Ruthless Love: Part III

Ruthless Love, #3

PREFACE

Jag leaned back in his office chair and clasped his hands on top of his head.

Maybe he should fire both of them, he thought as he heard Charity and Jace's voices in the hallway as they walked to the back office where they spent all of their time doing goodness knows what these days. He felt like he was walking into a viper pit when he came to work. He didn't trust his brother, and Jag increasingly felt the same about his wife, especially considering their differences. 

***

"Of course, I want children." Charity swallowed, willing an opening in her throat to get her next words out. "Just not right now," she rushed on. "I'm getting so much fulfilment out of my new job – thanks to you – and to be honest Jag, I love our life together just the way it is. I mean, look at us … we're on a month-long honeymoon. We can sleep in on the weekends; pick up and go out to dinner at the drop of a hat; work late without guilt; have friends over at the drop of a dime. I love having that kind of freedom. Once we start having children, those carefree days will be over and I want to enjoy this time in our lives for a little while before we start the parenting phase of our lives because once we go down that road, our lives will cease to be ours for the next 20 years or so."

Jag removed himself from Charity's embrace. "I see," he said.

"You see what?" Charity beseeched, as he sat up and ran one hand through his disheveled hair.

"You really want to know what I'm thinking Charity?

"Yes, of course."

"When I first asked you to marry me, you flat out refused. Then when you finally said yes, you weren't in any hurry to set a wedding date. You said you wanted to just enjoy being engaged. Even though I didn't understand, I just wanted to be with you … in whatever capacity, so I waited until you were ready to get married. And now that we're finally married, you want to wait to have children – who knows for how long. I just feel like you hesitate every step of the way when it comes to us Charity, and for the life of me, I can't figure out why. 

***

"In case you forgot, I'm fighting for my very freedom here."

"You cannot be serious," Charity said, her falsetto tone indicative of how upset she was. "In case you forgot, that's exactly what me and Jace have been doing – fighting for your freedom too."

"Really Charity? Or are you two plotting to see me gone. After all, it would be the perfect plan. I get carted off to federal prison. Jace gets Hollander Enterprises and you get the Hollander you really want."

A mere six weeks ago, no one could have told him that Charity would betray him. Now, he wasn't so sure. But the evidence of that very conclusion was mounting. She knew he was facing indictment. She was a key member of the team supposedly trying to clear his name, yet she strolls into the office in the middle of the afternoon as if nothing was wrong.

Jag propped his elbows on his desk.

Was his wife in cahoots with his brother to bring him down?

Were they planning his demise literally right under his nose?

Was he being a fool all over again, getting sucked back into a family – and a family business – that brought him nothing but betrayal?