Remind Me

by Ann Marie Walker

  “What makes you say that?”

  “This whole rush to the altar. My guess is Julian was holding onto the cash until after the wedding. Moving up the date didn’t have anything to do with a cancelation at the Drake. It was all about saving the company. I didn’t think anything of it at first since everything about our relationship had moved quickly. It was a whirlwind romance from the moment my dad introduced . . .”

  “Oh my God . . .” Allie choked on a strangled sob. “It was a setup from the beginning. I was just another asset for them to leverage. A way to keep the company in the family.” Shame burned in the pit of her stomach. “How could I have been so stupid? The three of them have been playing me like a fool this whole time.”

  Tears streamed down her face and Hudson reached for her, pulling her back into his arms. “Shh, I’ve got you.”

  Allie curled into him as the emotions of the day came crashing down around her. Hudson held her tight as she sobbed quietly against his chest. Sometime just before dawn, when there were no more tears to cry, she finally drifted to sleep in his arms.

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  Allie’s eyes fluttered open, one more than the other, and she winced. She didn’t need a mirror to tell her how bad the swelling was. Her half-open eyelid told her all she needed to know. She blinked and the face across from hers came into focus. Hmm, talk about a sight for sore eyes. Literally. She could definitely get used to waking up to Hudson’s beautiful face on the pillow next to her. Of course the mornings she woke to him between her thighs weren’t too bad either.

  “Good morning.”

  She gave him a sleepy smile. “Good morning. How long have you been awake?”

  “Not long.” Hudson scrubbed a hand over the rough stubble that grew in overnight. “How do you feel?”

  Allie took stock of her injuries. Her eye was obviously more swollen but her head seemed to have improved. She touched the bandage covering the right side of her forehead. What had been a pounding throb was now a dull ache. She moved slowly, testing her limbs. Arms and legs seemed okay. “I still have a bit of a headache, but other than that I feel pretty good, considering.” She rolled to her side and sucked in a sharp breath.

  “Ribs?”

  She nodded. “Just a little stiff.” The pain subsided quickly and she gave him a reassuring smile. It wasn’t merely for his benefit. Despite everything that had transpired, she felt oddly at peace after her night in Hudson’s arms. “Thank you for taking such good care of me last night.”

  “My pleasure.” He lifted his hand, brushing her cheek with his knuckles. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Allie. Though I do wish you’d have let me take you to the hospital. You really should have an X-ray.”

  “Honestly, it feels much better today.” Allie tried to remain impassive as his fingers touched her, probing gently.

  “They could be cracked. Or broken.”

  “Or just bruised,” she countered.

  He scowled, clearly unconvinced.

  “I promise, if it’s still hurting tonight, I’ll go to the ER.” Allie shifted closer and Hudson wrapped an arm around her, his fingers brushing rhythmically down her back. She let out a small sigh. Nearly everything about her life had been turned upside down, but in that moment she was perfectly content to ignore the rest of the world and concentrate on the one thing that was absolutely perfect. Selfishly, she wondered how much time she had until the alarm clock would burst her happy bubble. “What time is it?”

  Hudson glanced over his shoulder at the clock. “Eight.”

  “Oh, shit! I need to get ready for work.” Allie bolted upright in bed. Whoa! Her brain lagged behind, slamming into the front of her skull upon arrival.

  “Absolutely not.” Hudson gripped Allie’s shoulders, gently pulling her back down on the bed. “You’re badly bruised and you need your rest.”

  It wasn’t a request, and she could tell by the tone of his voice there was no sense in arguing. Badly bruised? Allie gingerly touched the tender skin around her eye. “How bad does it look?”

  Hudson’s brow creased.

  “That bad, huh?” Her heart sank. After all these years she and Hudson were finally together and she looked like she’d gone eight rounds in a boxing ring.

  His expression softened as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You look beautiful, Allie. I just thought you’d rather not have to explain.”

  “Mmm, good point.” The last the last thing she wanted was to answer questions about the bruises on her face. The more people who knew about Julian’s attack, the more likely it would make the news. Her father would undoubtedly block Ingram subsidiaries from covering the story, but his influence only extended so far. Plenty of rags and websites would be thrilled to run with the story of a battered heiress. Her privacy had to come first, which was why she’d opted not to file a police report. There was no doubt Julian deserved to go to jail, but calling the police would have alerted the media as well. And while the image of Julian in an orange jumpsuit bitching about the lack of caviar and French champagne was tempting, it wasn’t worth being dragged through the tabloid mud.

  She knew none of her coworkers would tip off the press. Most of them were her friends, and the rest were far too afraid of the wrath of Victoria Sinclair to risk it. But she also knew if she showed her face at the office, it would only be a matter of time before word of her condition reached her mother. She wasn’t ready for that confrontation just yet. Eventually she would tell her parents what that monster had done to her. The monster they’d unleashed. But for now she had no desire to leave Hudson’s arms, let alone his penthouse.

  Allie’s eyes drifted shut.

  “Is the pain worse?” Hudson asked, his concern evident.

  She opened her eyes to find him staring at her intently. “No.” She placed her hand on the side of his face and smiled. “It’s much better, actually.”

