him to be special. All he’d done since I’d met him was insult and disappoint me.

Okay, maybe that wasn’t entirely accurate.

He’d taken care of me when I was sick and could kiss me right out of my clothes, but that didn’t make him any more suitable for me than any other professional man.

Like this one. I looked him over again.

Nothing.

I did note, though, that he seemed agitated, and I realized he’d said something while I wasn’t paying attention. “I’m sorry,” I said. “Could you repeat that?”

He braced himself with a hand on either knee. “It wasn’t easy to come here.”

I didn’t gossip, but that didn’t mean I was deaf to what others said. If the rumors of his financial situation held any truth, he was probably asking for advice on how to avoid bankruptcy as his company dissolved. I could see how that wouldn’t be easy.

But why come to me? Surely he had lawyers and accountants of his own.

I waited.

He continued, “You’ve been seen in town with Sebastian Romano. Do you know him well?”

Warmth spread up my neck. Depending on if his source mentioned seeing me inside or outside of the restaurant, they would have given him a very different account. “We’ve recently become acquainted.”

Rakesh said, “If I had any other recourse, I wouldn’t be here.”

“Okay.”

“I have people relying on me—my parents, my siblings, my employees. With Romano Superstores getting the okay to build, there is nothing to stop him from putting my entire family out of business.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that.” I really didn’t know what else to say.

“Perhaps you could speak to him, convince him to give us a little more time. I can’t fail now, not while my father is so ill. The doctors say he may have only a month left. The last thing he sees before he dies cannot be his legacy being torn down.” Tears filled the man’s eyes, and he leaned forward, covering his face with his hands. “I’m sorry. I’ve made peace with a buyout, but not yet. Just not now while my family is losing my father.” His intense sorrow showed in his eyes when he looked up.

I fought back my own tears. “I wish I knew Mr. Romano better. If I did, I would take your request to him, but . . .”

“I understand. I shouldn’t have come here. My father is a proud man, and I used to be. Funny how quickly pride became unimportant when the doctors told me he was dying. I’ve tried everything I know, pulled in every favor owed to me. All I want is for them to not start to build until my father passes. I know the fight is lost. I don’t have the resources to win against a man like Romano.”

“Have you contacted him yourself?”

The man’s face tightened. “Yes. Empathy is not his strong suit.”

My heart was aching for the man before me and confused by the one I’d hoped to hear from that day. “If I hear from him again, I’ll talk to him about your situation. He may not care what I think, but I’d like to believe compassion for a fellow human would have him hold off for a bit on building. It’s a business, though, and he has people to answer to as well.”

We both rose with a handshake. “Thank you,” he said. “Even though coming here changed nothing, I needed to know I had done all I could.”

“I understand.” I walked him toward the door.

He nodded at Teri and left without saying another word. I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye, then reached for a tissue off her desk. After blowing my nose, I asked, “Is it possible to like someone, hate them, want to sleep with them, and also want to throttle them all at the same time?”

Without batting a lash, Teri picked up her phone, pressed a button, and said, “Erica’s on line one in your office.”

I nodded and chuckled. “You called her? Good choice.”





CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR



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HEATHER