The Unintended Fiancé (Captured by Love Book 4) (19 page)

She walked away. And she wasn’t going to cry. Damn him.

“
Mr. Mead? Mr. Delsant will see you now.”

“Thank you,” Brad answered, getting up from the ultra-comfortable armchair in the waiting room of Delsant Team-Building Adventures and followed Anthony’s PA.

He straightened the sleeves of his dark grey sports jacket, wondering if Anthony would be surprised that he wasn’t in one of his usual bespoke business suits.

He didn’t want to look like the powerful CEO today. Anthony had to feel he was the one with all the aces. Well, considering what he was about to negotiate with Anthony, he had already ceded power to his client even before this meeting had started. Today, he wanted Anthony’s help in eradicating the threat to Erin’s reputation once and for all, and he hoped he had the perfect leverage to do that.

“Brad,” Anthony said, extending his hand for a shake.

“Anthony, good to see you,” he responded, then turned to Anthony’s stone-faced legal counsel, who didn’t crack a smile at his greeting.

“Please sit down,” Anthony said. “Is your lawyer joining us?”

“No. I’ve already run this past him. He doesn’t agree with my intended course of action, but he doesn’t have a choice but to respect my decision.”

A surprised look appeared on Anthony’s face. “You’re here to discuss something without your lawyer and against his advice?”

“Yes. Basically, I want to understand your thought process about why you continue to insist that Erin’s involved in this. Man-to-man talk, Anthony. Professional to professional.”

Anthony smirked. “I suppose I could indulge you a bit.”

“Thank you. So could you tell me why you are starting a new investigation on JMR, particularly Erin?”

“I’m not satisfied with the current investigations. It’s going too slowly. I want new experts to do the work this time.”

“My take is that it’s not going slowly, Anthony. It’s just that they can’t find any evidence that the document I received with your name on it was sent by Erin or anyone at JMR. Perhaps it’s time to accept that fact?”

Anthony laughed with sarcasm. “Let’s revisit the facts, shall we, Brad? You had in
your
file a photocopy of the documents that only my office and JMR should have. I never intended to give that information out to anyone else until I’d selected my designer as I didn’t want anyone who wouldn’t be on my team to know about my new plans. The question still remains, how did they get in your hands? No one in this office sent it to you, so only someone from JMR could have. And no one else at JMR had the motive to give you such confidential information but your fiancée.”

“Like I said, Anthony, I got them in the mail. I simply assumed you sent them to me because the letter said it was from you, so I went ahead and incorporated them in my designs. Why jump to conclusions that Erin sent it?”

“Jump to conclusions? Where else could it have come from? I certainly didn’t send it, nor did my wife and program manager, who were the only two people in this office who knew about it apart from me. That document could only have come from JMR and, as far as I can tell, no one else there has any motive whatsoever to send them to you but Erin.”

“Let’s recap some other facts, Anthony. If Erin and I were colluding so I could win your contract, why would I have been so detailed in my proposal? Why would I have
so obviously
incorporated those top-secret information in my designs if I knew they shouldn’t have been in my possession?”

“Of course I’ve taken that into account. That’s why I’m being accommodating to you right now, because I do believe you’re innocent. As you pointed out, you’re way too smart to have done something so stupid as to present me with a proposal with details you knew you shouldn’t have had. But Erin is a different story. My question to you is how do
you
know for sure that Erin didn’t send those documents to you? Isn’t it possible that she didn’t expect that you could so quickly revise your previous proposal with such accuracy and in such a short time to make deadline? She probably didn’t think you’d be so good with your revisions.”

He bristled, not liking that Erin was being painted in such a negative light. “What would have been Erin’s purpose, Anthony? Why would she feel the need to give me an unfair advantage? I was at the top of my game, I was in demand and I didn’t need to resort to underhanded tactics to win contracts. In fact, you specifically invited me to bid for your project, even indicating to me that you’d love to work with me. What possible reason could Erin have to do such a thing that would jeopardise my business relationships?”

“Because at the time, question marks about your professionalism and ethics were already surfacing. Continuing to win contracts had become a must for you to remain at the top.”

