Read Utterly Yours (Book Five) (An Alpha Billionaire Romance) for Free Online Page A

Nine
     
                  Nathaniel gazed at Lillian as she watched out the window of his bedroom.  “He’s here,” she said curtly.  “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
                  “He’s by himself, right?” Nathaniel asked from the bed and she nodded.  Nathaniel had called Adam and asked him to come by.  He had tried to sound as desperate as possible –making Adam think he was coming crawling back to try to beg for a job.  Adam had seemed to fall for it when they were on the phone, but now that he was actually here, Nathaniel was becoming nervous.  “Just stay up here.  I don’t even want him to know that you’re here, all right?”
                  “The camera is set up,” she said.  “You really think you can get him to just confess to everything?”
                  “I’m going to try,” Nathaniel kissed her forehead and headed downstairs.  He headed into the bar area where he knew Adam would want to hang out at; it’s where he always wanted to hang out.  He checked and double checked the camera Lillian had set up, and moments later Adam had invited himself inside and found his way to the basement where Nathaniel had a full bar setup. 
                  “Hey,” Adam said as he entered the bar and helped himself to some whiskey, pouring them both a shot and plopping himself down at one of the barstools.  “Got to say, man, I’m surprised you called me.” Nathaniel wanted to punch the smirk right off of his face, but instead he just took a swig of the whiskey Adam had poured.  Nathaniel tried to speak, but he couldn’t.  There was so much anger raging inside of him, so he let Adam keep talking.  “Look, I know I sort of blindsided you here, but in the end, I know it’s going to be for the best.  If Lynch Industries is going to continue to grow, we need to take a new direction.”
                  “And you’re the one who’s going to take it in that new direction, then?”
                  Adam took the shot he had poured and then poured them each another.  “Look, you called me.  You asked me to come here, remember?  I’m sorry it had to be this way.  You’re my friend, Nate.  I don’t want that to change.  Really, I don’t.  If you still want to be at Lynch Industries, you’re going to be there.  You and I started this thing.  I don’t want you to opt out just because you feel like I betrayed you.”
                  “You did, though,” Nathaniel said coldly and took the second shot.  He turned the glass upside down so Adam would not attempt to pour him another one.  “Just be honest with me, man.  Why?  Why did you do it?  And don’t tell me it’s because you think I was that bad for PR because that’s bullshit.”
                  “I believe our public relations department would disagree with you about that.  You are a problem, Nathaniel.  The shelter helped with public opinion, though.  So that’s good.  It’s outlived its purpose, though.”
                  “You’re going to throw all of those people out on the streets just to start up a hotel chain, though?” Nathaniel questioned.  “It’s not right, Adam.  You know it’s not.  That’s our hometown too, man.”
                  “We don’t owe Troy a damn thing,” Adam hissed.  “Let it go.  Look, if you want to come back to Lynch Industries, I can make it happen.  I’d like to have you.  I really would.  I can put you in my old position.  It’s not like you don’t know the ropes.”
                  “And I’m guessing that comes with a decrease in pay?” Nathaniel asked.
                  “You’re not CEO anymore,” Adam said.
                  “All right, fine,” Nathaniel said.  “I’ll come back to Lynch Industries.”
                  Adam gripped his shoulder as he stood