The Enemy's Daughter

  EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ®

  www.evernightpublishing.com

  Copyright© 2017 Sam Crescent

  ISBN: 978-1-77339-150-2

  Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

  Editor: Karyn White

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  THE ENEMY’S DAUGHTER

  Sam Crescent

  Copyright © 2017

  Chapter One

  “I’m going to make him pay!” Alaric Patterson shoved the television off the wall until it crashed to the floor of his office. “The slimy fucking bastard.”

  “The television did nothing wrong,” Rex said from his seat a few feet away from the television screen. He held the remote in his hand and sighed. “You overreact. You knew he was going to buy that stock.”

  “For three months I’ve been chasing that little bitch around, kissing her damn feet for the stock to her company, and then she goes and gives it to Reed? He wants nothing to do with it. Three weeks, and he’ll be looking to sell it.” Alaric paced his office, really pissed off. “I was even willing to sleep with the fucking whore. I bet that’s what he did.”

  “Either way he got the stock, and you didn’t.” Reed put the remote down and smoothed out the creases in his jacket. “Question is, what are you doing to do about it?”

  Alaric paced the space of his office, and stopped near his floor to ceiling window. He loved seeing the city below. Watching the city and the people helped him to focus. He didn’t want to be just like anyone else. At forty-eight years old, he’d faced everything that life had to throw at him.

  Gold-digging women, fluctuating markets, recessions, near bankruptcy. He’d faced it all, and he was still standing, richer than ever, happier than ever. The one constant in his life was his enemy, Jackson Reed. The bastard had been there, fighting him, taking from him, just as he took from Jackson.

  “Is there a chance he doesn’t know?” Rex asked.

  “No. He’s gone after it because he knows that I wanted it. The manipulative bastard.”

  “What do you think he offered her that you couldn’t?”

  Alaric thought about Mrs. Macalister. She owned a modeling agency that was the best in its field. A year ago she had made the business world aware that she had stock to sell, and she would sell it to the best bidder. Not the highest, the best. Alaric had wanted it. Some of his other businesses dealt with models, and he’d be able to save time, resources, and even money if he added that element to his portfolio.

  “Whatever it was, it was meant to improve her modeling agency. Clearly, he offered more than I did.”

  He’d gone all out, offering the chance of contracts with his other firms that would keep the models in business for years to come. Now he was stuck. He didn’t know what to do because he didn’t anticipate failing.

  “Clearly. I thought you said you went all out,” Rex said.

  “I did, or I thought I did.”

  Rex pulled out his tablet, and Alaric watched him read through the article. “Mrs. Macalister said that she was more than happy to hand the stock to Jackson Reed. She wanted to know her baby was cared for, and she believes a father is the best bet. Jackson Reed is the father of one—”

  “That’s it,” Alaric said, holding his finger in the air.

  “What’s it?”

  “He has a daughter.”

  “Last time I checked you didn’t have a daughter.”

  “I know.”

  “She picked him because he has a daughter.”

  “Bella Reed,” Alaric said. He remembered the article when she was first born, even when her mother died in a car accident when she was little more than ten years old. “How old is she?”

  “You’re going to bribe Bella Reed into being your daughter?” Rex asked. “She’s twenty-five.”

  Alaric smirked. “Nah, I’m not going to try to convince Bella to come to my side.” He turned toward his friend, smiling.

  “I don’t like that look.”

  “It’s perfect.”

  “What is? You’re not making sense right now.”

  “I’m going to have Bella.”

  Rex frowned. “In what way?”

  “I’m going to fuck her. I’m going to make her fall in love with me, and then I’m going to break her heart.”

  “That seems harsh. She had nothing to do with this,” Rex said, pointing at his tablet.

  “Oh, she had something to do with it all right. She’s Jackson’s daughter, and the way to make him pay is to make her pay.”

  “You’re going to break her heart?”

  “Hell yeah.”

  Rex sighed. “I don’t think that’s going to work.”

  “It’s perfect. I’m going to go after my enemy’s daughter.”

  “You’re old enough to be her father, Alaric. This, it’s not going to work. Do you even know what she looks like? Who she is?”

  “She’s probably some pampered princess, spending daddy’s money, and never had to work a hard day in her life.”

  Rex started tapping on his tablet, and several seconds passed before he started laughing.

  “Am I right?” he asked.

  “No. You’re so damn wrong. This is too good.” Rex got to his feet, and passed him the tablet.

  Alaric took the tablet and looked down at a plain girl. “Who is this?”

  “This is Bella Reed.”

  Alaric couldn’t believe it. Staring at the picture, he couldn’t believe who was staring back at him. She was actually a little on the plain side. There was nothing startling about her. Her hair was long and brown. Her face was completely void of makeup, and she even wore glasses. Why was she wearing glasses?

  Staring at the details beside her, he was even more shocked. “She works at a veterinary practice. What the fuck?”