“Could you elaborate on what you’ve heard?”

Anthony rattled off a couple of incidents, both of which were Warren’s doing.

Brad pulled out his phone. Warren had recently been awarded the Carmichaels’ Pyrmont contract and had been told by the brothers that Brad would have gotten it had he not pulled out of the race. Warren had surprised Brad with his gratitude and humility, promising Brad he was willing to help iron out the problems that Warren had started, if need be. Well, he was now going to take Warren up on that.

“Do you mind if I call Warren Oliver, Anthony? He’ll tell you a couple of things about those nasty rumours.”

“Now? Is this necessary?”

“Yes. Please,” he said quietly.

Anthony shrugged his acquiescence.

Fortunately, Warren was available to talk. And although a tad reluctant, his rival-turned-friend agreed to talk to Anthony.

Brad watched Anthony’s and his lawyer’s expressions as they listened to Warren on speaker. To say that they were startled was an understatement. They clearly weren’t expecting anything like this.

“Brad and I have agreed to bury the hatchet,” Warren said. “And I’m helping him and his detective to find out who’s sent the letter to my client with Brad’s fake signature.”

“You see, Anthony,” Brad said. “If you continue focusing on Erin, you’re not likely to find this person who’s stolen your documents and sent them to me.”

Anthony and his lawyer excused themselves to speak in private, while Brad thanked Warren for his help.

“It’s the least I could do,” Warren said before they said goodbye.

“Okay, Brad,” Anthony said when they came back. “It looks like I have to extend the investigations to cover other possibilities. This doesn’t mean Erin or you are off the hook. Right now, she’s still the only obvious suspect.”

“I have a proposition to make, Anthony.”

“What’s that?”

“Right now, your North Coast project is being delayed because of this, correct? I don’t think you’ve awarded the contract to anyone yet?”

“Correct. Frankly, you’ve provided the best and most suitable design. But I refuse to work with you until I know you’re not connected with the abhorrent act. It’s costing me, but I’m a man of principle. Besides, I intend to sue the pants off whoever is proven to be responsible for the delays and loss of income.”

“How about we start work but you don’t pay my company until my and Erin’s names are completely cleared? If it so happens that either Erin or I are found guilty, then you don’t pay
at all.
”

Anthony’s mouth dropped open. “Do you realise that it could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars, if you take into account the opportunity costs of working on projects that you do get paid for?”

“Yes, it
could
. But it won’t, because Erin and I are innocent. There’s something you have to do, though, if you accept my offer.”

“What’s that?” Anthony asked warily.

“Make a public statement that you don’t see Erin as being guilty of anything until proof has been uncovered. And so far, there’s no definitive proof that she has done anything illegal, unethical or unprofessional.”

“I don’t know if I’m comfortable with that,” the lawyer said.

Brad ignored the man, keeping his gaze on Anthony. “You said you’re a man of principle, Anthony. Is it fair to let someone’s integrity be tarnished based on unproven accusations? With what Warren has told you, you can see that someone out there wants to hurt
me
. Unfortunately, Erin’s been caught up in all this, and now a magazine wants to run articles that could ruin her career. Sure, she might be able to sue after the fact, but in the meantime, life could be hell for her. You making a public statement will go a long way to stop that magazine from going ahead with the Erin story angle. If you come out and say there is currently no evidence against her, instead of being quiet and letting people believe that she’s your prime suspect, we’re cutting the legs from under their story.”

Anthony scrutinised him for a long moment. “So in exchange for me saying that Erin enjoys my full confidence because no evidence has yet been found against her, you’re willing to start working on my project for nothing? And the only time I have to pay you is if it’s proven that you and Erin are truly innocent parties?”

He nodded.

“What if you’re proven guilty?”

“Then you would have gotten me, my team, my resources, my designs for free. But don’t count on not paying because—”

“You and Erin are innocent,” Anthony finished for him in a wry tone. “What if I don’t want to make a public statement?”

