Claiming Her Billion-Dollar Birthright by Maureen Child Read Free Book Online

away with the backs of her hands.
    â€œI’m sorry, Father,” she said at last. “Maybe my coming here wasn’t a good idea. I didn’t want to upset you. Didn’t want us to tear at each other.”
    He took a single step toward her, then stopped, clearly unsure of his next move. Which was, she thought, another first.
    â€œErica…” He paused as if gathering his scattered thoughts, then said, “Your mother wouldn’t want you to go. She’d want you to stay here. With your family.”
    Would she? Erica wondered. Or would her mother understand the need to discover her roots? God, what aclichéd way to think of this. But wasn’t it true? Wouldn’t she be exploring her past so that she could figure out her future?
    â€œI do love you, Father,” she told him. “But I’m going to Colorado. I have to. To meet my brothers and sister. To find out if I belong there any more than I do here.”
    â€œWhat’s that supposed to mean?” His bellow was completely unexpected. Walter Prentice never lost his temper. Or at least, he’d never allowed anyone to witness it. “Of course you belong here, this is your home. We’re your family.”
    â€œSo are they.”
    â€œYou will not do this thing.” He folded his arms across his chest. “I forbid it.”
    Erica had to smile through her tears. Typical of this man, she thought. If he couldn’t sway, he would command, fully expecting that his opposition would fold and do exactly as he wanted.
    Still, she loved him and wished he would sweep her up into his big arms and tell her this was all nonsense. That of course he loved her. Always had. Always would. She wanted to be cuddled against her father’s broad chest and reassured about her place in the world.
    But that wasn’t going to happen.
    Sadly, she faced him. “You can’t stop me, Father, so please don’t try.” Erica walked to the door and opened it but before she could slip through, his voice halted her.
    â€œIf you don’t find what you’re looking for there?” he asked. “What then?”
    She glanced back at him and suddenly thought that he looked so…lonely, in his plush office surrounded by the symbols of his success. “Honestly? I just don’t know.”
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    â€œSo what is she like?”
    Christian looked up from the desk in his office at the Manor and smiled at Melissa Jarrod. She wore a pale yellow silk blouse tucked into a short, dark green skirt. Her heeled sandals gave her already five-foot-eight height three extra inches and her blue eyes were sparkling with excitement. She shook her long fall of blond hair back from her face, planted both hands on the desktop and leaned toward him.
    Looked as though he wouldn’t be getting much work done, he told himself. Melissa was bound and determined to get information on her new sister and until he surrendered to the inevitable, Christian knew the woman wouldn’t be going anywhere.
    â€œCome on, Christian, give a little,” she prodded.
    â€œI already told you she seems very nice,” he said.
    â€œNice doesn’t tell me a lot.” She straightened up and paced around the room. “Is she funny? Boring?”
    He didn’t remember her being boring, Christian thought. Would have been easier on him if she had been. But no, Erica Prentice had to be strong and intelligent and—not helping, he told himself. “She’s…nice.”
    Melissa laughed. “Honestly, you’re hopeless. You make a terrible spy.”
    â€œGood thing I’m a lawyer then,” he said and shifted his gaze back to the papers on the desk. His brief hopethat he’d satisfied her curiosity and would be allowed to get back to work was shattered a second later.
    â€œFine. As a lawyer, give me a description. Tell me how she reacted. What she’s thinking. Something,” she begged.
    Sitting back in