FALLING FOR THE CEO's LIES

oomy mood. Every time his phone buzzed, which se

" In an attempt to defuse the situat

look. "I don't want to

. There was a part of me that wanted to know what fire he was p

to business?" I

lint of reluctance visible in his st

of the uneasiness that was rising in

-

seems to be avoiding contact as well. Curiosity overcam

"Cole, h

and looked at me. "You don't ha

Or have you overlooked the ent

t it vanished as fast. He moved aside to

that seemed like it belonged in a museum ma

e of the leather chairs in front of the desk.

d out his hand to me, sa

re very similar. Victor's eyes were cold and calculatin

, "Aria." He held on with an

, "Cole didn't tell me you'd be joinin

re because I want her here,"

rved Victor's li

someone else's conflict, but it

-

ed about the family company. Partnerships based on fear rather than trus

," Victor replied, keeping his gaze on Cole. Son, you'

sed, but he re

Aria, how about you? Do you believe Cole i

y said, "I think Cole is capable of a l

smile. A diplomatic response. Y

r breath if you're here to criticize my l

clined back in his

-

left. It got heavier, if anything. Cole ran a h

ht?" With hesi

ement. "That relies on

I pushed. "What makes your father

"Charity and kindness were not the foundation of the Montgo

to take in what he had sai

nly. "But I was born

candor and momentarily

m." "However, he always manages to remind me that his metho

m and took a step closer. "Co

for a split second, I thought I saw the walls

bove a whisper as he continued

chest. I wanted to console him and reach o

my mind, bringing him back to the present. His e

it?" I

and replied, "I have

his h

ued, "Welcome to my world." "R

ng me alone in the dark office w

-

ack to my room. Every word from my talk with Victor wa

atter was I be

y the beginning as I gazed out th

the follo

was about