Written with Regret (The Regret Duet #1)(12)

He smiled, beaming with pride. “Okay, then. So, what’s it going to be?”

I swallowed hard and nuzzled my chin against the top of her hat. There was only one woman who deserved the right to name that baby, and unfortunately, she’d died when I was ten. She would have loved that little girl—unquestioning and without judgment, welcoming her into our family with open arms and a bright smile, including a smack on the back of my head for taking so long to come around. Fresh as the day I’d lost her, grief punched me in the gut. I closed my eyes and imagined her face.

She was the only happy memories I had of my childhood.

And she was about to become my daughter’s first too.

“Rosalee,” I whispered. “Her name is Rosalee.”





CAVEN



Four years later…



“I’m hanging up now,” I growled into the phone. I’d been on that damn call for over an hour, negotiating the never-ending deal.

“Now, wait just a minute, boy. I’m not done here.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, trying desperately to control my temper. Boy? Seriously? I was going to kill Ian for passing this guy off to me. Lance Goodman had been attempting to talk me in circles for days. He was arrogant and pushy, and he thought he shit gold bars, but damn if he didn’t have a tech security firm that was going to be worth millions by the end of the year thanks to a new development in safeguarding cryptocurrency. It was a side of the market I knew nothing about, but private investing didn’t always require expertise other than how to wire funds. This was absolutely one of those times.

“I hate to say it, Lance, but I’m an hour past done. It’s clear we can’t make this work.”

“Who said we couldn’t make it work? Three hundred million will get you twenty percent. Just say the word.”

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. We’d looped right back around to where this conversation had started. Money was great and all, but I was already late for a date and my patience was shot. Ian had been adamant on getting at least twenty percent, and since my best friend couldn’t charm five pennies from a nickel, the schmoozing landed on my shoulders.

There was no chance in hell I was paying three hundred million for a company that was currently only valued at double that. Sure, there was tons of potential with the new launch and I was willing to invest in that, but for fuck’s sake. This was ridiculous.

“Look, Lance. Ian and I both wish you the best of luck. But your evaluation is bullshit and you know it. Two hundred million for twenty percent is the best I can do. If you have another investor on the hook willing to do three for twenty, then as a businessman and friend…” God, I was full of bullshit. I rolled my eyes at myself as I buttoned the top button on my suit jacket. “I highly suggest you take it. But, unfortunately, we’ve both reached our bottom lines. And they don’t match. It’s time we stop wasting time and move on.” Straightening my tie, I glanced down at my watch. She was going to be pissed I was late. This would not bode well for the party later. “I need to go. Have a good da—”

“Two fifty and twenty-one percent,” he rushed out before I had the chance to hang up.

I froze, a slow grin curling my lips. The fact that he’d upped the percentage told me this deal was more than just him taking on a new investor. He needed cash—and fast. Why? I didn’t know, but Ian would take a hard look at his financials before the deal was finalized, so I didn’t hesitate before countering with, “Two fifty and twenty-five.”

He let out a string of cuss words. “We’ll discuss it over a drink this afternoon.”

“Nope. My day’s packed.”

“Don’t bullshit me. It’s a Saturday.”

“And yet here I am on the phone with you.”

“Today, Caven. If you’re going to fuck me this hard, the least you can do is buy me a drink first.”

I laughed and peeked around the corner. She was already at the table, sipping on orange juice in a wine glass, a plate of untouched pastries sitting in the middle. I was right. She was pissed. But I really needed to seal this deal before word got out and he actually found someone to give him the three hundred million he probably deserved.

I jumped out of view when her head popped up.

This was going to be a clusterfuck. But I did have to pick up a few things before the party. Surely I could squeeze in one drink without it being considered work.

“One drink. And it has to be near me.”

“You’ve lost your damn mind if you think I’m driving to Jersey today.”

It was only a forty-five-minute commute to the city. If I could do it every damn day, this guy could do it once.

I was pointedly silent.

“Okay, okay. Fine. Two fifty. Twenty-five percent and I’ll drive my ass to Jersey. However, I need you to bring a gun because if I catch the suburb bug and start looking at houses while I’m there, I need you to kill me immediately.”

Victory sang in my veins. “Noted. I’ll text you the address.” I didn’t give him the chance to get another word out before I hit the end button.

I typed out a quick message to Ian before shoving my cell in my pocket. Then, drawing in a deep breath, I patted down the inside of my jacket to make sure the black velvet box was still inside and prepared to face the music.