“Then I withdraw this offer. That’s the only reason I’m making this, Anthony. For Erin. Like you said, I could just spend my time working on other paid contracts while you refuse to start on yours. I’m not the one losing out financially with your project being delayed. You are.”

“Are you doing this because this is the only way Erin will take you back?”

“No. She wanted to stick by me, Anthony,” he said quietly. “She was willing to jeopardise her reputation for me. But I didn’t want her to do that, so I ended things with her. And I can’t let her be associated with me again until I know there are no more major threats to her career and integrity.”

“Wow,” Anthony said, his eyes widening. “You’re willing to do all this for her?”

“Yes,” he said simply.

Anthony glanced at his lawyer, who gave a little shrug. “Well, I guess saying something to the effect that Erin is innocent until proven guilty is not a big ask. Are you willing to put your offer in writing?”

“I already have,” he said, handing Anthony an envelope. “I’ve signed it and I’m willing to wait here until you’ve read and signed it as well.”

“Wow,” Anthony said again as he pulled out the document.

Brad waited patiently while the two men pored over the new contract, excitement starting to suffuse him.

There would still be problems while his main saboteur was still out there. But with Warren and Anthony’s assistance, any falsehood would hopefully have minimal damage from here on out.

He couldn’t wait to see Erin again, and tell her how much he loved her. He had a lot to make up for, especially for making her think he didn’t want a future with her. What would she say when he knocked on her door tonight?

*****

B
rad moved aside to let two men carrying a bulky beige sofa pass through the front door of Erin’s building before bounding up the stairs to her floor. He glanced at the long-stemmed red rose he held in his clammy hand and wondered how Erin would react when she saw him with it.

When Erin had given him a rose in Perth, she’d said it was a mere thank-you gift. He couldn’t blame her for covering up her embarrassment and disappointment from him acting less than thrilled by her sweet gesture. It was just that he hadn’t been ready to admit his feelings back then and hadn’t known how to respond.

Tonight, nothing was holding him back. He was ready to tell her what this rose meant—and it most definitely wasn’t gratitude.

Still, he couldn’t help his nerves. What if Erin was still too angry at him to want to talk?

He reached her door and knocked, the beating of his heart louder in his ears. When the door started opening, he involuntarily held his breath.

“Hi, Cha— Oh, Brad. Hi,” Erin said, her eyes wide with surprise.

“Hi,” he said, his mouth dropping in awe. God, Erin was a lovely vision in a sexy red dress, beautifully made up face, and silky hair pulled up in a bun. She was obviously headed somewhere. “Did I come at a bad time?” he croaked.

“Um... yeah,” she said, glancing at the rose before looking back up at him. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t call first. I just assumed you’d be home because it’s a Wednesday night. Where are you off to?”

“To watch
Les Miserables
at the Capitol Theatre.”

“Who with?” he asked nonchalantly.

“Chase.”

A man’s name. His heart constricted. “Who’s Chase?”

“The guy who lives downstairs,” she said, just as they heard the elevator ping. “Here he is.”

Brad twisted around to find a well-dressed man who looked familiar. His faced heated up. This was Chase? This idiot had been trying to ask Erin out for months. And now she was going out with him? Worse, Chase was carrying a bunch of flowers. A
big
bunch of colourful, fragrant blossoms, not one itsy-bitsy rose.

“Hi, Erin,” Chase said, looking at him with suspicion.

“Hi, Chase. This is my friend Brad.”

“Nice to meet you, Brad,” Chase said, gesturing for a handshake. “I’ve seen you around.”

He took the man’s hand and pressed tight, giving him the deadliest stare he could manage. But Chase seemed unperturbed.

“And this is for you, beautiful,” Chase said, handing the flowers to Erin and kissing her on the cheek.

“Thank you. They’re lovely,” Erin murmured, blushing.

He narrowed his eyes, wanting to push Chase so the idiot would take his hand off his Erin. But instead he asked, “Erin, could we have a minute please?”

“Um, we’re actually running late for our dinner reservation, Brad,” Erin said, her face grimacing with apology. “Maybe I’ll call you and we can arrange a catch-up? I do want to hear about what been happening with you.”