Take Me: Part 3 (Power Play #3) Read Online Free Page B

He’s already waiting for me when I get there. He’s still wearing his expensive, tailored suit, and he looks way too refreshed for someone who just finished a long day at the office. His face spreads into a big smile when he sees me come inside the restaurant.
    “You changed,” he notices, immediately.
    I flash him a smile.
    “I need to get out of work mode when I get home. I guess I’m just not used to being in an office all day, yet.”
    He leans in closer to me. I catch a whiff of his cologne--it smells amazing.
    “Can I let you in on a little secret?” I nod. “We don’t ever really get used to being cooped up in the office all day. It’s not natural. We are hunter-gatherers, we were made to roam wild and free.
    I let out a tiny laugh.
    “I guess you’re right. It always seemed like Daddy was cooped up in the office, though. He never seemed to have a problem with it.”
    “Your dad was the hardest worker I’ve ever met. No one comes close to him.”
    I hold myself higher, somehow encouraged by what he said, even though it really had nothing to do with me.
    “Shall we get a table?” he asks, and I nod.  
    After we’re seated and order some drinks we make some small talk for a while. If there was any nervousness I was feeling earlier about having dinner with Declan it melts away, quickly. It doesn’t take long before we’re acting just like it’s old times. We fall into a natural rhythm with each other. It’s nice being able to connect with him like that, again. He asks me how I’m settling in, and I tell him all about the never-ending adventure that is my roommate.
    “I’ll have to meet her sometime,” he says.
    “Maybe you can come over for dinner or something.”
    He gives me a smile, but it fades as the conversation slows down.
    “So I was going over the budgets today with the accounting department…”  
    Suddenly a chill settles in around me. It might have something to do with the gravity of his tone.
    “What did they say?”
    He gives me a grim look.
    “It’s not good. Apparently we needed that European deal a little more than I had originally thought.”
    I can feel my heart breaking as what he’s saying really settles in. Declan remains silent while he gives me a moment to process what he’s telling me.
    “What does that mean?”
    “It means we’re going to have to start making some tough decisions soon. Sooner than I had first thought.”
    My stomach feels like it just started a free fall. And amidst the flood of thoughts and worries that are all rushing through my head at the same time, I can’t help but wonder if this is all my fault. I can’t help but wonder if BMG’s downfall is going to be because of me—if Daddy’s company is going to go under because of me.
    The logical business part of me knows that this fear doesn’t make any sense. It knows there had to be a million decisions made to get us into this situation, and I wasn’t a part of any of them. But that doesn’t go very far toward making me feel any better.
    For a moment the whole situation seems insurmountable, but then a thought occurs to me. I don’t know why I had never thought about it, before.
    “How much do we need to keep things going for a while longer? I’ve got some money, I could reinvest it into the company.”
    “No!” I jump back, startled by the harsh outburst. “No, I can’t let you do that.”
    “Why not? It’s not like I’m doing anything with all of that money, I’m more than happy to help.”
    Declan’s eyes flash quickly before he composes himself.
    “Hannah, I can’t let you do that.”
    My brow furls, tightly.
    “It’s my money, I can do with it as I please.”
    His look is hard and defiant for a moment before it softens again. He tilts his head in a slight nod.
    “You’re right. I’m not trying to tell you what to do with your money, only that putting it into the company wouldn’t be a good decision.”
    “Why not?”  
    The anger inside of me is building.