The Man I Thought I Trusted - E. L. Todd Page 0,74

other corporate sleazebags. That shit doesn’t work here. You may be richer than us, but you aren’t better than us. Carson is one of my top journalists, and if she wants to risk her neck to secure the truth, that’s her choice. Now, you can take that check and shove it up your ass—asshole.”

I held his gaze, frustrated that I didn’t get my way, but I was forced to respect him. He reminded me of Carson, who was dedicated to being honest and transparent. I took the check back and turned away. “Thank you for your time.” I stepped out of his office and walked back to the elevators.

Charlie came to my side. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Nothing.” I didn’t look at him and kept walking.

“Fucking answer me.” He grabbed me by the arm and halted my movement.

I turned to him as I folded the check and slipped it into my pocket. “Nothing. Vince didn’t go for it.”

“Go for what?”

“I tried to pay him to keep Carson on less high-profile articles.”

His eyes narrowed. “You think that shit is going to work on the most respected editor in the industry?”

I’d learned my lesson the hard way. “I respect what you do here. I just don’t want Carson to get hurt.” I would always want to keep her safe, always have her back when she thought I wasn’t looking.

“No offense, but she’s not your problem anymore. It’s pretty fucked up that you would try to interfere with her job like that.”

“You know what else is fucked up?” I countered. “That you let your best friend risk her life when her life is far more valuable than a fucking article.” I tried to keep my voice low so the other reporters wouldn’t turn to watch us. “How can you just let her stick her neck out like that? How can you just look the other way?”

His nostrils flared as he breathed hard. “It’s what she wants.”

“But it’s not what’s best for her. She takes on these stories because she has nothing else to live for. Don’t you understand that? She doesn’t have a husband or kids, so she sees her life as expendable. She’s too scared to give herself to somebody, so she does this, which is less scary to her.”

“And you can blame yourself for that.” He cast me one last glare before he turned his back and walked away.

Charlie and Vince would both tell Carson what I tried to do.

She’d be pissed.

I didn’t care. I’d do it again.

Days passed, and I spent my time alone in my penthouse. I’d hoped my stunt would cause her to call and scream at me, but she never did. Even if she were spewing hate, it would still be nice to hear her voice, no matter how angry she was.

But nothing happened.

I was in my office when my sister stopped by for another visit.

It was hard for me to look at her and not be furious. I needed to take responsibility for the way I’d handled things, but she was the root of the problem. She’d always been difficult with Carson because she didn’t trust anyone—even though I was the one who was humiliated by Rose.

I stared her down as she walked to my desk with a folder of paperwork.

She set the folder on my desk and slid it toward me. “I have an idea that might help you.”

I didn’t open the folder. “Help with what?”

“Carson.”

Nothing would help me with her at this point.

When I didn’t open the folder, she bent down and did it for me. “Sign all your shares over to me.”

I cocked an eyebrow.

“Give me full ownership of the company. So, in the event of a divorce, there’s nothing to worry about. You don’t need to have her sign anything, because all your other assets are yours personally.”

I glanced at the paper before I looked up at her again. “Look how that worked out.”

“Dax, come on. That’s not how it is. You know I’ll give you back your shares in a heartbeat. Nothing here has to change. We’ll keep everything exactly the same. But you can do this to protect your family’s company, and it eliminates the problem altogether.”

“Little late.” Should have done this is in the first place.

“Talk to her again and see if this changes things. You’re protecting your family’s company, but everything else that belongs to you is on the table and you aren’t asking her to sign anything—to prove that you have complete faith in your relationship.