Empire Part 3: A New Adult and College Billionaire Romance Series (Empire Billionaire Romance) Read Online Free PDF

coffee. I’m on the last sip of my first cup when I hear my phone ring. I know it’s Dad from the ring tone. I hurry to finish and grab the phone on the last ring. He tells me he’s on his way over and will be here soon. We have a lot to discuss. This Mandy issue can’t be ignored any longer.
    I hurry to get dressed. I’m barely down the stairs when I hear the front door open. Dad has come alone. Thank goodness. I don’t wait a minute to get into it.
    “What’s going on with Mandy, Dad?”
    “Oh, you too? Can’t a man get a chance to sit and get comfortable before the third degree starts?”
    “Sit, Dad,” I tell him. I watch him as he sits. “There. Are you comfortable?”
    “Sure.”
    “Now tell me about Mandy.”
    “Shit,” he growls, leaning forward with his head in his hands. “She wants a divorce now. Can you believe that? After all this time, and after I took such good care of her.”
    The man is distraught, and also delusional. Granted, he doted on her during her cancer treatments. Still, for him to think she has no reason to want a divorce, he has his head up his ass. Right now, though, I don’t have much concern about their relationship. That’s his cross to bear. I just want to know what dirt she has on him, and what’s pissed her off enough to threaten to go to the police.
    I get back to the pressing matter. “And what’s this about some trunk full of stuff she found?”
    “Oh that. Who told you about it?”
    “Claire was here yesterday.”
    “Fuck. Her mother told her? Shit. We have to get this taken care of before it gets out of control.”
    “What’s in the truck?” I ask again.
    He shifts around, then leans back in the sofa. “It’s nothing major. Just some keepsakes.”
    “What kind of keepsakes, Dad? Who do they belong to?”
    He doesn’t answer me. He just looks at me, then turn his face away. Oh fuck. Well, fuck me. I’m praying the man has not been keeping souvenirs from the girls he’s offed over the years. The way he’s looking at me, fuck, I’m almost sure that’s exactly what he has inside the trunk. I just hope it’s underwear or locks of their hair, and not fingers or ears. Fuck my life right now; I can’t believe this shit.
    “Answer me, Dad. What is it? Where’s the trunk now?”
    “Mandy has it. I don’t know where she put it; otherwise I’d get it from her. I was hoping you could convince her to give it back, and to come back home.”
    “Christ, Dad. Me? Why me? Why not Claire? Or even better, why don’t you talk to your wife?”
    “Because she’s refusing to see me right now.”
    “Well then apologize, beg, plead, buy her something,” I tell him. “Get her some art.”
    I say that to see if he knows anything about Michael. He doesn’t flinch or react. Maybe he doesn’t know.
    “Don’t put me in the middle of this. I think I’ve signed up for enough, don’t you agree? I’ve worked my ass off for you, and now I’m about to put my head on the chopping block. Isn’t that enough?”
    “Hard work doesn't always protect you on the downside, and none of us get to play for free.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “The timing isn’t good for me to go to war with Mandy, son. She’ll listen to you.”
    “You’re probably right that she’ll listen,” I concede, raking an agitated hand through my hair. “But I’m not so sure she’ll do anything I say.”
    He looks up at me. “What do you mean?”
    There’s no point lying to my father. He has a powerful built-in radar for bullshit, especially where I’m concerned. I could never lie to him, so I tell him. “She asked me to come see her this weekend.”
    “You saw her?” he asked, his eyes narrowing as he looked at me more intently. “Where?”
    I get up and start pacing. This is my father, but if he really wants me to help with Mandy, I can’t be the one to betray her trust about Michael or where she’s staying. Especially if there’s anything in that trunk that can bring