NICE GIRL TO LOVE (THE COMPLETE THREE-BOOK COLLECTION)(41)

“The guy’s half your age, Victoria.”

“I know.” She beamed. “Thank Marcus again for me, will you?”

Wait, what? He grabbed her elbow. “My father arranged this date of yours?”

Her brows snapped together. “He told me you were fine with it.”

At Connor’s exasperated sigh, she thunked her drink on the counter. “Oh shit, you didn’t know, did you? I thought it was weird you and Gabriella both showed up dateless.” Now she looked genuinely apologetic. “Connor, you know I’d never knowingly play a part in one of your father’s schemes, right?”

No, Victoria was many things, but a backstabber of the people she cared about wasn’t one of them. “Don’t sweat it. My father’s up to something. There’s no way you could’ve known.”

“Still. I can’t believe that * used me. Me.” Victoria’s eyes narrowed on the * in question at the other end of the room.

Connor smiled. If he weren’t already planning his own confrontation with the man, he’d be more than happy to sic Victoria on him. That was one woman you did not want to mess with.

He took his drink over and sat down in the empty seat beside his father, shoving Lynn’s personal assistant necessities—aka the purse with all the condoms and the little blue pills—to the side. “Why are you trying to surgically attach Gabriella to me?”

Marcus nodded approvingly like a—gag—proud father. “She’s a lovely woman isn’t she?”

“Cut the crap. I asked you a question.”

“I’m doing you a favor, Connor. Embrace it. Gabriella is much more suited for you than that…girl you were with the other night.” He shot a reproachful glance at Connor’s injured fists.

Connor officially lost what little patience he had at that point. “I’m going to ask you one more time. What the hell are you up to? You tell me this instant or I’m going to go right over to Gabriella and cause a scene that will make the fight at the restaurant last week look like a frickin’ party.”

Ice cold irritation flitted across his father’s face. “Well, if you must know, the announcement hasn’t been made yet but I’m going to be retiring at the end of this month.”

“Congratulations. Now what’s that got to do with me?”

“It’s a forced retirement,” he bit out through his teeth. “And it’s all your mother’s fault.”

Connor stilled. “How is she a part of any of this?”

“The woman’s lost her mind. First she kicks me out of my own house and files for divorce. Now, she’s coming after my throat, threatening to expose all the married women I’ve had affairs with if I don’t give her everything she wants in the settlement.” He gave a disbelieving grunt, but Connor could hear the film of fear behind it.

“What are we talking here? Clients? Judges? Politicians?” It had to be one or all of the above for the firm to be forcing him to retire.

“It doesn’t matter. I have all our best lawyers on it. Thankfully, your mother’s legal counsel is subpar at best. We’re handling it.”

God, he really was a bastard. “Why don’t you just give her what she wants? Lord knows she deserves it. You’ve been cheating on her and treating her like shit for over half her life.”

“What the hell do you know about any of it?!”

“I know enough,” replied Connor coolly.

“You just think you do. Because you’re still behaving like a fanciful child. We had a marriage arrangement, clear and simple. She’s being unreasonable. Perhaps you could talk some sense into her.”

Over his cold dead body. “Look, you’ve now wasted ten minutes of my time. Either tell me what you and Gabriella are up to or I’m going to go grab the mic and entertain the room with all the kinky shit she’s into.”

“This is all because of that college girl, isn’t it?” hissed Marcus.

“You dare say one negative thing about her, and this conversation is through.”

“I’m just looking out for your best interests!”

Since when?

“Connor, you have a chance to be name partner.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“I’ve been talking with Timothy Knight from Knight and Stern.”

“As in Gabriella’s father?”

“Yes. Her father is interested in my partnering in their firm.”

“Why on earth would they want you? You’ll be damaged goods once the divorce proceedings start.”

“Regardless, I have the deep pocket clients they want.”

“None of whom you’ll be able to take.”

“Yes, but you can. After my ‘retirement.’”

“Whoa, whoa. I’m not jumping ship. And even if I wanted to, I sure as hell wouldn’t jump into a new one with you.”

“Not even for a name partnership? I’ve worked it all out. By the time I’m through, Sullivan, Knight, and Stern will be—”

“Just stop! I’m not taking part in this scheme. If you’re going to join Knight and Stern, it’s going to be without me. And if my personal life was somehow part of this deal you’re negotiating with Timothy Knight, you better start thinking of a back-up plan because not only am I not leaving the firm, I’m not going to come within ten feet of his daughter.”