Don’t tell me you’re feeling sentimental about a brother you never knew you had and who’s trying to take what’s rightfully yours.”
Maximus didn’t believe for a second that was the case. Lucius had been as shocked as he was by the bequest. He hadn’t known he was Arthur’s son until that moment in the hospital a couple of weeks ago, when his mother had railed at him. Maximus had seen the horror that had crossed his older brother’s face when the realization had sunk in that not only had his mother been carrying on an affair for decades with their father, but that he’d been the result of it. Lucius had been devastated.
Despite that, however, Maximus wasn’t about to let an interloper, an outsider, walk in and take what was his. He’d been groomed his entire life to run Knight Shipping, and no one, brother or no brother, or their sexy partner, Tahlia Armstrong, would get in his way. He would see to it.
“Of course I’m not sentimental, Mother,” Maximus responded. “But haven’t you heard the old phrase ‘you catch more flies with honey’? Don’t worry.”
Her brown eyes stared at him incredulously. “How can I not be worried when half your inheritance is being stolen?”
“We have to play it cool, Mother. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned in business, it’s that we mustn’t show our hand. I promise you, I’ll get what’s mine. I promise you. All in due time.”
“How?”
“I have a plan.”
“You own Art Gallery Twenty-One?” Kaitlynn Armstrong, Tahlia’s sister, stared back openmouthed as they sat at Tahlia’s breakfast bar the next morning. Tahlia had stopped by Kaitlynn’s apartment to tell her about the dinner at the Knights’ estate and to share her amazing news and good fortune.
“Sure do,” Tahlia replied with a self-satisfied smile. “Arthur Knight transferred the title to me. So now that witch Bailey will be coming to me for approval.”
Tahlia was referring to her boss, Bailey Smith, who was into traditional art. Tahlia had been trying unsuccessfully to get her to branch out to show unconventional pieces. It was only when Arthur had liked a piece from an up-and-coming artist that Bailey had relented for a small showing. It was at that opening that Tahlia had first laid eyes on Maximus Knight.
She’d been setting out canapés when he’d walked into Art Gallery Twenty-One just as confident as he pleased in a designer suit, skinny tie and expensive loafers. He looked every bit the wealthy shipping magnate. From her vantage point, he’d looked serious and intent when he’d spoken to his father. Tahlia had watched him from afar, soaking in every bit of his aura, from the curly fro on his head that she would love to run her fingers through to the bushy eyebrows above sexy eyes to those sinful lips.
Unfortunately, Maximus Knight hadn’t stayed long at the gallery. She’d been pulled away to help a customer, and when she’d finally looked for him, he’d been gone. But now everything had changed. Arthur’s death had set her on a new path that Tahlia could only hope she could prove worthy of.
“I still can’t believe it,” Kaitlynn said. “Did you have any idea that Arthur Knight put you in his will?”
Tahlia shook her head. “None.”
“Have you told Mom yet?”
“No, not yet. She’s at work now,” Tahlia responded. Their mother, Sophia, was an RN at UCLA Medical Center and had just started her evening shift. And Tahlia couldn’t possibly tell her this news over the phone. This news had to be delivered in person.
Kaitlynn glanced down at her Apple watch. “Oh, yeah, right. I’d forgotten. She’ll just die when she hears the news.”
“Just like I did,” Tahlia responded. “It’s so surreal.”
“Why do you think Arthur did it?”
Tahlia shrugged. “All I can think of is that I was kind to him. Sometimes he’d come in on his lunch break to just stare at the paintings. He’d be so wistful that I’d come over and chat with him. I could tell something weighed on his mind heavily at times, but he never shared with me the full details.”
“So you had no idea he was carrying on an affair?”
“Of course not. But I did know he had another son whom he had treated unfairly. I suspect Arthur regretted his actions, which is why he’s taken such drastic actions now in his will.”
“But to make you the deciding vote?” Kaitlynn said. “That’s heady stuff. He clearly thought very highly of you, sis.”
“I feel honored,” Tahlia said, lightly touching her chest. “And scared out of my wits. I mean, Kaitlynn, I know nothing about the shipping business.”
“Perhaps Maximus will teach you.” She grinned with a wink. “I think you’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
Tahlia jumped up from her stool to cover the blush she could feel creeping up her cheeks. “Why would you say that?”
“C’mon,” Kaitlynn teased. “I’ve seen how you react whenever Maximus is mentioned in the news or on social media. You’ve got a crush on him,” she said in a singsongy tone.
“Do not,” Tahlia said, spinning around to face her.
“Preach to the choir because I’m not listening.” She covered her ears with her hands.
“Even if I did,” Tahlia responded with her hands on her hips, “I doubt Maximus would be interested in a peon like me.”
“I beg to differ. You’re in a position of power now, and Maximus will have no choice but to stand up and take notice of you.”
“Because of the shares I have?”
“You’re the deciding vote,” Kaitlynn responded. “He’ll want to keep you close. The question is how close will you let him get?”
Tahlia smiled at Kaitlynn’s teasing tone. She’d wanted Maximus to see her, but she would rather it was because he genuinely found her interesting, not because he thought she was a pawn he could use. But perhaps if they spent some time together he’d see her as something more than a vote in his favor. Only time would tell just what her relationship with Maximus would be.
* * *
“This is stunning news, Max,” his best friend, Griffin Cooper, stated when they met up on Sunday at the Los Angeles Country Club. Now seated in the main dining room, they were sharing breakfast over a cup of coffee. They’d forgone their weekly racquetball session to just sit and talk.
“You’re telling me,” Maximus replied. “I knew my father was a cunning liar, but I never in my wildest dreams imagined he would cut me out of what’s rightfully mine.”
“You’ve worked your butt off for Knight Shipping,” Griffin concurred. “It’s not fair.”
“No, it isn’t.” Maximus seethed in his seat. He’d been awake for
