you would accomplish by coming to Cutlerville, but I have given you all I ever intend to give you. You ought to be damned glad that I bothered to support you while you were growing up. I have no intention of doing so anymore."
Daniel continued smiling. "You don't need to. I'm doing a very good job on my own. Chip off the old block, I suspect. Making money is one of the easier of life's chores, don't you think?"
Artemis scowled. "You are getting nothing from me. Had you appealed to me with some respect, I might have considered finding you a position in my holdings, but you have done your damnedest to bring me down ever since you arrived. I want you out of this town and out of my sight, and I will do whatever is necessary to bring that about."
Daniel shrugged. "I came here only to see what kind of family gives away its children. Now that I know, I don't feel under any obligation to claim you. As a matter of fact, I'm seriously contemplating changing my name. My wife objects to being related to a nest of vipers."
Mulloney's face turned a mottled purple as he obviously restrained himself by clenching his fingers around his desktop. "I paid good money to see you brought up to show some respect to authority. I have a good mind to demand my money back."
"If you can get blood out of a turnip, I suppose you can get money out of a dead woman. But I suspect Nanny taught me a great deal more about respect than you ever learned in a lifetime. I have a great deal of respect for people who scratch and save and try to make a living while a bloodsucker like you steals them blind. Forgive me if I don't recognize you as the kind of figure of authority I'm supposed to respect."
The man behind the desk grew dangerously quiet as he pushed his chair away. The city street below went unnoticed as he crossed his arms in a gesture unconsciously similar to his son's.
"You'll learn to respect me before I get finished with you. Even as we speak, I have lawyers preparing the papers to take over Hanover Industries and that hideous monstrosity of a house that your wife calls home. You'll both be on the streets before evening. You thought you were clever in stealing Georgina Hanover away from me, but you'll soon learn what it's like to keep a woman like that in the streets. She'll make your life hell until I take pity on her suffering and offer to pay for a divorce so she can mend her childish errors. You'll never get your hands on Hanover Industries while I'm alive."
Daniel sighed and shook his head. "You just don't get it, do you? I suppose I should have known, but it's difficult to believe one's own father isn't human. I don't suppose you want to tell me why you found me so repulsive that you banished me from your kingdom?"
Dark eyes gleamed from behind the grim mask of the older man's features. "Because as far as I'm concerned, you're no son of mine. You might bear my name, but not an ounce of my blood. Are you beginning to get the picture?"
Daniel shrugged nonchalantly, but the stiffness of his posture indicated some of his inner turmoil. "Since I don't know my mother, I can't very well defend her. I'll take your word for it." He swung his boots to the floor and stood up, prepared to depart.
"You don't leave here until I tell you to leave!" Artemis shouted, rising from behind the desk.
Daniel kept walking.
"I'll make a deal with you!" When Daniel still didn't halt, he added, "It concerns your wife, so you damned well better listen."
Daniel sent a questioning look over his shoulder.
"I want you out of this town. I don't want you bothering my wife. She's ill and I won't have it." Artemis clenched his fists against the desk. When Daniel still made no reply, he continued, "I'm prepared to put the mortgage to Hanover's house in your wife's name so she effectively will own the property. All you have to do is get out of town and not come back."
"And Hanover Industries?" Daniel asked carefully.
"That's mine. I'll do with it what I wish. If your wife's bleeding heart can't bear to see the place shut down, then she can damned well divorce you and marry my son the way