Chapter 47
She must be Xander’s mother.
Mia was standing closer to the window, her posture stiff, fingers twisted tightly in her lap. I could smell her anxiety. She wouldn’t meet my eyes, but that wasn’t necessary. I could see every inch of discomfort in the way she hunched her shoulders.
I glanced at the man standing to her right. It took me a moment to recognize the balding, tout man, dressed in an overly expensive brown suit. But when I did, I almost laughed. Rowan Night, renowned lawyer, as vicious as a rabid wolf in his craft.
Xander must be scared shitless to recruit him and come with his entire entourage.
Rown’s jaw was clenched tightly, as he sized David and me up. We didn’t flinch.
Xander didn’t bother with pleasantries. I didn’t even have the chance to sit down before he attacked.
“So, why the sudden change of heart, Aaron?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. I distinctly remembered telling him to call me Mr. Lorenz.
Before I could set him straight, Rown swooped in. “Perhaps the reason is having lunch in your home? Your relationship with Jane Blackwood is a textbook conflict of interest. By engaging with her personally, you‘ ve compromised the integrity of your role in this partnership. You have
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no right to terminate. You should be grateful we’re not suing you.”
“Are we here to discuss personal matters or business?” David said, tone bone–dry. “Because unless Xander wants to update his bylaws to include moral policing, Aaron hasn’t breached a damn thing.”
Rowan scoffed. “You’re deflecting,” he snapped. “This is a breach of fiduciary duty. To Xander. To the firm. You don’t get to walk away from a multimillion–dollar alliance just because your girlfriend asked nicely.”
Fen growled. I’ll kill him, he said. The idea was tempting, but I had to push Fen back. There was no need to spill blood.
David however didn’t let it slide. “This isn’t about loyalty. It’s about control. And the fact that my client is no longer willing to operate under a man who treats his business partners like they’re his personal property.”
“What would you know about wolf law? You should go back to hibernating,” Xander retorted.
David only smirked. “Mocking my bear bloodline, Mr. Blackwood? Would you like to be served?”
Rowan opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He was vicious. But David, he was going to bury them. This was practically child’s play for him.
He knew exactly what he was doing. Even as a bearshifter, he understood the laws of the tribe. David had shown exceptional skills in the courtroom, but he was much more than just a skilled attorney. The Silver Fang Justice Medal pinned to his resume spoke volumes of his expertise. He earned that medal by being a defender of the laws and
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protecting the rights of the weak.
So when Xander raised his voice across the room, David just leaned back slightly and let him have it out.
“How dare you shack up with my wife?” Xander snarled, pacing now.
I shifted my gaze to Xander’s mother. She said nothing, just quietly observing.
“I think we’ve crossed out ‘business‘ from this conversation,” David murmured to me. He was right.
“My client has a point. Not only have we been completely transparent with you, but Mr. Lorenz would be privy to confidential information courtesy of his close relationship with Mrs. Blackwood. That doesn’t bode well for my client or his company.”
I arched a brow, my gaze cutting to Rowan. “Are you implying I’d use confidential information as leverage?”
“Not implying. Stating.”
I nodded slowly. “Is this a business negotiation,” I said, my voice as cold as ice, “or an interrogation?”
“It might as well be, since you’re dead set on punishing my client.” He adjusted his tie before he continued. “This entire withdrawal is a ploy for retribution. You’re using the partnership as a means to get back at my client for the sake of Mrs. Jane Blackwood.”
“No,” David declared. “You’re the one dragging personal issues into this. Mr. Lorenz came here with the legal right to walk away. It was your client who made it personal.”
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Xander didn’t miss a beat. He pointed an enraged finger at me. “Don’t act like you don’t know exactly what you’re doing. You’ve been waiting for the chance to sabotage me.”
“I don’t need to sabotage you, Xander. This partnership started
crumbling before your… issues with Jane. In fact, it should never have even happened in the first place.”
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