He Waited for Fifteen Years novel · Chapter 8 of 48
Chapter 8: Letter of Intent
"You signed it," I said.
My father capped his pen.
"It's a letter of intent, Christina. It isn't binding. It just lets them open their books to us."
Bryant's father patted the back of the chair.
"Nothing moves without the June vote. Your father's being prudent. Somebody in this family has to be."
"Did you read who controls Brazos Harbor?"
"I've read every page."
"Then you know it isn't us."
He gave me a patient smile, the kind you give a child who has found a bug in the garden.
"I'll leave you two to talk."
He let himself out.
I closed the door behind him and turned to my father.
"Why?"
He rubbed his eyes.
He looked older than he had at my birthday. There was a gray tint to his skin.
"Because four of the cousins called me this weekend. Russell's people have been taking them to dinner. If I fight the Hartleys head on, I lose the vote and I lose the board. If I sign a piece of paper that says we're talking, I keep everyone at the table until June."
"And if they never meant to talk?"
"Then I'll find out in June."
In my last life, he found out in seven years.
At the bottom of a cliff.
"Bryant gave his word the patents stay protected," my father said. "Whatever else he is, he's family."
I didn't answer.
I was thinking about a receipt.
Years from now, in my last life, I found a stack of them in Bryant's desk.
Steakhouse receipts, every one from the same place on West 52nd Street. Every one from a Tuesday night.
When I asked him, he said it was where he did business.
I found out later what business.
It was Tuesday.
At eight-thirty that night I walked into the steakhouse in a black coat and sunglasses I felt stupid wearing.
Keep reading free with an account. Start He Waited for Fifteen Years from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.
← Chapter 7 · All chapters · Chapter 9 →
Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend