Stiletto Secrets by Bella J. Read Free Book Online

you’re doing it just to piss him off?”
    Nicholas shrugged. “I have no idea how that old bastard’s head works. All I know is that I will never give him what he wants. I will never marry her—hell, I don’t think I’ll ever marry any woman period.”
    Adam rubbed his chin with his fingers. “Why Claire? And why now?”
    “Fuck knows. Maybe because her family owns half the fucking country.” Nicholas got up and walked to stand in front of the window. “But I think it’s mainly just to prove that he controls everything, including me. And he knows I can’t stand the woman.”
    “Unbelievable,” Adam muttered. “I really thought you two would have sorted your shit out by now.”
    Yeah, so did Nicholas. There was a time when he and his dad used to be as close as can be. They did everything together. Hiking, fishing, camping out in the backyard—they were inseparable. Until that dreaded disease took his mother from them, subsequently taking his father from him as well. His mother’s death destroyed his father, hardened him into the asshole he was today.
    Nicholas turned to Adam. “This morning one of the new maids accidentally cut her hand, and he had a hissy fit over the fact that she was bleeding all over his expensive carpets.” Nicholas conveniently left out the part that the said maid had the most beautiful big blue-green eyes he had ever seen. When she looked up at him, crouching on her knees, holding her bleeding palm, it felt like her stare was boring into him, seeing things inside of him that even he didn’t know existed. She was beautiful.
    Nicholas shook his head. “I had to help the poor woman. He would have just left her there, or billed her for the dry cleaning of the goddamn carpet.”
    Adam’s eyes grew wide. “It’s that bad?”
    “I don’t know who that man is, but he sure as hell isn’t my father.” Nicholas felt anger rise inside of him. He had never been so close to punching his father in the face as he was that morning. As if that woman slashed her palm intentionally just to ruin his fucking rug. God, his dad was an asshole.
    “Maybe you should really consider moving out, man. Find your own place.” Adam got up from the chair and placed his hands in his pants pockets.
    “You know I would if I could, Adam.”
    “Nicholas, do you really think she would hold you to a promise you made thirteen years ago if she knew how miserable he was making your life?”
    Nicholas sighed. “Probably not. But she’s not here anymore, and that promise I made was the last thing I said to her.” Nicholas desperately fought against the pain as one of the last memories he had of his mother played off inside of his head. Nicholas had never known such loss and he could only imagine the pain his father had endured. But after some time had passed, Nicholas had managed to move on. He didn’t forget—he would never forget. It only became bearable, even though the pain would always resurface with a memory. Unfortunately, his father had never seemed to have moved on. Robert Blake only hardened, steeled himself against any and every emotion…including those toward his only son.
    “I really think you should consider it,” Adam continued, but Nicholas just shook his head.
    “It’s not an option, Adam. Not for me.”
    Adam took a deep breath. “Okay.” He grabbed his half empty cup of coffee. “I have a ten-fifteen meeting.” Adam walked to the door and turned back just as he was about to leave. “Oh, by the way, the new maid, on a rate from one to ten?” Adam raised two cheeky eyebrows.
    According to Nicholas, she was definitely a ten, but there was no way he would be sharing that with his man slut friend. “I’d say Emma is about an eight.”
    Adam nodded his head in approval. “Emma. I like it.”
    “Don’t even think about it, man.” Nicholas knew exactly in which direction the wheels in Adam’s head were turning.
    “Laters!” Adam walked out of the office.
    Nicholas just shook his