  For the first time in her life, Allie was exactly where she wanted to be.

  “So a day in bed, huh? Is that your professional opinion, Dr. Chase?” Her fingers stroked across his bare shoulder and down his bicep.

  “If you’re head’s still hurting, you probably have a concussion. So yes, your day will be spent in bed.”

  “Sounds perfect.” Allie’s fingers trailed down his stomach before disappearing under the sheet. “Perhaps you’d like to do a more thorough examination?”

  Hudson caught her wrist. “Resting in bed, Alessandra.”

  Uh-oh, the full name. “Where are you going?” she asked as he slid out of bed.

  He leaned down, dropping a quick kiss on her mouth. “To take a shower.”

  Allie felt a stab of disappointment. “You’re going to the office?”

  “No, I’m working from home today.”

  Not her first choice, but better than the alternative. She propped a pillow against the headboard and leaned back, crossing her arms over her chest. “Well, I still I need to call my office,” she pouted.

  “Already took care of it. I texted Harper last night, let her know you weren’t feeling well.”

  Her mouth popped open. “How did you do that?

  “With a phone. Now rest.”

  Allie wanted to ask him to elaborate, but Hudson disappeared into the bathroom before she could get the words out of her mouth. She shook her head. Under normal circumstances, such an intrusion would have annoyed her. But how could she be angry with him for going all alpha male when somehow he always seemed to know exactly what she needed?

  The sound of running water came from the master bathroom. Hudson was in the shower. Naked. Her thoughts drifted to images of water cascading over his chest . . . his body pressing hers against the cool granite . . . his fingers gliding over her wet skin . . . his hand lifting her leg around his hips . . .

  For a moment she considered joining him, but she knew Mr. Overprotective would flip even though she was pretty sure he’d climbed out of bed hard as a rock.

  Honestly, what was all the f
uss about? She felt fine. Actually, she felt great. Liberated, even. She was finally taking charge of her life. The first step had been ending things with Julian. Granted that hadn’t gone very well, but the end result was the same. He was out of her life. As for her parents, she was done letting her sense of family obligation dictate her decisions, and she planned to confront them about their lies and manipulations as soon as the rest of her life was in order. At the top of her to-do list was reconsidering the job offer from the Harris Group. Just thinking about a new position based on her own merits, not her birth certificate, put a smile on her face.

  A fresh start. That was exactly what she needed. And the sooner the better.

  Her mind made up, Allie threw back the duvet, not wanting to wait another minute to start this new chapter of her life. She slipped out of bed and into the adjoining study to call Oliver Harris. Hudson would be thrilled when she told him the good news. A celebration would definitely be in order.

  As the phone rang, she leaned back in Hudson’s leather chair. The gentle rocking motion brought back memories of the call she’d interrupted. A lascivious smile spread across her face. On second thought, maybe she would join him in the shower after all. No need to wait until tonight to start celebrating.

  A receptionist answered the phone, interrupting Allie’s illicit thoughts. She was all business as she efficiently transferred the call to whom Allie assumed would be a personal assistant.

  “Mr. Harris,” she said, surprised to hear him answer the call directly. “This is Alessandra Sinclair. We spoke a few weeks ago?”

  “Of course, Miss Sinclair, how could I forget? Not every day I ask someone to join my company.”

  “That’s actually why I’m calling. I’d love to come to work for the Harris Group.” A thought occurred to her, and she quickly added, “Assuming the job is still available.”

  “Absolutely. This is wonderful news, Alessandra. We’ve already discussed salary but I’m sure you have questions about our benefits package. My HR director can go over all that with you and start the necessary paperwork. Let me give you her name and number.”

  Allie swiveled Hudson’s chair, searching the drawers for a paper and pen. When she opened the center drawer, a name on a document caught her eye. She scanned the paragraphs of legal jargon, barely listening as Oliver Harris provided the necessary information.

  . . . extensive due diligence of significant assets . . .

  “I have a very good feeling about this,” he said. “And I’d like you to start as soon as possible.”

  . . . resistance to acquisition . . .

  “I assume you’ll need to give notice to your current employer?”

  Allie answered without giving the question any thought. “Yes.”

  . . . through shell companies and charitable foundations . . .

  “Would you be able to start in two weeks?”

  . . . Chase Industries . . . sufficient shares . . .

  Her throat burned and she swallowed hard. “That’s fine,” she mumbled.

  “Great. I’ll see you then.”

  . . . for controlling interest of Ingram Media.

  Allie wasn’t even sure she managed a good-bye before she hung up the phone and fell back against Hudson’s chair.

  Chapter Forty

  Hudson leaned against the wall of the shower, the hot water cascading down his chest and abs. As the soap ran down between his legs and dripped off the end of his still-erect cock, he tried not to think about the woman in the other room who he was dying to make love to. He’d managed to convince his brain not to go back into the bedroom, but his hard-on was still behind the curve.

  God, did he really have it in him to go through with this, knowing the personal cost to her? The alternative was to tell her he was the one taking her father’s company piece by piece in an intricate deal designed to force Richard Sinclair out of the trade.

