“Plan B?” Stella asked, her voice cracking, revealing just how close to the edge she was. “You’re my family—I shouldn’t need a plan B for how to prove myself worthy of your time or attention. My entire life I’ve wanted you to notice me, to make a point to acknowledge that I’m your daughter. Your employees and stockholders rank higher on your priority list than I do.”
Ruiz’s eyes darted to Dane. “You care to give us a minute?”
“Yeah, actually I do care.”
Dane folded his arms over his chest and glared back at the man who was used to people jumping at his every command. The muscle in Ruiz’s jaw clenched. Clearly he hadn’t expected Dane’s response.
“Just tell me why?” Stella demanded. “Why would you do this? Why even give me hope when you planned on selling?”
Ruiz focused his attention back to his daughter and Dane took a step toward her. She stood there not caring about her precarious state of dress as she fought for her future...a future he had stolen from her.
Seeing her pain firsthand was sure as hell nothing he’d planned on. He’d thought he’d be gone before the ramifications of his actions kicked in...and back when he’d made the plan, he honestly hadn’t cared enough to even consider how someone else might feel at that moment in time.
Her pain, her obvious anger, couldn’t deter him. He still had a goal, he still had to get his mother’s resort back where it belonged, and once he had that...well, then he could deal with Stella without her father prying into their business.
Because now Stella was his business. He didn’t want her hurt, so all he could do at this point was try to make things less crushing. He had no idea how, but he’d damn well figure out something for her because unlike her bastard father, Dane actually cared about Stella’s future.
“What was the offer?” Stella asked.
More than you have, sweetheart.
Yet Mirage was all he’d ever wanted. Money was just paper, not what kept him driven. Revenge and justice kept him pushing forward each and every day of his life.
“The offer was well over what I paid for this resort, so the profit will be a nice chunk in my pocket,” Ruiz replied with a smug smile. “I’m sure we can find something else for you to do.”
“I don’t want anything else,” Stella growled. “You know this is what I wanted. I love the story behind it, I love the setting, the idea. I love every aspect. Do you even know that kind of passion?”
Ruiz narrowed his gaze at his daughter. “Don’t preach to me about passion. It’s my passion that gave you any opportunity you ever had. Money is the greatest passion of all.”
“That’s sad if that’s truly how you feel,” Stella told him.
Dane pressed a hand to the small of her back. Of course Ruiz would hang his black heart on his finances. He probably slept with a bag of money as a security blanket.
“I never cared about money growing up,” Stella cried. “I wanted you there. I’d lost my mother and I never really had a father.”
“You had opportunities most kids dream of,” Ruiz spat back. “So maybe you should be thanking me instead of whining. Without me, you would’ve been in the foster system and then what would’ve happened?”
Stella gasped. “Foster care? What are you talking about?”
Ruiz sneered and dread curled through Dane.
“Your mother had an affair. I’m not your father.”
* * *
Stella reached out for something stationary to hold on to, to help her remain standing. But her knees shook, buckled, and only Dane’s strong, familiar arms wrapping around her kept her from collapsing.
She leaned back against him as she stared at her father.
No. Not her father. A man who wanted accolades for his half-hearted efforts in keeping her out of the system.
“You’re lying,” she accused, not really knowing what else to say. Dane’s strength kept her up, but she held on to his forearm for fear he’d let her go.
“I’m not,” her father said. “She cheated on me and her lover was your father.”
How could he just now be dropping this bomb on her? Why after all of these years did he want to purposely continue hurting her?
“I want his name.” She straightened her shoulders and stood straight up, but didn’t let go of Dane. “I want to know who my real father is.”