“Clarissa didn’t see them, did she? She’s been against marriage, too afraid the man would only be out for her money.”
Max gritted his teeth. “Didn’t you hear me when I mentioned she was surprised as well? She found them, man! She read through every minute detail! What’s in this document? What did she see that she wouldn’t like?”
James’ face went white. “Everything,” he said with a strangled voice. “You get everything. I knew she didn’t want it so I’m leaving everything to you to manage. And your children. If you have any children, you’ll keep the company in trust for them.”
Max cursed under his breath and looked up at the ceiling, praying for patience. How could the man be so unbelievably stupid and insensitive? Max supposed the older man had to be thinking of the future, but why make it a surprise? And an even better question, why hadn’t James discussed his intentions with Max before doing anything? Now Clarissa knew and had probably suspected the worst. Hell, he would be thinking the worst if he’d come across the document in her shoes.
Running his fingers through his hair in fear and frustration, he took a deep breath to try and calm down his raging fury so he could at least think clearly. When he felt slightly calmer, he turned back to Clarissa’s father, pointing his finger at him in frustration. “I don’t want it. I don’t want anything except Clarissa and if it means you die with no one to take over, that’s not my problem. My only problem is to make sure Clarissa is happy for the rest of her life and I’m going to make sure that happens.”
Without another word, he stormed out of the house and dove into the back of his car. Dialing Jimmy on the phone, he demanded an update.
“We’ve found her boss. We just located the information but we’re tracking down the hotel. Where are you? I’ll have the helicopter meet you. By the time you’re airborne, we’ll have her location and will contact an agency in the area to ensure she doesn’t leave again without protection. I already have a team in the air in your other helicopter on the way. We’ll give them an exact location as soon as we’ve pinged it.”
Ten minutes later, Max was in the air flying to the Scottish border, his hands gripping the document that had started this whole mad race. He relaxed only slightly when Jimmy called to say that they’d located her and his team was on the ground watching the bed and breakfast she’d stopped at.
With her safety reassured, Max started to breathe slightly more easily but there was still the problem of convincing her that the documents hadn’t been initiated by him and he’d had no intention of asking for her father’s company.
Chapter 16
Clarissa looked around at the pretty bedroom and sighed. She couldn’t cry anymore. She’d been crying for hours and she saw her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were red rimmed and her makeup completely gone except for light streaks of mascara down each of her cheeks. She hadn’t eaten all day but she still wasn’t remotely hungry.
Looking at the large, king sized bed with the pretty quilt on it, she thought about all the nights she’d spent in Max’s arms, in his bed, feeling the warmth of his body against hers, knowing that he’d wake her up at some point during the night and make love to her at least once again.
She wished he was here right now and that she didn’t know he was a deceitful, horrible bastard. She wanted so much to believe in love again but she couldn’t. It was all an illusion that would never be a part of her future again. She’d experienced bliss but the pain of the fall was too much for her.
Sitting down on the mattress, she looked around, wondering what she was going to do next. She could go for a walk. But the idea of going outside and having someone else see her like this, or even seeing another human being period, was unappealing. She didn’t want food either, even though it had been at least twelve hours since she’d last eaten.
She laid down on the big bed, huddled into one small corner, hugging the pillow to her chest and closing her eyes. She would just relax for a few minutes, then get out and get some fresh air. She needed to think and make plans. She had to