Read A Secret to Keep for Free Online

pretty obvious he’s interested in our project because he left Evan behind to do reconnaissance. And I’m sure he’s still interested in you.”
    “Liyah, I don’t think me talking to Gates is going to help. If anything, it will probably make things worse.” Sloane leaned forward to pick up the picture of Liyah and Brayden. Looking at it always seemed to make her feel better even when things were going wrong.
    “No one said anything about talking,” she winked. “Regardless, you need to figure out something; otherwise all of our work is for naught.”
    Taking a deep breath, Sloane knew Liyah was right. She just hated when Liyah was right. She was going to have to talk to Gates and try appealing to his kindness. The only problem was she didn’t think he had any left, especially for her, and especially if he found out her secret.
     
    ###
     
    “Gates McCall.” The baritone voice rattling through the receiver sent chills through Sloane and she contemplated hanging up before saying anything.
    “Uh, Gates, it’s me…Sloane.” She’d been nervous to call him but Liyah had browbeaten her into it. It had been so long since they’d really spoken to one another.
    “You don’t think I recognize the voice?” His placid tone was as unnerving as it was still and she felt her heart drop to take a nap at the bottom of her stomach.
    “Well, it’s been a while and-”
    “Sloane, what can I do for you?” Gritting her teeth, Sloane closed her eyes and quietly counted to ten. She hated the dismissive tone of his voice.
    “I wanted to see if we could talk about the possible situation we have.” She was struggling to keep her composure since she knew he was the only thing standing in the way of getting what she wanted. She needed him to build their hospital and go back to New York so things could go back to the way they were.
    “Possible situation? Hmm, I really don’t see it that way. What I do see is you are sitting on a project that’s mediocre at best, while D&S have something that’s about to make me a lot of money. So, I really don’t see a situation.”
    “Oh really, is that what you think?” Her blood pressure rose and she wanted to reach through the phone and choke the life out of Gates.
    “It’s what I know, Sloane. I told you a long time ago when I want something I get it. I haven’t changed.”
    “I can see that. You’re still the same cold-hearted asshole. I don’t know why I thought you and I could have a decent conversation.” Slamming the phone down, Sloane sat for a few seconds before realizing her hands were shaking. He was so damn arrogant. She couldn’t believe she ever thought he could be civil with her. She knew he was angry, but could he truly still be carrying that much hatred towards her? There’s no way I can tell him about Brayden now. She was so distraught about the phone call she didn’t notice Liyah walk into her office and sit in the chair across from her.
    “So, how’d it go?”
    Sloane sat quiet for a moment before she lifted guilty eyes to meet Liyah’s and whispered her reply. “I hung up on him.” She braced herself for what she knew would be the equivalent of a category five hurricane named Liyah.
    “YOU WHAT?” Liyah sat forward with wide eyes. “You hung up on him? Sloane, do you know what you’ve done?”
    “Yes.” Sloane added with a somber look in her eyes and tried her best to process exactly what she’d done. “I think so.”
    “You think so? I can’t believe you. We have to convince this man to back our project and you slam the phone down in his ear. We want him to go with our plan. What’re you trying to do, bury our careers?”
    “I know, Liyah. I…I just couldn’t take his smug arrogance. Do you know how hard it is to talk to him? He’s so full of himself and-”
    “Maybe he is, but this isn’t only your career you’re dealing with here. Mine’s on the line too. You have to call him back and apologize.” Sloane watched Liyah stand