  Fuck. As if he had a choice.

  “Allie,” Hudson yelled as he turned off the water. Stepping out of the shower and into the hell of his own making, he snapped a towel off the rack and wrapped it around his hips. “Allie?”

  He strode out of the bathroom and, seeing an empty bed, started toward the living room. He halted midstride outside his office door. “There you are. What are you doing out of bed?”

  “I needed to use the phone. I wanted to accept the job at the Harris Group, have a fresh start.” The blood seemed to drain from her face as she finished the sentence.

  Dozens of thoughts fired in Hudson’s head. “You okay?”

  Allie’s eyes dropped to the document on the desk in front of her. “I was looking for a pen . . .”

  Hudson moved farther into the room and stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of his company’s letterhead. “I was going to tell you. I wanted you to hear it from me.”

  Her eyes shot up to his. “When, Hudson? When were you planning to tell me?”

  “I was waiting for the right time.”

  “And how much longer were you going to fuck me before the time felt right?”

  Hudson’s jaw tightened and his shoulders straightened. “You were never just a fuck.”

  “Funny, since right now that’s exactly how I feel.” Allie’s bitter exterior slipped and tears pooled in her eyes as she pushed up from the desk and stormed back into the bedroom.

  Hudson followed after her, tightening the grip on his towel. “Damn it, Allie. Let me explain.”

  “I think it’s pretty clear. What I don’t understand is why?”

  “It’s simple. The company fits nicely into my portfolio. I saw an opportunity and I took it.”

  “And all the better since it’s my family, right?” Allie’s eyes darted toward the bathroom where her bloodstained dress hung over the side of the tub. She grabbed the sweatpants he’d offered her the night before and yanked them up her legs. “Was this all some plan to get back at me for hurting you ten years ago? Or was it just part of the thrill, taking the company while taking me to bed?”

  “You were never a part of the plan, Alessandra. The wheels were in motion long before I saw you at the museum.” Hudson blew out a harsh breath. “Christ, I didn’t even know it was your family’s company.”

  “You expect me to believe that?” Allie rolled her eyes at him while shoving her feet into her pumps.

  “I knew you as Allie Sinclair. How the hell was I supposed to know you were a fucking Ingram?”

  “I’m sure you came across the names of the board members during your research. The name Richard Sinclair didn’t ring any bells?”

  “I didn’t know your father’s name was Richard. If you recall, you weren’t exactly bringing me home to meet your parents.”

  Allie pushed sideways past him and into the Great Room.

  “Damn it. Goddamnit to fucking hell.” Hudson was tight on her heels. “By the time I realized the connection, we were . . .”

  Stopping short, Allie whirled around. Her stare was absolutely furious. “I get it. By the time you realized the connection you were already fucking me across the living room floor. No reason to mess up a good thing when you could keep stringing me along till the deal was done.”

  “I should have told you, but I wanted time to get to know you again. I was afraid you wouldn’t give us a chance if you knew.” The silence in the room became tangible and he waited for some sign, any sign, that she might forgive him.

  “You could have stopped the deal.” Her voice wavered to the point of cracking.

  When he didn’t answer, Allie grabbed her purse off the chair and headed toward the elevator.

  Hudson followed. “It wouldn’t have made a difference,” he offered as some sort of consolation. “Your father’s company is a sinking ship and he knows it. If it wasn’t me moving in to salvage Ingram, it would have been someone else.”

  “But it wasn’t someone else, Hudson. It was you. You were the one responsible for all of this.”

  The hell if he was taking the bullet for Julian and her
father. “I wasn’t the one bartering your affections.” He knew damn well it was a cheap shot and he regretted the words the minute they left his mouth.

  Fuck.

  Allie flinched and tears sprang to her eyes as she turned to punch the call button. He wanted her to punch him instead. Use him to bear her pain. Let him feel her anger and disappointment in his skin. And when she was finished, let him hold her as she cried.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t have . . .”

  “Why not? It’s true, isn’t it? Last night, right before he attacked me, Julian told me I was no better than the whores he paid.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I hated him for that, but he was right. My engagement was nothing more than my parents selling me to the highest bidder.” She wiped her face with the back of her hand. “The worst part is, I didn’t even care. All I kept thinking was how none of it mattered because after all these years we could finally be together.”

  Allie stepped into the waiting elevator and pressed the button. “You were the one person I thought I could count on.”

  Hudson raised his arm to stop the door from closing. “I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you.” His throat was raw and a blazing pain burned the center of his chest. As he looked at her, he could see the resolve in her eyes, along with the heart-wrenching betrayal that was going to haunt him for the rest of his life. He relinquished his hold on the elevator doors, letting them slide closed.

  And just like that, she was gone.

  Four Days Later . . .

  Allie slipped her sunglasses on and started the engine of her silver BMW. She’d spent the past four days holed up in her brownstone, letting her bruises heal while she tried to sort out the mess that had become her life. It had taken countless hours of soul searching and an obscene amount of Häagen-Dazs Chocolate Chocolate Chip, but she was finally ready to confront her parents.

  Ready to start living life on her own terms.