The Chosen Heir (The Bolles Dynasty Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

opened the door to the house for his housekeeper who was carrying a tray loaded with dishes. “Thank you, Mrs. Blake.”
    He needed to find a way to distract his sister. Leaning on the low stone wall surrounding the terrace, he asked, “Have you spoken with Ms. North?”
    His sister glanced out over the garden. “Not exactly, but I think I can convince her.”
    He would have to tell her no. “Olivia, I want to help, but this entire idea seems to be coming out of left field. Before I decide to purchase a company, I review the financials, possible assets and current market trends.”
    Olivia touched her slightly rounded belly. “I thought of purchasing it myself, but with this new baby, I can’t possibly take more on.”
    He looked away. She was a force of nature, but she was right with a pregnancy and then an infant, the timing was wrong. “Maybe the hat company will limp along for another year and then you could think about it.”
    “I scheduled a meeting for tomorrow. They are within days of closing the shop. This is the eleventh hour.”
    This was not good news. “What is the name of this company?”
    Olivia sat forward. “The Breen Hat Company. Surely you have heard of them?”
    He looked at his beautifully put together sister. “No. I can’t say that I have.”
    Giving him a pleading look, Olivia said, “Please, William. Have Alex or Arlo take a look at the company and see what can be done.”
    He smiled at her. “I will. But you must be careful to not get your hopes up.”
    She stood up and hugged him tightly. “I’ll go rest until dinner. Is it fine if I ask Bridget to take the train up? Can you meet her in the morning?”
    The idea of spending time with Bridget North irritated him. “I can pick her up. But I can’t make any promises about Breen until I visit and go through their financials. And I’m not sold on Bridget North.”
    William headed to his office and, instead of dealing with other pressing business issues, he delved into the information that was available on the family-owned hat company. His sisters idolized him. He was the stand-in for their father. They needed him to prove that the Bolles name was worthy of respect and the legacy was real. Even if he knew taking on a garment manufacturer was a bad idea. His own business network was in trouble and he needed to focus on stemming the flood of money, not proving to the world and his sisters that the Bolles name meant something.  
    The idea of seeing Bridget North again kept popping up in his thoughts. It felt as if there was unfinished business between them.  

Chapter 2

    The next morning he waited at the station for Bridget North. Would she mention their harsh words or pretend it never happened? Even recalling the memory now brought a new wave of anger to the surface. He had been drawn to her and asked her to have a drink. Unfortunately, she had revealed that she had no respect for his father or the way he had conducted his life.  
    He should have been prepared for the verbal assault; it had happened countless times over the years. How could Ms. North possibly know anything about his father? He had been dead for seventeen years and Ms. North couldn’t have been more than a child when he was alive.  
    He watched her get off the train and in an unconscious gesture push back her long brown hair. She wore a stylish grey fitted dress with a small belt and he remembered why he was drawn to her. She was sexy in a slim, graceful way and looked approachable, even friendly. Only he had discovered that the polished Ms. North had a sharp tongue and a heightened sense of fair play. She’d made it quite clear she had not approved of the caviler way that his father had lived his life. No doubt that judgement would extend to him as well.
    ***
    Bridget turned on her four-inch heels and looked down the station. She caught sight of William Bolles leaning against a wrought iron fence and sternly reminded herself not to show the slightest reaction. Of