Forgotten Promise (Forgotten Series Book 2) (18 page)

~Nathan~

Standing on the
concrete walk, I look up to view the cold glass and steel skyscraper, nervous
about this meeting with Augusta Law Firm. Their secretary called, made the
appointment, and here I am. I already know the buyout plan failed, I can only
assume this is about M & M. The thought making me tense.

As I wait impatiently
admiring the plush surroundings, my mind is elsewhere. Life can be turned
upside down in a split second. I have everything I want, now I just have to
hold on to it.

“Mr. James, Mr.
Augusta will see you now.”

I stand and follow,
feeling the pressure my anger turning inward in the attempt to remain calm.

“Nathan.” Both
Richard and Brett stand to shake my hand. They signal for me to sit on one of
the couches, as they do the same across from me. “Sit, please.” Files are laid
out on the table between us, and I know they’re mine.

“Nathan, first of
all. My apologies for the unsuccessful buyout of Sea Blue, we knew how
important this was, even John allowed us to up the ante. But the owner will not
budge. You asked us to look at Max’s company, as you know you have controlling
interest in M&M Global, medical research.”

I nod, understanding
that this is not the problem.

“It’s no surprise
that Mr. Harrison has full control over the foundation, his files that he gave
you basically confirm it,” Richard says.

“There’s more.” My
heart starts to pound, and I feel a trickle of sweat run down my back.

“Have you heard of a
provisional patent?” Richard opens the file and is going through it, he pauses
and looks up over his glasses at me, waiting for my answer.

“No.” Silent rage
brewing.

“Cash has inserted
himself into all potential patents. A provisional application allows you to
file without a formal patent claim, allowing the term Patent Pending. That’s
why you didn’t know about this change, I’m sure Max didn’t either.”

“What does this
mean?” I ask, afraid of the answer.

“At present, he
controls all future medical findings that require patents. It’s completely
legal, which is no surprise. I’m sure he knew what he was doing,” Brett offers.

“A
provisional application for patent has a pendency lasting 12 months from the
date the provisional application is filed.
 
The 12-month pendency period cannot be extended.
 
Now he’ll be
establishing proprietary rights
filing claiming the patents.” Richard removes his glasses,
watching me watch my world spin.

I feel as if I was
just assaulted. Cash’s game of control and destroy  coming to a reality.
“We can’t stop it?”

“We can fight the
application, Nathan.” Brett looks at his Father then me.

“There’s a small
window between the temporary patent and the official one. That’s when we’ll
strike, but we’ll need to go court.” Tossing the folder on the table.

“Let’s face it,
there’re no guarantees, Nathan,” Richard replies.

“He’s a crooked
lawyer, Nathan, there’s nothing more satisfying than bringing down a parasite
like Cash Harrison.” Brett and Richard seem to have their fighting gloves on.

That’s exactly what I’ll
need. “I want his scheme sabotaged, I’m all in, do whatever it takes,” I say,
as I wring my hands in rage.

“Next,” Richard
calmly says.

But I’m anything than
calm.

“You had us research
the sale of the company your wife works for.”

I’m even more livid.
“Go on.”

“The offer was turned
down as you know, but what you may not know is he’s not the owner on paper,
Nathan. He may control the company’s daily procedures, but your father owns
it.” Looking as if he’s holding his breath waiting for my reaction.

I’m stunned
speechless, this is fucked up. “That makes no sense, why would he get involved?
I say, shaking my head in disbelief.

“I’m not surprised
he’s made an appearance in your life again, Nathan,” Richard quietly says.

“So two sadistic
fucks are forcing themselves into our lives. Attempting to create puppets to
control, I’m not going to let that happen,” I promise.

“We’ll fight for you,
Nathan, we will do everything in our power to stop these two conniving, sorry
excuses for men from causing havoc on you and Bryer.”

I stand, on shaky
legs, finding my inner power just to be civil. I refuse to be powerless, they
think they have won, but I just began the fight. I shake both of their hands
and leave in a blur of fury.

Pressing speed dial
#7. Stan answers on the first ring.

“Tail him,” I say.

“Should I ask why?”
Stan says.

“I’ll fill you in
later, 24/7, no matter what he does, where he goes, I want to know before
anyone.”

“Got it.”

As I sit on the couch
awaiting Bryer’s arrival home, I gather my thoughts and my words, she has to
know the truth, feeling the walls moving in on me.

As soon as the door
opens, I see several bags in her hands and a smile on her face, Hating the fact
that I will be the one removing that smile. Fuck.

“Dinner, I hope you
like Italian.” Knowing I do.

“How was your day?” I
start.

“Great, actually,
Cash wasn’t there my first day back, I got lucky.” She smiles, handing me the
bags.

That’s because the
prick is out planning and scheming how to mess with our life. Everytime I look
at her, I’m reminded of how safe we felt with the outside world hiding from us.
No walls crumbling down around us. I take a deep breath, reaching for her hand,
and I lead her to the couch.

“What’s wrong?”
Concern written on her face.

The food to wait.
After I share every detail, I’m trying to decipher her reaction, read her. But
she’s lost, her eyes starting to well up.

“It’s all my fault, I
brought Cash into our life.” Her first words.

“No, how could anyone
predict his fucked-up game?” An overwhelming need to protect her consuming
every part of me. Reminding myself that my tendency towards jealously can often
control my behavior. I have a terrible empty feeling that he’s the kind of man
that doesn’t care, consequences don’t apply to him. And I don’t know where’s
he’s going to strike next. I want to vaporize him the fuck.

“Nathan, I don’t want
you to do anything foolish.” Reading my mind.

“I can’t promise you
that, Bryer.”

