Misfortune Cookie Read Free Page A

“Remember, the only thing money is really good for is to buy you time to pursue the things you really want in life. And if you’re a good person, with values and integrity, you’ll find a way to make other people’s lives better. We all have to make sacrifices for the greater good.”
    “I admire your talent for making insane wealth sound noble.” I balled my fist and mock swung it. “You know, take one for the team.”
    High-pitched beeps sang from the monitors. His breathing labored, he grabbed my hand. “Promise me, child.” The outer door opened. Soon the room would be filled with medical staff. Then he did something shocking. He used the “P” word. “Please, Radiance.”
    Of course I agreed.
    I’d naively believed impending death had softened him a bit. Stupid me. He knew that day he was leaving me everything. I was too dumb to notice. Conceited in my belief that our falling out had removed me from the family legacy.
    The manipulative bastard also knew I wouldn’t go back on my word. I had honor. He considered it one of my many personality defects. At the moment, faced with an attorney and a stack of legal documents, so did I.
    I liked my quiet life away from the scheming family gene pool. The constant rivalry for Sebastian’s attention, the jockeying for important positions, I didn’t miss any of it. And I could never shake the feeling that Selene and I were never good enough, that we were somehow defective because my parents couldn’t be bothered to care for us. Aside from Selene and Grace, I’d be happy never to see any of them again or spend another moment in Ashworth Mansion.
    I sighed and took a seat. The chair, not surprisingly, was stiff and uncomfortable. Wooden spindles jabbed into my vertebrae from under the leather upholstery. Sebastian didn’t like anyone to forget he was superior. Or it could have been that he didn’t want anyone to overstay their welcome.
    “Ms. Ashworth?” the lawyer said, reminding me I wasn’t alone.
    I leaned forward and stuck out my hand. “I don’t believe I caught your name, sir.”
    “Please, call me Luca.”
    I couldn’t place the lyrical lilt in his voice. It wasn’t an English or Scottish accent. He took my hand in his. Energy surged through my fingers. Not electricity. More like a smooth river of calmness, assuring me that I was in the right place. Again, my body flushed, warm and hot.
    The handshake lingered. Through the blue lenses, his dark eyes held my gaze. I stared back at him, taking in his strong cheekbones and classically handsome features. Most striking was his sleek, black hair, the color of a midnight sky. Just enough wave so it curled slightly at the collar, the cut relaxed and flattering. My fingertips tingled at the thought of stroking those locks. Heat burned my cheeks, yet I couldn’t stop feasting on his beauty.
    I broke eye contact before I did something stupid like offer him my body on a platter. He sat silently, not commenting on my flushed face. Very civil, very polite. Yet the whole time, part of my brain wondered what he looked like naked. Was he as well-toned, as the tailored fit of his clothes suggested?
    If Selene had been in the room, she would have joked that I needed to get laid. And while it had been a while, I didn’t normally eye hump total strangers. Even if said stranger was gorgeous.
    He cleared his throat and shuffled papers around. “Let’s begin, shall we?”
    “Why?” I blurted, not ready to sign away my life yet. The idea of suddenly being a billionaire sent trickles of cold sweat down my spine. “Why did he leave all this to me? There’s more than enough to go around. Why not divide it up? I’m sure there would be plenty of takers. My family excels at greed.”
    I liked that idea. First thing I’d do – split the money.
    “No, the estate must remain intact.” Luca removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. Before he replaced them I caught a glimpse of their unusual color. Not quite gray, but not