If I Only Knew(39)

“No.”

“Have I asked you to reinstate me as an executive?”

“No, and why is that, Milo?”

Because that would mean Danielle would lose her job.

That reason alone should have me running for the next flight to London.

What in the bloody hell is wrong with me? I came here to get my job back and destroy the bastard who took it from me. I wanted revenge of the mightiest kind. My goals were clear, my plan was foolproof, and then I met her.

I found out that she was not so easy to take down, and I saw what it would cost her. Turns out that she’s not a bastard at all. She’s actually quite perfect.

“Because I’m a fool,” I say to Callum.

“Ah.” He smirks. “I guess I don’t have to ask why, since when I walked in you were about to kiss her.”

“I’d rather not talk about it,” I say through gritted teeth.

Callum rests his arms on the table. “Did I ever tell you the story about when Dad met Mum?”

My face falls because the last thing I want is a trip down memory lane. “Really? No, and I don’t care to know either.”

He continues on as though my answer is irrelevant. “Mum and I have a different version of the story, even though the outcome was the same. What Mum doesn’t know is that I used to listen to his phone calls. He knew my biological father, and I suspect that he was placed in our lives for a reason. You know my father was a ruthless business man who thrived on making others cower to him. I think he wanted the same for Mum, but we know there’s not much that will make that woman roll over.”

“Is there a point here, Callum?”

I don’t care about this. Dad is gone and however they met has no bearing on my life.

“Don’t be a tosser.” He glares. “I’m telling you that Dad didn’t meet Mum and just fall in love. Sometimes you find yourself together and you choose to feel or not. You’re not a heartless bastard, Milo, but you sure are daft.”

“How do you figure?”

Callum throws his napkin on the table. “I’m not going to point it out to you. I think you bloody know what has you so pissed off right now.”

“Yeah, you,” I toss back.

“I know,” Callum laughs and stands. “I’m the villain as always. It has nothing to do with your feelings towards Danielle. Suddenly it’s all me who is making your life difficult. Am I right?”

He can fuck off. I don’t need this. I don’t feel anything but the desire to punch him in his mouth. Danielle has made it clear what she thinks of me, and she’s right. I’m a selfish bastard who’s unfit for a relationship.

I’m the guy who will hurt her because I don’t know any other way.

I will fail her, because my history says that it’s inevitable.

In no way am I deserving of her and pursuing her will only end one way—disaster.

I get to my feet and toss money on the table. “No, you’re just the wanker who needs to mind his fucking business.”

“And here I thought we were going to have a nice lunch.”

Now it’s my turn to laugh. “I guess we both know better than to try again.”

I start to walk out the door, not wanting to deal with his shit for a minute longer, but he grabs my arm as I get outside.

“I’ll keep trying. I want you to know that. Not because of Mum or any of that, but because you have a family who gives a damn about you, regardless of what you think. You have a nephew who should know his uncle, and Nicole apparently likes you, although once she gets to know you, she might change her mind. Also, you have a brother who is tired of not having his brother around. I’m not giving up on you, no matter how hard you push me away.”

He claps me on the arm, and heads to his car as I stand there without the ability to speak.

In all my life, Callum has never shown me that he cared. He’s always been too driven to deal with my shit. I’m not sure how I feel about this.

Callum drives away, and I’m like a statue, still trying to process what just happened.





Chapter Eighteen





Danielle





“And did you knowingly enter Mr. Bergen’s office with the gun?” The prosecutor asks as my hands begin to shake.

“Well, I knowingly had the gun, but I wasn’t looking for him specifically,” the man who killed Peter replies.

I’m amazed at how calm and collected he is. As if this is a day like any other. Not a single ounce of remorse on his face.

I didn’t plan to be here. After that first day in court, I’ve found every excuse to miss it. Yet somehow, I’m sitting here, listening and wishing I had stayed away. I needed to leave the office after what happened with Milo. I grabbed my purse and headed to my favorite little food stand by the beach. I sat there, watching the waves lap the shore, wondering how the hell I got here.

Sure, life is crazy. I get that. But this is beyond crazy. This is out of control.

I thought about my kids, my friends, and my family. Before I knew it, I was done eating and instead of heading back to the office, it was as if someone else was driving my car, bringing me to the courthouse.

I don’t know why I felt compelled to be here. Maybe it was because my last thoughts while watching the ocean were about Peter. Maybe it was the guilt of almost kissing Milo again. There was a niggling feeling inside of me that there was something important happening, and I was right. Adam McClellan wasn’t supposed to take the stand today, but I’m sitting here, watching it happen.