She had a sudden hankering to return to Melbourne tomorrow and confront Hudson.
CHAPTER
46
Hudson had always been upfront in his personal and professional dealings because he never wanted to be like his father, who’d snuck around for years, hiding his gambling from those closest to him.
Which meant while he wanted to warn Karly face to face about what was ahead of her if she went through with buying the agency, he needed to tell Jem sooner rather than later. Jem had been nothing but nice since they’d started negotiations and he wanted to give him a heads up. The owner had taken the news with resignation but had wanted to break it to Karly, thinking it’d be better coming from him.
The old man had been surprisingly stoic before confessing he was glad Karly wouldn’t be buying the agency as he wanted her to have a chance to explore life beyond Acacia Haven. They’d had a good chat, and when Hudson had admitted to wanting to see Karly in person to clear the air, Jem had wholeheartedly agreed. If he didn’t know any better, he would think the old guy was trying to push them together to facilitate a romance.
Something he’d envisaged, especially when she’d woken next to him sated and smiling that morning, but after her revelation … he still couldn’t believe she’d cosied up to him before telling him the truth, especially after he’d broken down and revealed so much of himself to her after seeing his dad. It wouldn’t have been easy to hear it yesterday either, but he would’ve respected her being upfront a hell of a lot more.
But that’s not why he wanted to see her tonight. He knew how much she wanted to own the agency. Hell, she’d fought him every step of the way and had withheld the truth about wanting an extension so she could obtain it. And while she may have hurt him because he’d been dumb enough to develop feelings for her, he understood that kind of ambition and he wanted to give her a new option to consider. One he hoped would go some way to smoothing their relationship.
Not that they had a relationship per se, but the industry was small, and if she accepted his offer … odds were their paths would cross. And with Karly working in Melbourne, who knew what could develop once they both got past their feelings of betrayal?
He’d present it to her in clear-cut business terms to ascertain her interest in a buy-in. If she’d been willing to go into debt for the local agency, why wouldn’t she jump at a chance to be part owner in an up-and-coming agency in Melbourne?
Jem had warned him she wouldn’t be an easy sell, and he knew firsthand how stubborn she could be. They’d butted heads from the start, and he wondered if that was part of the attraction. He was used to people deferring to him. With wealth came power and many recognised that. Not Karly. Her fiery determination had intrigued him, her staunch independence a major turn-on. Though he had a feeling he’d have zero influence when it came to convincing her how lucrative his new offer could be.
After knocking on her front door, he waited. He’d considered sending her a text before leaving Melbourne to warn her of his impending arrival, but being forewarned would’ve ensured she’d be out. He was the last person she’d want to see.
When she opened the door, he struggled to hide his surprise. Considering Jem had told him how upset she’d been, Hudson had expected her to look more dishevelled. Instead, she wore a killer black dress that hugged her curves, ended just above her knees and dipped into her cleavage in a deep V, her silky hair was blow-dried to sleek perfection, her lips crimson-slicked, her eyes smoky and currently focussed on him with distaste.
‘What are you doing here? Come to gloat?’
‘Not my style. Can I come in?’
‘No. I’m on my way out.’
‘I can see that.’ His appreciative gaze swept over her. ‘Heading out with the girls?’
‘No.’
That’s when it struck him. She was dressed to impress and that meant a date; the realisation was like a kick in the guts.
‘Hot date?’
‘Not that it’s any of your business, but something like that.’
Lucky bastard. Hudson didn’t condone jealousy: a wasted emotion for those not satisfied with their own lives. But in that moment, he wanted to throttle the faceless guy. ‘Then I won’t take up too much of your time. I have a business proposition for you.’
‘Let me guess. Now that you’re opening an agency that will ultimately lead to the closure of mine, you want to tear the building down and get me to cart the bricks away.’ She scowled, and with her narrow eyes and thinly compressed lips, she still looked magnificent.
Her sass made him want to smile but he clamped down on the urge. ‘I wanted to tell you about the Inverloch agency expansion myself, but I owed it to your grandfather to let him know first and he wanted to break the news himself.’
‘How magnanimous of you.’ Her glare flashed fire and even after all that had happened between them, he admired her defiance. ‘So if you couldn’t get your hands on the agency, you’d rather run it into the ground?’
‘I didn’t have to warn you about any of this.’ He understood her anger but he wished she’d have more faith in him. ‘But I know how much the agency means to you and I didn’t want you investing in it only to discover the expansion news too late. And I also didn’t want your grandfather losing his equity in it if the place went under.’
Understanding lit her eyes, combined with a grudging respect. ‘The money from the sale is his retirement nest egg.’
‘Exactly.’ He held his hands out, palms up. ‘Look, I’m not the bad guy you think I am. This is the best outcome for everyone.’
‘Except me.’ Her lips compressed into a thin line. ‘I’m out of a job.’
He knew better than to offer her one again. Besides, he had a better alternative. ‘Actually, that’s why I drove out here too. There’s a buy-in opportunity at a great agency in Melbourne. It’s a reputable family-run business, the father’s retiring and the daughter’s looking for a partner. I know them personally and they’re good people, so I thought you might be interested.’