Free The Billionaire by Jordan Silver Page B

couldn’t get me on her phone. I’d bought her a new one and
programmed all my numbers into it but I wasn’t taking any chances. Until I’d
dealt with her father once and for all everyone was on high fucking alert. “Yes
sir.”

 
    I went into my office and set up the tape recorder
schooling myself for whatever fuckery I was about to walk into. Nothing
could’ve prepared me for the shit that was about to unfold.
    I sat in stone cold silence as I listened to Cliff
Sanders and Keith Starks discuss how they were going to get Ashley back. As
they argued the merits of going up against me, compared to the money they stood
to lose from the sale of a human being, I felt my gorge rise. To hear him speak
of her as though she were nothing made the blood in my veins boil. I wanted his
blood in my throat in that moment, had he been standing before me he would be
dead.
    After I'd thrown up what little contents I had in my
stomach I started planning.
    I made copies of the tapes, I couldn't stomach any
more for now that was enough for me for today. Especially after hearing him go
after her when he found the things I had bought her. The things he'd said to
her, the names he'd called her, no man should ever speak to his child like that
and especially not one who didn't deserve it.
    I couldn't think about that right now though, I had
things to do. I had to combat whatever play they were going to make.
    I called up my pilot and had him fuel up the jet, then
made some last minute phone calls canceling some very important and highly
lucrative meetings for the next few days. Too bad, they could wait or they
could go elsewhere, this was more important, she was more important.
    I checked my watch as I placed the recordings in my
safe, another hour before she had lunch.
    I went to the house to pick up a few things and
debated calling my mom but decided to put that off for now. She'd understand I
had no doubt.

 
    When I pulled up to the school she we just coming out
the door. Since I'd warned her not to go to her tree alone she was headed to a
bench closer to the school.
    I got out and walked to the edge of the little grassy
area where she sat surrounded by her peers, though she sat off to the side by
herself.
    I watched her for a while as she took her lunch out
and put her headphones in her ears.
    With my hands stuffed in my pockets I made my way
towards her.
    She saw me coming or sensed me and looked up with a
smile as she rose from her seat.
    "Hello Blossom."
    "Hi, what're you doing here?" She made as if
to hug me but then remembered where we were as we felt the curious eyes on us.
    "I need you to get your things, did you have
tests today?"
    "Yeah but we're done, why what's wrong?" She
started wringing her hands fear already palpable in her eyes.
    "Is it my dad, is he coming to get me?" She
looked around like a hunted animal and I wanted to howl. I bit down on my anger
and focused on her and what I had to do.
    "No sweetheart, no one's going to take you away
from me, I just need you to come with me okay."
    "You promise?" She bit her lip. How could I
not touch her? I didn't want to scandalize the student body so I settled for
caressing her cheek.
    "I promise, now go get your stuff and do what you
need to do in order to leave, do you need me to go to the office?"
    "No that's okay, I can do it I'll be back before
you know it."
    She skipped away, once more reminding me just how
young she was. I hope I was doing the right thing if not I would be screwing up
both our lives.
    She was back in less than fifteen minutes, taking my
elbow as we headed back to the car. At least she didn’t look so scared anymore.
    "So where're we going?"
    "I'll explain everything as soon as we're in the
air."
    "In the air, we're flying somewhere?"
    She got so excited she grabbed my arm. I knew she'd
never flown anywhere before, today was going to be a lot of firsts for my
little Blossom.
    I kept the conversation light as we travelled to the
airfield, which was easy