“What really matters
is us, our love. It’s a precious gift he can’t touch.” Forcing a smile for me.

Simply hearing her
declaration eases my anger, but Cash is holding the cards, again. And I plan to
get them back. He doesn’t realize that war has just been declared. I’m going to
ruin the bastard. My chest constricts, but I force myself to let it go. “Let
this sit for tonight, we can talk more once I have more details. I’m starving,
how about you?”

“Yeah, I could eat,”
she says.

But I know it’s
forced. It’s up to me to change the mood before it pulls me under. And there’s
only one way I know to make that happen.

“Then there’s
something I want to show you in the bedroom.” Flashing my secret weapon I know
gets her every time.

“You do, do you?”

I feel her forcing
the playfulness, but I’ll take it for now.

A part of being a
man, a fucking decent man, is knowing what your woman needs. If she wants her
bad boy to lean her over the table and fuck her between bites of fettuccine
then do it. If she needs it sensitive, slow, and sweet, I’ll be taking my time.
The talent is knowing the difference.

Leading her up to our
bedroom anticipation in the air.

Flicking the buttons
open one-by-one. Peeling off her dress, watching it hit the floor, leaving her
in French-cut panties and a lacy bra. I step back to admire, and once my visual
journey has temporarily been satisfied, our eyes meet.

“Beautiful curves,
especially your smile.” As I pull her in, a long liquid kiss rushing lust
between us. The kiss speaking of things to come.

“You’re the reason
behind my smile.” Watching her tongue wet her lips that just touched mine. She
sits on the edge of the bed, staring longingly watching me remove my clothes.
God, I want to take her fast and hard, but I know that’s not what she needs. Not
tonight.

Kneeling on the
floor, sliding her panties down her legs, marking every inch with my tongue.
“Intoxicating,” I whisper against her skin. I watch as she removes her lacy
bra, her nakedness is sheer decadence. It could un-man me easily.

Without a word, her
knees part, a total fucking turn-on, giving me full access to her glistening
pussy. My mouth finds her delicate clit and begins stroking her with my tongue.
Chanting to myself, keep it slow.

Itching to touch her,
captivated by her soft skin, the weight of her tits heavy in my hands, her
nipples hard with desire. Never allowing my greedy mouth to stop the assault,
as I watch her head fall back, her curls almost touching the bed.

“I want to hear you
let go, baby, feel me taking your hot honey.” I hear her intake of breath. Her
hand snaking in my hair, gripping as her orgasm approaches, as my hunger
ignites. Her frenzied pace of her hips a sign all control is gone.

“You’re mine, I want
you to come, I want to own your orgasm.” Trembling against my mouth, she gives
it to me.

“Nathan, I’m coming,
I’m all yours.” As she quivers in my hands.

Pressing her back on
the bed, I’m between her thighs, an urgency wanting to take charge, but I
slowly play in her juices, gathering my control. “Fuck me.” I’ll  keep it
slow.

“Jesus.” I slide my
steel cock into her body, she is so tight so wet. She moans once as I still
myself, entirely submersed in her sex. “I love you, Bryer.” Burying my face in
her hair, the familiar lavender scent brings me home as I start to move.

Her legs entangle
with mine, yet I want to be deeper, raising myself so her legs are over my
shoulders. I watch as my cock slides in and out, covered in her nectar. The
vision alone is my undoing, my muscles start to spasm and my own orgasm climbs
my body.

I knead her tits,
lick her nipples simultaneously fucking her and watching the plea on her face.
Her flavor still on my lips, I crush her mouth and my tongue mimics my new
frantic pace. Her walls milking me as she falls apart beneath me, I follow
swearing lightning just struck. She quietly purrs as my breath steadies.
Kissing her neck, up to her jaw and finding her lips again.

“You’re quite
limber,” I tease in her ear after the sexual acrobatics. 

“I’ve heard that
before.”

Matching my humor,
but deserving a smack on her ass. “God, I love you, woman.”

“I love you too,
Nathan.”

The image below me
tattooed on my heart forever. Realizing this woman has tamed me, and I love it.
Wrapping our bodies as one, as I silently watch the moon above me in the
skylight as if it watched the entire scene.

It’s still dark when
I walk into the gym. I see Clayton’s car and assume he has a client. I approach
the office as music spills out loudly.

“You must have it
bad, if you’re listening to pop music.” Laughing as Clayton spins around,
giving me the stink-eye.

“A wise man knows
when to be silent,” he says.

“I never proclaimed
to be wise, Clayton, just observant.” I can spar with the best of them.

“So you admit it,
shit for brains?” Grinning at his cleverness.

“Was that really
necessary? Turning the suck-ass music off. “Let me ask you something, Clayton.”
His brow rising in confusion. “Gen,” I say. “Are you just fucking around with
her, or is it what we all have suspected all along, are you falling for her?”

“It’s not the fall
that kills you, it’ the sudden stop at the end.”

That deserves a
chuckle for sure. “Is that your way of saying you don’t want to get hurt?” I
ask.

“I don’t know what
she wants, we spend a lot of time talking about nothing. We don’t mention
feelings or the future or label what is happening.” Clayton nods his head as if
defeated.

“You moron, say the
words.
I can’t see myself without you
. Something that tells her how you
feel.”

“That’s not me.”
Laughing at the idea.

“Fine, then you’ll never
get what you want. And someone new, who is capable of saying the words can have
her happily ever after,” I chastise, walking away.

“Wait,” he says
frowning. “I could try, maybe.”

“That’s a start, Clayton.
Let’s go out the four of us, we can have dinner, share wedding photos. Just
follow my lead, we may want to have some hand signals to help you stay on
track.”