Read Online Breaching the Billionaire: Alethea's Redemption (Book 6) (Legacy Collection) by Ruth Cardello - Free Book Online
Authors: Ruth Cardello
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of this, but Nicole, you’re the one who is closest to him. People make mistakes. He spent years hating Dominic. Is he over that? If anyone would know, it’s you.”
Backing away, with a voice that cracked with emotion, Nicole said, “I do know and I can’t believe that you’d even ask that.” She turned and walked out of the room.
“I didn’t mean it the way it sounded . . .” Lil said sadly, knowing that chasing after Nicole would only make it worse. Marie is still here. She’ll know how to fix this.
Alethea and Marie were standing nose to nose, two strong women who would never come to blows but who certainly knew how to tear each other apart verbally. I can’t let that happen.
Lil groaned when she saw the fire in Alethea’s eyes. She didn’t respond well to confrontation. Some people avoided conflict; Alethea ramped up in the face of it. Angry with her? She’d be angrier. It was part of the fear Lil had always sensed in her friend. Alethea needed to be in control, and the moment she felt she wasn’t she came out fighting.
In a cutting tone, Alethea said, “No one said Stephan is guilty. I don’t know who would have access to his accounts or why he’d give it to anyone, but the path leads back to him.”
“Of course it does. No, you didn’t accuse Stephan, you just said enough to plant a seed of doubt.” Marie bristled. “How miserable are you that you can’t stand to see anyone happy?”
No. No. No. “Marie, stop. Alethea didn’t organize this meeting, I did.”
Marie continued to challenge Alethea. “These glitches, do they even exist? I’ve heard nothing about them, and the boys tell me everything. You know what I think? I think you’re afraid you’re losing Lil and you’re willing to destroy anyone to stop that from happening.”
Head high, Alethea said, “Do you honestly think I care what you think of me? I don’t need to prove anything to you. Lil knows the truth.”
Do I? Lil searched Alethea’s face urgently. “I know you believe there is a problem, Al, but I’m not sure what to think this time. I know things have changed between us. That can’t be easy for you. Lately I’ve seen a side of you, though, that I don’t understand. You were cruel with Jeisa. I’ve never seen you like that before. I’m not saying you’re making this up, but could you be wrong?”
Alethea’s expression hardened. “So, you don’t believe me either?”
“I didn’t say that, Al, but do you see how this could ruin everything? Can’t you let it go?” Lil looked helplessly at Marie and then back at Alethea.
“You know I need to uncover the truth.”
Lil slumped a bit. “Even if this destroys our friendship?”
“Even then.” Alethea growled, and walked out of the room, out the front door, and to her car.
In the quiet after she left, Marie said, “That is one interesting friend you have.”
Lil hugged her arms around her waist and shook her head. “Don’t, Marie. You don’t understand her.”
Gathering up her purse, Marie said, “That is one point I certainly can’t dispute. However, I’d like to think I know you. You’re happy, Lil. Don’t let her ruin that for you.”
After Marie left, Lil headed to the back of the house to relieve the nanny. Colby ran over and buried her face in her mother’s leg. “Mama. Mama. Up.”
Lil reached down and picked up her young daughter. “Were you good for Karen?”
Colby laughed and stretched her answer into a comically long word. “Gooood?” Then she shook her head solemnly. “No.”
Lil hugged her closer and laughed out loud. “Me, neither. I think I really messed up.”
Taking her mother’s face between her little hands, Colby said, “Two minutes, time out.”
If only it were that easy for adults.
Chapter Seven
Alethea downed her third shot of what the bartender had promised would knock her on her ass: Three Wise Men. Johnny, Jack, and Jim—a combination that shocked initially, then brought a blissful burn.
Backing away, with a voice that cracked with emotion, Nicole said, “I do know and I can’t believe that you’d even ask that.” She turned and walked out of the room.
“I didn’t mean it the way it sounded . . .” Lil said sadly, knowing that chasing after Nicole would only make it worse. Marie is still here. She’ll know how to fix this.
Alethea and Marie were standing nose to nose, two strong women who would never come to blows but who certainly knew how to tear each other apart verbally. I can’t let that happen.
Lil groaned when she saw the fire in Alethea’s eyes. She didn’t respond well to confrontation. Some people avoided conflict; Alethea ramped up in the face of it. Angry with her? She’d be angrier. It was part of the fear Lil had always sensed in her friend. Alethea needed to be in control, and the moment she felt she wasn’t she came out fighting.
In a cutting tone, Alethea said, “No one said Stephan is guilty. I don’t know who would have access to his accounts or why he’d give it to anyone, but the path leads back to him.”
“Of course it does. No, you didn’t accuse Stephan, you just said enough to plant a seed of doubt.” Marie bristled. “How miserable are you that you can’t stand to see anyone happy?”
No. No. No. “Marie, stop. Alethea didn’t organize this meeting, I did.”
Marie continued to challenge Alethea. “These glitches, do they even exist? I’ve heard nothing about them, and the boys tell me everything. You know what I think? I think you’re afraid you’re losing Lil and you’re willing to destroy anyone to stop that from happening.”
Head high, Alethea said, “Do you honestly think I care what you think of me? I don’t need to prove anything to you. Lil knows the truth.”
Do I? Lil searched Alethea’s face urgently. “I know you believe there is a problem, Al, but I’m not sure what to think this time. I know things have changed between us. That can’t be easy for you. Lately I’ve seen a side of you, though, that I don’t understand. You were cruel with Jeisa. I’ve never seen you like that before. I’m not saying you’re making this up, but could you be wrong?”
Alethea’s expression hardened. “So, you don’t believe me either?”
“I didn’t say that, Al, but do you see how this could ruin everything? Can’t you let it go?” Lil looked helplessly at Marie and then back at Alethea.
“You know I need to uncover the truth.”
Lil slumped a bit. “Even if this destroys our friendship?”
“Even then.” Alethea growled, and walked out of the room, out the front door, and to her car.
In the quiet after she left, Marie said, “That is one interesting friend you have.”
Lil hugged her arms around her waist and shook her head. “Don’t, Marie. You don’t understand her.”
Gathering up her purse, Marie said, “That is one point I certainly can’t dispute. However, I’d like to think I know you. You’re happy, Lil. Don’t let her ruin that for you.”
After Marie left, Lil headed to the back of the house to relieve the nanny. Colby ran over and buried her face in her mother’s leg. “Mama. Mama. Up.”
Lil reached down and picked up her young daughter. “Were you good for Karen?”
Colby laughed and stretched her answer into a comically long word. “Gooood?” Then she shook her head solemnly. “No.”
Lil hugged her closer and laughed out loud. “Me, neither. I think I really messed up.”
Taking her mother’s face between her little hands, Colby said, “Two minutes, time out.”
If only it were that easy for adults.
Chapter Seven
Alethea downed her third shot of what the bartender had promised would knock her on her ass: Three Wise Men. Johnny, Jack, and Jim—a combination that shocked initially, then brought a blissful burn.
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