A Debt Repaid (1) Read Online Free

almost distract him. Fucking hell, the affect the woman had on him. “Need I remind you of what your husband has done? To this company and to you?”
    Her tiny gasp twisted something inside him. The sensation left him c hilled and blinking in confusion.
    “You…” Aria blinked, her bright blue eyes glistening.
    The cold inside him spread down his arms and into his hands. He clenched his jaw. "Your husband faces jail time for what he's done.”
    She stared at him with those wide eyes. "And that makes what you're doing right?"
    He shook his head, but didn’t break their stare. "No. It doesn't. What I'm doing is wrong on many, many levels. I am aware of that."
    "Then why?" she asked.
    “You know why.”
    “You’re insane.” She looked away, furious.
    He didn’t bother to deny it. He hadn’t been normal since he’d been a child.
    Logically , he understood her anger. He didn’t like to be forced into doing anything either. But he wasn’t demanding anything more than a few hours of her time. Hours he was going to put to good use. Damn it, he was going to figure out how she was capable of having such an effect on him.
    And , once he figured it out, if the effect was still there—if her hold on him was still as powerful—he’d make whatever plans necessary to get her to agree to them furthering their acquaintance. He was sure that she would not forgive him easily, and that was fine. Understandable.
    If he still wanted her after getting to know her better, he’d move anything on Earth, do whatever he had to do, to earn her forgiveness. There was nothing he had ever wanted that he hadn’t found a way to have. Life hadn’t just screwed him up and stolen his ability to deal with emotions; it had taught him to fight for whatever he wanted.
    Standing there, watching her stare toward the windows, sunlight causing her eyes to shimmer, he knew he’d never wanted anything more.
    Damn him.
    Aria’s eyes flickered in his direction. “I'm married," she reminded him with a shake of her head.
    Chase tried to keep his facial expression impassive after hearing that.
    Keyword there being tried.
    "He doesn't deserve you."
    "That’s for me to decide. Oh, and neither do you.”
    "If you think for one moment that you deserve to be with a man that lies, steals, and cheats on you..."
    "Oh, and what? You're better? A man that is trying to force me into being with him?"
    “I’m not trying to force you to be with me . I want a single date. I would never force a woman to do something like that. Whether you believe me or not, it’s the truth. I’ve never had to force a woman to be with me in that sense.”
    “So fucking sure of yourself, aren’t you?” Aria spat.
    Chase walked around his desk and leaned against the side of it, crossing his arms. “Tell me something, Aria. Would you have agreed to go on this date with me if I had asked you?”
    The space between her brows scrunched up. “Of course not. I’m married.”
    Her quick denial was a good sign. A sign of someone that was faithful despite what had been done to her. A sign of someone who just might be in love, as well.
    Her quick denial bothered him on too deep a level. One he didn’t want to stop and analyze. “ Then you see my point? I want to get to get to know you, Aria, and I go after what I want. There was only one viable solution open to me. One way to make that happen.”
    “So you’re saying this has nothing to do with getting even with Douglas?”
    He remained quiet, not bothering to deny it. Yes, there was some of that. Having Douglas’ wife after what he’d done to him would be the perfect revenge against the man considering he wouldn’t be going to jail.
    Unfortunately , that wasn’t his strongest reason.
    Nor could he explain that to her. He might owe her an explanation, but despite what she thought she knew, he was in a more vulnerable position than she was.
    Aria’s small hands clenched into fists. She held back from reminding him just what she