  “It’s all there. Your little pampered princess is in fact a hard working gal who likes to take long walks, and do all the normal crap that girls do.” Rex was laughing his ass off. “Do you even know how to handle normal girls?” He took the tablet back, and Alaric didn’t like being laughed at.

  “I’m still going to do it. She’s a woman, and women are so easy to manipulate. A few trinkets, some flashy shit, and she’ll be all mine.”

  “Okay, what are you going to do if she recognizes you?” Rex asked.

  “Are you on my side?”

  “I’m just curious. If she knows anything about her father’s business, it means you’re not going to get a look in.”

  “I’ll soon find out. Not all kids are interested in their fathers’ lives. I’m counting on Bella not being a problem.”

  She’d been on the chunky side. He’d seen it in the photo, and usually he liked his women slender. No matter. He’d make this work.

  “You’re crazy. You know that,” Rex said.

  “It’s time for some payback. First though, I’m going to need a dog.”

  “A dog?”

  “I’m not getting a freaking cat. They claw me all the time.”

  Rex laughed. “No wonder they do. They sense you’re an evil bastard.”

  Rolling his eyes, Alaric sat down behind his desk. Pressing the tips of his fingers together, he tried to clear his mind so that he could think.

  “Where will I find a sick dog?”

  “Not at any pound I know. Maybe on the streets? Y
ou’re really going to go through with this. Bang that poor girl, make her fall for you, and then leave her?”

  “Yes. It’s perfect, and it will all be Daddy’s fault.”

  “How do you figure?”

  “If he’d not tried to take from me, I wouldn’t have lashed out.”

  “There’s a flaw in your plan.”

  Alaric was no longer listening to his friend. All he saw was one path, a clear path to getting what he wanted.

  Bella Reed was simply the key to that.

  Game on, princess.

  ****

  “Did you read the paper?” Bella’s father, Jackson, asked.

  “Nope. I didn’t. I told you I stay away from all of that crap.” Holding her cell to her ear, Bella walked down the long sidewalk, avoiding everyone that came near her. She loved her father. She really did, but there were times he didn’t get her, or understand her. The reason she didn’t work for him was because she wanted to carve out a life for herself.

  “Don’t you care that I’ve got Macalister’s stock?”

  “I think it’s great, Dad. Really, I do. Are you going to split this one up? Sell it off?”

  She didn’t always agree with her father’s line of work. Her belief was that nothing was ever truly broken. She had seen so many animals, some hurt from accidents, others from abuse, and she’d seen them all come out of it and start to shine. She loved them all, and knew if there was a chance, she could help fix them.

  Deidre, the vet, didn’t like her getting too close though. There had been a few occasions when Bella had nearly been bitten. Holding a savage dog at bay was not the easiest thing in the world.

  “No, I’m not. I was actually wondering what you felt about modeling?”

  This time, she stopped. “Okay, now I’m really confused. Have you seen me lately?” She was a size eighteen, loved food, and would never make it on the cover of any magazine, let alone beauty line. She was plain.

  “I know, sweetie. Plus size is a huge deal now, and I know there’s a market for you.”

  Years ago, she’d wanted to be a model. All of the girls in her class had wanted to be a model. Now, she didn’t want to. It was a schoolgirl’s dream that was no longer with her.

  Her mother, before she died, had helped her to come to terms with who she was. There was no reason for her to change to suit everyone else. There would be a guy out there who’d love her for her.

  She had yet to find him, but it was a belief.

  “Dad, that’s great. Really. It’s time that the world moved on and stopped shaming us, but still, I don’t want that life.”

  “I thought you did.”

  “When I was eight, Dad. I’m twenty-five years old. Didn’t you know that?”

  Silence fell, and she sighed.

  “How about we celebrate for you?” she asked.

  “No, we don’t have to.”

  “I insist. Come by my place. I’ll cook us a delicious meal. It can just be the two of us?”

  “Yes, sweetie. I’ll be there.”

  She hung up her cell phone as she entered the practice, sipping the last of her very fattening coffee with whipped cream and sprinkles. She loved the festive season, or at least the approach to the festive season. Sometimes the big day actually sucked as she remembered her mother, who’d died on Christmas day. She had been driving back home, and had collided with a truck on icy roads.

  It was the worst memory of hers.

  “Hey, everyone,” she said, smiling at all of the clients. Going behind the counter, she fired up her computer, and quickly left to put her coat and wraps in the staffroom.

  Coming out, she got to work, answering the phone, and dealing with payments, appointments, and whatever else she needed.

  “Mrs. Henderson,” Bella said, smiling. Mrs. Henderson was an old woman, in her late seventies, and had a ginger cat called Boss. The moment Bella saw the tears on the woman’s face, pain gripped her heart. “What happened?”

  “Oh, dear, he was getting slow in his old age, and I’m afraid, he didn’t make it.”

  Tears filled Bella’s eyes, and before she could stop herself, she stood, wrapping her arms around the older woman. “I’m so sorry.”

