papers. "The deposition is tomorrow? I can't–"
"Oh, but I think you can," he practically purred with satisfaction. His hand grazed over her arm in a possessive way, and she jerked away from his touch.
Typical of the King men. Total power over everyone around them. It was the only language they understood, the only position they would accept.
She choked back her impulse to send a snap kick into his groin. Maybe if there weren't any witnesses...
"Sorry, you'll have to reschedule." She broke away from his grasp and moved past him to the exit. She needed fresh air; room to breathe that wasn't polluted with the stench of wealth and corruption. "I have plans."
He followed her outside onto the stoop, but remained in the cooler shadows of the building. Blood sucking vampire.
Richard had his share of problems. Being the youngest born to a powerful, rich family had a lot to do with his need to exert total control over everyone he met, especially Cassie. A need she hadn't recognized until after they were married and he became abusive.
But Alan was the worst of the bunch. A man with one code: power was everything, and no one stood in his way. She knew he'd manipulated Richard into forcing her resignation from Three Rivers and bringing the lawsuit against her.
"Cancel your plans," he said.
She held her ground, basking in the hot sun. Maybe it was time Alan King learned the world didn't revolve around him and his family. "No."
He pursed his lips in mock consideration at her refusal and reached into his coat for another stack of papers. "Then, I'll be forced to file these." He held them out to her, translating as she shuffled through them. "We'll need complete accounting of the Liberty Community Center's funding from all principles involved. The Center's assets and accounts will be frozen until we're satisfied and the audit is completed."
Cassie felt the blood drain from her face. "You couldn't—you wouldn't. If the Center doesn't open by September first we lose our matching grants."
Not to mention forfeiting Drake and Ed Castro's personal lines of credit they used for startup costs. It would set them back months, maybe even permanently. Ultimately destroying the one place that offered hope to the residents of these ravaged neighborhoods where kids couldn't even get to school because no bus drivers would venture near.
"Why?" She forced the words from between numb lips.
"Sources claim you're using the Center to shield your money from possible forfeiture if you lose the case." He shook his head, tsking like an old schoolmarm. "Really, Cassandra, you should know better."
"Everything I gave to the clinic was before you filed the lawsuit. You know that." Cassie knew she should just let Juliet handle Alan. He was bluffing, she was certain. But she couldn't risk the Center, Drake's dream. She pounded her fist against her thigh, unable to strike out at the true object of her fury. "Do you hate me so much you would destroy a place that will only help the people of Pittsburgh?"
He shrugged, the smile on his face revealing his delight at her discomfort. "I'm obligated to act in the best interest of my client. The man who lost his entire future because of you. But feel free to take it personally."
Cassie bit her lip and turned away, looking past the overflowing construction dumpster toward the ravine behind the building. A pleasant breeze swirled through the oaks and maples that towered from the sides of the ravine. From this vantage you could barely hear the sound of the busway, could almost imagine you were far away from urban life.
Safe from the machinations of lawyers.
"What do you want?" she whispered. At his look of triumph she cursed herself for asking. She knew damned well what Alan King wanted.
Everything she had. Her reputation, her medical license, her house, her money, her pride.
He thought he could take it all, make her suffer a painful public humiliation as payment for the pain she'd caused his brother and
"Oh, but I think you can," he practically purred with satisfaction. His hand grazed over her arm in a possessive way, and she jerked away from his touch.
Typical of the King men. Total power over everyone around them. It was the only language they understood, the only position they would accept.
She choked back her impulse to send a snap kick into his groin. Maybe if there weren't any witnesses...
"Sorry, you'll have to reschedule." She broke away from his grasp and moved past him to the exit. She needed fresh air; room to breathe that wasn't polluted with the stench of wealth and corruption. "I have plans."
He followed her outside onto the stoop, but remained in the cooler shadows of the building. Blood sucking vampire.
Richard had his share of problems. Being the youngest born to a powerful, rich family had a lot to do with his need to exert total control over everyone he met, especially Cassie. A need she hadn't recognized until after they were married and he became abusive.
But Alan was the worst of the bunch. A man with one code: power was everything, and no one stood in his way. She knew he'd manipulated Richard into forcing her resignation from Three Rivers and bringing the lawsuit against her.
"Cancel your plans," he said.
She held her ground, basking in the hot sun. Maybe it was time Alan King learned the world didn't revolve around him and his family. "No."
He pursed his lips in mock consideration at her refusal and reached into his coat for another stack of papers. "Then, I'll be forced to file these." He held them out to her, translating as she shuffled through them. "We'll need complete accounting of the Liberty Community Center's funding from all principles involved. The Center's assets and accounts will be frozen until we're satisfied and the audit is completed."
Cassie felt the blood drain from her face. "You couldn't—you wouldn't. If the Center doesn't open by September first we lose our matching grants."
Not to mention forfeiting Drake and Ed Castro's personal lines of credit they used for startup costs. It would set them back months, maybe even permanently. Ultimately destroying the one place that offered hope to the residents of these ravaged neighborhoods where kids couldn't even get to school because no bus drivers would venture near.
"Why?" She forced the words from between numb lips.
"Sources claim you're using the Center to shield your money from possible forfeiture if you lose the case." He shook his head, tsking like an old schoolmarm. "Really, Cassandra, you should know better."
"Everything I gave to the clinic was before you filed the lawsuit. You know that." Cassie knew she should just let Juliet handle Alan. He was bluffing, she was certain. But she couldn't risk the Center, Drake's dream. She pounded her fist against her thigh, unable to strike out at the true object of her fury. "Do you hate me so much you would destroy a place that will only help the people of Pittsburgh?"
He shrugged, the smile on his face revealing his delight at her discomfort. "I'm obligated to act in the best interest of my client. The man who lost his entire future because of you. But feel free to take it personally."
Cassie bit her lip and turned away, looking past the overflowing construction dumpster toward the ravine behind the building. A pleasant breeze swirled through the oaks and maples that towered from the sides of the ravine. From this vantage you could barely hear the sound of the busway, could almost imagine you were far away from urban life.
Safe from the machinations of lawyers.
"What do you want?" she whispered. At his look of triumph she cursed herself for asking. She knew damned well what Alan King wanted.
Everything she had. Her reputation, her medical license, her house, her money, her pride.
He thought he could take it all, make her suffer a painful public humiliation as payment for the pain she'd caused his brother and
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