SEVER Jane, Melissa (management books to read .TXT) 📖

around my waist, pulling me close against his chest. I feel his familiarity and lean into him, my ear pressed over his thudding heart. I let him hold me as my tears stain his expensive shirt.

Can I forgive a man who took it upon himself to destroy my family just so he could tame his obsession for me? Kane Alexander can make all the excuses he wants about his deplorable business ethics, but there’s no excuse for how he manipulated Shawn and me.

I go to push away but he holds me close, kissing down my cheek. Where once I would be instantly turned on being this close to him, I now want to simultaneously vomit and hurt him. His mouth moves to mine, gently at first before deepening his kiss and claiming my tongue. It’s easy to become lost in a man like Kane Alexander. His charisma could charm a snake—his passion intoxicating. But his world is a dangerous one. He is dangerous.

His cock presses against my stomach, my mind playing a montage of the intimacy we shared.

Except it wasn’t intimacy.

It was fucking.

Fucking to forget.

Fucking to forget the misery Shawn had caused.

“I can give you everything you ever want, Blythe,” he says, breaking away, his forehead touching mine. “Together we can be a powerful couple. You my queen, and I your king. You’ll never want for anything.”

“I could never stand alongside a monster. And that’s what you are… a destructive, morally corrupt monster, and you make me sick.”

His grip grows tighter until it becomes hard to breathe, his mouth nearing my ear. “We all have a monster inside of us, Blythe. Some are easier to tame than others. Remember how you allowed me to fuck your greedy pussy despite you still being married. Even you have a monster lurking within. So, if you’re going to judge me for mine, I’ll show you just how monstrous I can be. But I promise you… your pleas for mercy will fall on deaf ears.”

I fight against his hold, but to no avail. Kane is simply too strong, rushing me until my back hits the wall, pressing me firmly between, his raging cock at the ready. I grow into a panic because I realize, I don’t actually know this man. He isn’t who I thought he was and my heart hurts over it. But that hurt now competes with a gripping fear.

I close my eyes, hearing the words leave Kane’s lips. He’d taken the liberty of warning me. Multiple times. But I failed to listen because I was swept up in the moment. A moment he’d artfully created.

Beware a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

He hadn’t been talking about Shawn. He’d been referring to himself the entire time and I was too stupid to realize.

“Get off me,” I plead, pushing against his solid chest. He doesn’t budge, but his cock throbs against my stomach. “Kane, get the fuck off me!” I start to hyperventilate, the panic attack taking hold with its claws. Kane responds by claiming my mouth once more, holding me in place while he commands my lips. I kiss back. A farewell token for when I believed him to be real.

And then I bite down.

Revolted by the person he truly is.

He growls, withstanding the pain until he can’t take it anymore, his blood in my mouth. He pulls away and I let go. At the same time, his backhand rises in the air, rage gleaming from pure black eyes. I prepare for impact but it never comes. Instead, he checks himself, lowers his hand and backs away.

“I would never hurt you, Blythe.”

“That’s too bad,” I say, pointing the Glock I’ve just pulled from his waistband. Kane’s jaw twitches seeing the tables have suddenly turned.

Is he humored by my efforts?

Does he not believe how angered I am?

“You don’t know how to use that.”

“I was stupid enough to fall for your tricks despite the warnings coming from your own mouth, but I’m smart enough to know how to use a gun.” I press the safety to show I’m not fucking around.

“Think about us, Blythe. What we could have. Everything we could be.”

“There is no us. And you won’t ever fool me into thinking there is.”

Kane Alexander smiles but it’s bittersweet. “I only ever wanted you. But no matter what I offer, you will always love Shawn more.”

A hard lump forms in my throat. “Because of you, now I have nothing. Do you think my husband will still want me after knowing we’ve fucked? After seeing the footage you so gallantly showed him?”

“You answered wrong.”

“You expected me to say ‘I love you’ instead?”

“No, but I won’t be second best to anyone, including Shawn Cooper.”

“Because he’s always been the better man. It just took you coming into our lives to have it all destroyed. You’ve taken it all away and left me with nothing. You can’t fix my heart, but you can at least replace some things you’ve taken.”

“Like?”

“First thing… transfer every penny you took from us back into our accounts and I’ll make sure I leave here in peace, with no blood spilled. Do it now.”

His brows raise. “Like right now?”

“I’m not leaving until it’s done.”

Conceding defeat, Kane moves behind his desk and logs into his laptop. I stand behind with enough distance between us should he try anything. I watch everything, including the confirmation of the funds transfer, every dollar he ever took from us now safely back where it belongs.

He stands and I step away quickly, aiming the Glock at his chest.

Kane raises both hands to signal peace. “Anything else?”

I see my little boy still on the leather chair, wide puppy eyes watching the commotion. “I’m walking out of here with Toby.”

“You named him Toby?”

“You got a problem with that?”

He shakes