Two lovers, torn apart by betrayal, obsession and an unquenchable thirst for revenge.
How far would you go for love?
About to start the career of his dreams and marry the woman he loves, Sebastien Merrow has everything he could ever want, until a b...
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"I've been thinking about your offer," Lawrence said, once Albert Lacroix had dismissed the maid that had brought the ADA into his study.
"Don't play games with me, Lawrence," Albert said, leaning back in his leather chair and watching him. The darting eyes, the tense shoulders. Albert knew exactly why Lawrence had come. "You're not here because you're thinking about my offer, you're here to accept it."
Lawrence glanced around the study, not answering right away. Albert wasn't quite sure if he was having second thoughts, or merely pretending to, but either way, he wasn't worried.
Albert let the silence settle between them in the low light of the room, waiting patiently as it spread out and ingrained itself into the dark wood of the furniture like cigar smoke. He'd learned many years ago that the best way to persuade someone to do what you wanted them to, was to let them persuade themselves.
"I have information that I think will interest you," Lawrence said, pulling at his tie as he took a seat opposite Albert.
"And how much will this information cost me?"
"How much is it worth to you?"
Albert smiled. Lawrence wasn't as dull as Rodrick made him out to be after all. That was good. Perhaps Lawrence could be of more use than Albert had first thought. He regarded the young ADA sitting across from him trying not to fidget. He already knew what Lawrence valued most. Money. But of course, to offer Lawrence money would be the sort of mistake a rookie negotiator might make. You offer money, and they always want more. You offer money, you lose your power. No, the trick was to make them think you were giving them what they wanted, when in fact, you were putting a leash around their neck.
"To me, it's worth a career, don't you think?" Albert sat forward as if he truly cared about Lawrence's opinions. When Lawrence didn't respond, Albert wondered if he'd underestimated his dullness, but then Lawrence sat forward too and rested his elbows on Albert's desk, his gaze strong and determined.
"No one can know about this," he said, his voice dropping.
Albert nodded. "That goes without saying."
"Horace knows you were running one of the clinics implicated in the case," Lawrence said. "He's been linking information about the stolen children to you with the help of the Missing Children Association."
"So?" Albert shrugged. "None of that proves anything. The MCA has been looking into the missing children for years, if they had something concrete they would have come forward already."
Lawrence shook his head. "The MCA has always been more focused on reuniting families than prosecuting people. Until now," Lawrence added. "Someone from the Association reached out to Horace, convinced him to take the case."
"Who?" Albert picked up his cigar and took a long, slow drag, savoring the earthiness of the smoke on his tongue.
It was Lawrence's turn to shrug. "Could have been an employee, or a parent involved with the Association. Whoever it was, they gave Horace something big enough to make him want to move forward with it, something he thinks will seal the case against you."
