Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
“Why are you here?” he demanded. “You haven’t graduated yet, so what are you doing in St. George?”
I managed to look penitent.
“Well, Spencer is really expensive, and I know I was supposed to pay the tuition bill, but I ran out of money. I tried, Daddy, I really tried. I got a job, and—”
“What happened to your trust fund, Lily?” he cuts me off brusquely. “Your mother left you a generous sum. That should have covered your tuition many times over.”
I shoot him a sheepish smile.
“I know, but Manhattan is expensive,” I reply. “A dollar in New York doesn’t even cover half of what it does in Minnesota.”
Lionel glowers, his blue eyes so piercing that my knees grew weak.
“Your mother left you millions,” he bites out. “What happened to those funds exactly?”
I merely shrugged in a non-committal manner.
“I guess I spent it on things I shouldn’t have: nights out, expensive champagne, caviar from the Black Sea. But I’ve learned my lesson,” I said in a quick tone. “I swear, Daddy, I have. I’m not the same woman anymore, and I know that I need to save my money. It’s just that ... well, I don’t have money anymore.”
His black brows raise.
“Not any?”
I shake my head solemnly so that my brown curls sway.
“I’m so sorry, Daddy, but I had medical bills, and I tried to pay them, I really did. But the money ran out, and then I filed for bankruptcy, and then my wages were going to be garnished as part of the court order, but I lost my job before they could be—”
Lionel holds up a big hand, his handsome face strained.
“You filed for bankruptcy?”
I nod with a remorseful expression on my face.
“I did,” I confirm in a soft tone. “Once you turn eighteen, you can file for Chapter 13, so that’s what I did in an effort to take control of my financial life. But it left me with nothing, Lionel! I swear, I tried to make things work, but I couldn’t. New York is a tough city, and I guess I kind of screwed up...”
The huge man snorts, his broad shoulders tense.
“You can say that again.” But before he can speak, I rush on.
“So can I stay, Lionel? I mean, I don’t have the money for a security deposit on an apartment, and you know how some of those big complexes are now. They require two months up front, plus a broker’s fee, plus a move-in fee, plus renter’s insurance, and there’s no way I can afford that.”
The huge man practically chokes, his jaw so tight I can see muscles bulge in his bronzed throat.
“You mean, stay here?”
I look at him with innocent Bambi eyes.
“Well, yes! Where else would I stay? I swear, we probably won’t even see each other, seeing that this place is so huge,” I said, gesturing to his mansion. “It’s got four stories, if you include the basement and the upper level, and there’s even the roof with the pergola, where I can sleep if it gets really hot.”
Okay, offering to sleep outdoors is probably pushing it because Lionel’s hands balled into fists. His broad shoulders went stiff, and I could see a dark flush on his handsome features. His jaw grew tight, and I hold my breath because I swear he’s going to kick me out. After all, we have no blood tie to each other, and my mom passed a couple years back. Lionel doesn’t owe me anything, not anymore at least.
But instead, the alpha male gave a curt nod.
“Fine,” he snapped. “But don’t fuck things up. Oh, and you need to finish school. Your mother would turn over in her grave is she knew what her daughter was up to.”
“Thank you!” I squealed, rushing forward to throw my arms around his strong neck. Before he could stop me, I leaned in for a kiss on his lips, and that male mouth was almost my undoing with its heated sensuality. But then I pulled back, my face flushed and breasts heaving. “You won’t notice me, I promise, Daddy! I’ll stay out of your way and life will go on as before.”
Lionel merely shook his head, his expression dark, before storming out of the drawing room without a backwards glance. I should be perturbed by his not-so-warm welcome, but more than anything, I was relieved. I now have a place to stay, and the bankruptcy is behind me. Sure, my stepfather seems a little upset by my appearance out of nowhere, but Lionel will adapt.
So I moved in. I hauled my two suitcases up to a suite on the second floor, and tried to stay out of my stepdad’s way. It’s not hard, seeing that he’s hardly ever home. As far as I know, he’s always looking after his real estate empire, whether that means visiting properties, talking with bankers, or staring at spreadsheets. We haven’t crossed paths much in the six months since I got back, and I’m grateful for that.