“What on earth would he have to discuss with you?” As soon as he said the words, he knew they sounded harsh. “Listen, I’m sorry, all right? But even you have to see where I’m coming from. A woman I’ve never met had a relationship with my father that not only did no one know about, but apparently he was more caring with you than he’d ever been with me.”
When they made it to the large oak door with a stained glass insert, he held it open for her, and she stepped outside. “I’m sorry. Truly sorry that Arthur wasn’t more open with you and that you didn’t get to know the man I knew. And th-thank you for dinner.” She smiled up at him with her big brown eyes, and Max felt his manhood swell. He’d only just met Tahlia, but she was having a profound effect on him.
“It wasn’t much of one, I’m afraid.”
“You tried.”
“Have a good night.” He watched her walk to her car and shut the door. Then he headed directly for the library. He usually loved the room because it was surrounded on three sides by bookshelves up to the crown molding at the ceiling. The furniture was upholstered in rich chocolate-brown leather to match the solid oak desk his father had once used. But Maximus didn’t care for any of that tonight and went straight for the wet bar. He poured himself a bourbon straight up. He walked over to the French doors across the room and opened them, staring out over the manicured great lawn. He sipped his drink and thought about his next move.
He hadn’t felt such a strong physical pull toward a female in a long time, if ever. Wanting Tahlia Armstrong was irrational and not advisable. He needed to figure out how he could control her and the situation. She now owned the two most important percent of shares at Knight Shipping because hers was the deciding vote, thanks to his father’s machinations. Had his father done this to spite him because Maximus had suggested taking Knight Shipping public when Arthur was adamantly opposed to it? Had he given Tahlia those shares to ensure it never happened? If so, she was no match for him. Expansion was inevitable, and the board now composed of Lucius and Tahlia would have to vote on it. Maximus would do whatever was necessary to ensure he was successful.
He’d seen the way she looked at him today. She wasn’t unaffected by him either. He’d noticed earlier that she stammered whenever he came within close proximity to her. Perhaps their mutual attraction could work to his advantage. Sexing her was an intriguing possibility.
Maximus heard a noise behind him and turned to find his mother standing in the doorway. “Care to pour me one of those?” she asked, inclining her head to the drink in his hand. The red wine she’d had earlier was nowhere to be seen.
“Sure.” He stepped back into the library and took care of making her a drink. Then he walked over to where she’d made herself comfortable on his father’s favorite easy chair and handed her the bourbon.
“Thank you.” He settled across from her in another chair, and they were both quiet for a long moment before she finally spoke. “I’m still in shock, Max. I can’t believe your father did this to us.”
“You mean to me,” he responded. “I’m the one he pushed and pushed to be the best at everything. I’m the one he said would run Knight Shipping one day, but instead, he gives half the company to my illegitimate brother? A son he couldn’t even acknowledge while he lived? A son who knows nothing about the shipping business? You have no idea what it feels like to be in my shoes, Mother.” Maximus threw back the remaining bourbon in his glass and then jumped up and went to the bar for another one.
Maybe, just maybe, he could drown out the hurt and betrayal he felt at a father who’d never loved Maximus as much as he’d loved him.
“I’m so sorry, Max,” his mother cried. “I thought I was doing what was best for you.”
He spun around on his heel. “By staying with a man who didn’t love you and pined for another woman? For what? So I could inherit the keys to the kingdom?” He chuckled wryly. “Well, you can see what good that did you. He screwed you over yet again.”
“He screwed us both, Max,” his mother responded tightly. “He’s given half your birthright over to that no-good playboy brother of yours.”
Maximus eyed her warily. “Be careful, Mother. Be very careful.”
“Why? Don’t tell me you’re feeling sentimental about a brother you never knew you had and who’s trying to take what’s rightfully yours.”
Maximus didn’t believe for a second that was the case. Lucius had been as shocked as he was by the bequest. He hadn’t known he was Arthur’s son until that moment in the hospital a couple of weeks ago, when his mother had railed at him. Maximus had seen the horror that had crossed his older brother’s face when the realization had sunk in that not only had his mother been carrying on an affair for decades with their father, but that he’d been the result of it. Lucius had been devastated.
Despite that, however, Maximus wasn’t about to let an interloper, an outsider, walk in and take what was his. He’d been groomed his entire life to run Knight Shipping, and no one, brother or no brother, or their sexy partner, Tahlia Armstrong, would get in his way. He would see to it.
“Of course I’m not sentimental, Mother,” Maximus responded. “But haven’t you heard the old phrase ‘you catch more flies with honey’? Don’t worry.”
Her brown eyes stared at him incredulously. “How can I not be worried when half your inheritance is being stolen?”
“We have to play it cool, Mother. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned in business, it’s that we mustn’t show our hand. I promise you, I’ll get what’s mine. I promise you. All in due time.”
“How?”
“I have a plan.”
“You own Art Gallery Twenty-One?” Kaitlynn Armstrong, Tahlia’s sister, stared back openmouthed as they sat at Tahlia’s breakfast bar the next morning. Tahlia had stopped by Kaitlynn’s apartment to tell her about the dinner at the Knights’ estate and to share her amazing news and good fortune.
“Sure do,” Tahlia replied with a self-satisfied smile. “Arthur Knight transferred the title to me. So now that witch Bailey will be coming to me for approval.”
Tahlia was referring to her boss, Bailey Smith, who was into traditional art. Tahlia had been trying unsuccessfully to get her to branch out to show unconventional pieces. It was only when Arthur had liked a piece from an up-and-coming artist that Bailey had relented for a small showing. It was at that opening that Tahlia had first laid eyes on Maximus Knight.
She’d been setting out canapés when he’d walked into Art Gallery Twenty-One just as confident as he pleased in a designer suit, skinny tie and expensive loafers. He looked every bit the wealthy shipping magnate. From her vantage point, he’d looked serious and intent when he’d spoken to his father. Tahlia had watched him from afar, soaking in every bit of his aura, from the curly fro on his head that she would love to run her fingers through to the bushy eyebrows above sexy eyes to those sinful lips.
Unfortunately, Maximus Knight hadn’t stayed long at the gallery. She’d been pulled away to help a customer, and when she’d finally looked for him, he’d been gone. But now everything had changed. Arthur’s death had set her on a new path that Tahlia could only hope she could prove worthy of.
“I still can’t believe it,” Kaitlynn said. “Did you have any idea that Arthur Knight put you in his will?”
Tahlia shook her head. “None.”
“Have you told Mom yet?”
“No, not yet. She’s at work now,” Tahlia responded. Their mother, Sophia, was an RN at UCLA Medical Center and had just started her evening shift. And Tahlia couldn’t