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twirl. His grandmother had given him his first snow globe when he was eight, but he hadn t started col lecting them until his grandfather had become sick. Somehow he was drawn to the happy scenes frozen in the glass bubble. They represented something he couldn t do freeze the passing of time and hold on to happy memories forever. He set the globe down. Yes, he was fine. He had made a miscalculation; he would deal with the consequences. His life would go on. He was suc cessful in his business. Mary was just another re lationship that hadn t worked out. He was okay with that. The only thing he found annoying was Cammie s large, empty cage. Mary had refused to take it and he didn t feel like throwing it away. He wasn t ready to make everything final. Yes, he had made an error in judgment, but he d find a way to alter things to his favor. He had to. It was fine if she didn t want to be with him, but he couldn t let Mary think he had let her down. Even 216 Power Play though he still couldn t understand how the trag edy had happened. Mrs. McQueeth s death could have been due to natural causes, but it also could have been the re sult of negligence. That thought ate away at him every day. He lifted the snow globe again, but this time he didn t see the quiet domestic scene. He saw all that he didn t have. He didn t have a home with a wife, or a pet or kids to come home to, and he wanted those things. He d wanted them with Mary. She was the one he wanted, and she wished he was dead.A scalding river of fury flooded his veins, and suddenly he hated the image he saw before him. He threw the globe against the wall, where it shat tered, staining the wall with water and confetti. Suddenly he hated them all because they weren t real. They depicted scenes of all the things he wanted but couldn t have. He smashed a globe showing a couple on a beach, a family sledding down a hill, a group of children playing in the snow. He loved the sound of each crash it freed his mind of the reality that he would never be a husband to the one woman who d captured his heart. They d never start a family together, and he d have to go on living without her. He slumped back in his chair. Dara Girard 217 His assistant, Dion, burst into the room, looking ready for battle, his knife tattoo standing out from the veins on his neck. Are you okay? Edmund straightened and glared at him. Mary broke up with me. And do you know why? Dion shook his head. Because I didn t tell her things that I thought she didn t need to know. I wasn t lying& exactly. It s just how I do business. It s what s made me successful. Is that wrong? Dion cleared his throat, still confused by the sight of the shattered glass and confetti. Per haps she thinks a relationship should be differ ent than business. How? I was protecting her. You protect your greatest assets. I did everything in her best inter ests. When Dion looked doubtful Edmund de cided to clarify. Of course I also benefited on some level, but that wasn t my only goal. He clasped his hands behind his head. Do you know that she basically accused me of ruining her life? Despite all that I ve done for her. Then she doesn t deserve you. No. I mean you can get any woman you want. You don t need hassles like this. 218 Power Play You re right. If she can t appreciate you then you re better off without her. She s done you a favor. Edmund nodded. Yes. Dion sat down in a chair and got comfortable. You re a businessman. You call the shots, you set the standards and if she can t follow them then she doesn t sound worthy of you. I mean from what I ve heard, she doesn t seem very smart or capable. We both know she came to you because she had no place to live. We know that her last boyfriend left her, she hasn t been promoted in years. She s not exactly the type you usually go for. She was almost like a charity case. Edmund s eyes blazed, but his tone remained cool. What did you just say? Dion rushed to his feet. Nothing. He inched over to the shattered glass. I ll clean this mess up. Sit down. But I said sit. Dion slunk back into the chair. I didn t mean Edmund pointed at him. Mary is not a charity case for me or anyone. She s very smart, very ca pable and& He sighed, resigned. I should have given her more credit. I made a mistake and I m Dara Girard 219 sorry. He stood, anger propelling him to his feet and making his voice rise. She blames me for her friend s death and I blame myself, but there s noth ing I can do. Nothing. He pounded the desk. And I can usually do something. Do you know how many powerful people I know? I have more money than people could ever hope for. I don t even have to work. But there s nothing I can do to make this up to her. No matter how many times I say I m sorry I can t bring Mrs. McQueeth back. He [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |
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