  Boss was such a beautiful soul. Yes, he was a cat, but he’d made Bella love him so much, and the thought of never seeing him again hurt her.

  “He’s gone to a better place.”

  Cat heaven.

  Still, she had tears running down her cheeks, and her lip quivered. Bella was a horrible crier, and now was no different.

  “Bye, honey,” she said to Mrs. Henderson.

  “Poor woman,” Deidre, the vet and her friend, said.

  “What will she do?” Bella asked.

  “I don’t know. Poor guy was gone before she got him here. I hate seeing them like that.”

  “There was nothing you could do?” Bella grabbed a tissue and wiped under her nose. This was the one downfall to working inside a veterinary practice. She got so close to the pets and their owners, feeling their pain whenever something bad happened.

  “No.” Deidre placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m so sorry, sweetie.”

  “Oh, you know me. I’ll be fine soon. I hope. It’s just so sad. I mean, she loved Boss so much.”

  “I know. It’s always hard when we lose one. There are times I wish I didn’t become a vet. They never really train you to deal with the losses, you know?”

  “I know. I really do.” Bella blew into her tissue and forced a smile at her friend. “Go on. I’ll be all right. You know me.” She gave her a wink, even with it filled with tears.

  Deidre laughed. “I’ll be back around to check on you.”

  She waved her hand, and took a deep breath.

  This was something she had to deal with. Keeping a tissue handy, Bella dealt with the rest of the booked customers for the day. Every time someone came in with a worried look on their face, Bella panicked and placed them right in the front of the queue. She probably shouldn’t have done that, but waiting around to find out if your loved pet was okay or not was just too much for Bella to deal with. They needed answers, and Deidre was the only one who could give them those answers. Pushing her hair out of her face, Bella leaned forward, and checked through the latest list of appointments.

  She was so lost in her own little world that she gave a little cry when someone tapped her shoulder. Looking up, she found herself caught by the sexiest pair of green eyes she’d ever seen.

  “H-hello,” she said, stumbling over her words.

  He was a handsome man, and he had the most intense eyes.

  “Hi,” he said, smiling. “I need to see a vet.”

  Hottie then lifted up his arms, and Bella fell in love. There was no other word for it. The puppy in his arms was a very small cocker spaniel, blue roan, and he was just the cutest little puppy.

  “Oh my, he’s so gorgeous.” Standing up, she reached out, to give the little puppy a stroke. “He or she?”

  “He.”

  The puppy licked her fingers and gave them a little nip.

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s fine. Puppies are known to nip. Train them not to, and they’ll be more than fine. You want a checkup, right?”

  “I just picked him up. He’s twelve weeks, and I want him checked over. I read in one of those books that the moment you get him you’re to bring him here.”

  “Yes.”

  When the hottie went to put him on the floor, Bella gasped and stopped him by grabbing his arm. “No. You’re going to have to hold him. He can’t go on the floor.”

  “Oh, right.”

  “There’s a diseases out there that can kill puppies if he gets it before we give him his injections.” Taking a seat, she started tapping on her keyboard. “Shoot. I’m afraid you’re going to have to come back. The last appointment we have is at six-thirty, and that’s all we’ve got. If you want to be seen sooner, there’s another practice down the street.”

  He shook his he
ad. “No. I want to get seen here. I’ve heard this is the best place for pets in the city.”

  She smiled. “Thank you. We do like to try.” She tapped on her computer. “What’s your name?”

  “Blue.”

  She looked up. “Your name is Blue?”

  “Yes. It’s Blue Patterson.”

  “Right.” She tapped him in for an appointment, along with his pet’s name. “Have you named him yet?”

  “I’m thinking Buster? What do you think?”

  “I think it’s great. We’ll see you this afternoon.”

  “Thank you.” He looked down at her chest. “Bella.”

  She nodded, not liking the thrill that rushed through her entire body from his voice. He was older, way older than she was, but he was one of those sexy older men.

  Get over yourself, Bella.

  Leaving her station, she went to the staffroom, and grabbed herself a coffee to help clear her head. There was no reason for her to even fantasize about Mr. Hottie. He was never going to look her way. She was too young, and of course, too plain. He was probably married. The good ones always were.

  The rest of the day went by without much event. Several people came in with sick animals, and Bella struggled with her tears. Watching them leave was the hardest. In fact, she was wiping away more tears when the very hot guy returned. The moment he saw her, the smile on his face disappeared.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  She was charmed by his concern. “Yeah, I am. It’s the curse of working in a veterinary practice.” She waved a hand in front of her face. “If you want to go through, you’re just on time, and I know Deidre is waiting for you.”

  He hesitated, and she went back to work. Blowing out a huge breath, she cleared her throat, and moved toward the board that had their lost loved ones. The veterinary practice preferred to connect to their customers through their pets. Sticking three more pictures, Bella believed it to be one of the worst days when it came to cats.

  “I’m so sorry,” Leanne said, gripping her shoulder, also crying. “It never gets easier.”