Shimmy for Me: A Novella (California Belly Dance Romance Series Book 1) by Cameron DeAnna

Author:Cameron, DeAnna [Cameron, DeAnna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Fine Skylark Media
Published: 2014-11-12T08:00:00+00:00

| 16

Damn. The old man was already up, sitting at the end of the long granite island, sipping his coffee. His glance slid up from his morning paper at the sound of Derek’s footsteps.

“Six a.m.? I’m beginning to think you’re avoiding me.”

“Just stopped by to pick up a few things,” Derek said.

“Are you going somewhere?” He nudged his chin toward the garment bag folded over Derek’s arm.

“I took a villa at the Bay Club. Closer to the office. More convenient.”

“More convenient? I see.” His father sipped his coffee.

Sure, it was a lie and his father knew it. But there was no point telling him he couldn’t live under the same roof. They both knew how difficult it had been between them, even when Mother was around. She had been the bridge that could bring them together. But when she left, it took whatever was left of their relationship with it. Even on Derek’s brief visits, he found no solace within these walls. No laughter or joy. Only cold furnishings, and a colder man who locked himself in his study to pore over account ledgers and God knows what else. The only love left in this house was a love of wealth and status, and Derek vowed to himself he would never follow that path. “Did you get up early just to check up on me?”

“No, actually. I thought you would want to know the board has moved up the vote on the sale.”

A muscle in Derek’s jaw twitched. “You said that wouldn’t come for a few months.”

His father snapped the paper and began reading again. “Things change, son. It’s better this way. The quicker the better, all around. Have your secretary prepare the board room for Thursday afternoon.”

All around? Hardly. It certainly wasn’t better for him. It was a damn nuisance, in fact. “I’m sure you’re right, Father. You’re always right.”

He wasn’t going to linger. On the way into the office, he rang his lawyer. The call went to voice mail. “Listen, Frank, we need to move quickly. As in immediately.”

Frank always promised he could work miracles. It was a good thing, because he needed one now.

He didn’t realize he was speeding down Coast Highway until he neared the Sultan’s Tent and pulled back on the accelerator. It wasn’t exactly on the way to the paper, but it had become his habit these past few days. Not that he thought he would see her, not this time of day, but it was the only thing that stirred something besides anger and frustration inside him.

It helped, but when he stepped out of the elevator into the fifth-floor reception lobby, his mind was still churning. Adrenaline coursed through him. What he needed was an hour in the gym to work off the anger, but he didn’t have time.

“Any calls?” he barked at Miss Anderson as he passed her.

She shook her head.

“Get Frank Jetter on the line, will you?” He paused a beat. “No, forget it. I’ll do it myself.”

He pulled out his desk chair and noticed a familiar stack of folders on his desk.

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