“What do you mean, agenda?”
“Julian was only marrying me so he could gain control of Ingram Media. He told me tonight that someone is buying up stocks and my dad is in serious danger of losing the company. All of it—the newspaper, the magazines, even the cable network. I guess Julian promised to give him the cash he needs to regain control.” Allie sat up, wincing at the pain in her ribs. The sudden movement made her head swim, but it didn’t stop the pieces of the puzzle from falling into place. “It all makes sense now.”
Confusion creased Hudson’s brow. “What does?”
“My dad’s plan for an early retirement. It was so sudden. One minute he’s working eighty hours a week, and the next he’s saying he wants to scale back, work on his golf game like the other board members. Whoever is behind this takeover must be getting close.”
“What makes you say that?”
“This whole rush to the altar. My guess is Julian was holding onto the cash until after the wedding. Moving up the date didn’t have anything to do with a cancelation at the Drake. It was all about saving the company. I didn’t think anything of it at first since everything about our relationship had moved quickly. It was a whirlwind romance from the moment my dad introduced . . .”
“Oh my God . . .” Allie choked on a strangled sob. “It was a setup from the beginning. I was just another asset for them to leverage. A way to keep the company in the family.” Shame burned in the pit of her stomach. “How could I have been so stupid? The three of them have been playing me like a fool this whole time.”
Tears streamed down her face and Hudson reached for her, pulling her back into his arms. “Shh, I’ve got you.”
Allie curled into him as the emotions of the day came crashing down around her. Hudson held her tight as she sobbed quietly against his chest. Sometime just before dawn, when there were no more tears to cry, she finally drifted to sleep in his arms.
Chapter Thirty-nine
Allie’s eyes fluttered open, one more than the other, and she winced. She didn’t need a mirror to tell her how bad the swelling was. Her half-open eyelid told her all she needed to know. She blinked and the face across from hers came into focus. Hmm, talk about a sight for sore eyes. Literally. She could definitely get used to waking up to Hudson’s beautiful face on the pillow next to her. Of course the mornings she woke to him between her thighs weren’t too bad either.
“Good morning.”
She gave him a sleepy smile. “Good morning. How long have you been awake?”
“Not long.” Hudson scrubbed a hand over the rough stubble that grew in overnight. “How do you feel?”
Allie took stock of her injuries. Her eye was obviously more swollen but her head seemed to have improved. She touched the bandage covering the right side of her forehead. What had been a pounding throb was now a dull ache. She moved slowly, testing her limbs. Arms and legs seemed okay. “I still have a bit of a headache, but other than that I feel pretty good, considering.” She rolled to her side and sucked in a sharp breath.
“Ribs?”
She nodded. “Just a little stiff.” The pain subsided quickly and she gave him a reassuring smile. It wasn’t merely for his benefit. Despite everything that had transpired, she felt oddly at peace after her night in Hudson’s arms. “Thank you for taking such good care of me last night.”
“My pleasure.” He lifted his hand, brushing her cheek with his knuckles. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Allie. Though I do wish you’d have let me take you to the hospital. You really should have an X-ray.”
“Honestly, it feels much better today.” Allie tried to remain impassive as his fingers touched her, probing gently.
“They could be cracked. Or broken.”
“Or just bruised,” she countered.
He scowled, clearly unconvinced.
“I promise, if it’s still hurting tonight, I’ll go to the ER.” Allie shifted closer and Hudson wrapped an arm around her, his fingers brushing rhythmically down her back. She let out a small sigh. Nearly everything about her life had been turned upside down, but in that moment she was perfectly content to ignore the rest of the world and concentrate on the one thing that was absolutely perfect. Selfishly, she wondered how much time she had until the alarm clock would burst her happy bubble. “What time is it?”
Hudson glanced over his shoulder at the clock. “Eight.”
“Oh, shit! I need to get ready for work.” Allie bolted upright in bed. Whoa! Her brain lagged behind, slamming into the front of her skull upon arrival.
“Absolutely not.” Hudson gripped Allie’s shoulders, gently pulling her back down on the bed. “You’re badly bruised and you need your rest.”
It wasn’t a request, and she could tell by the tone of his voice there was no sense in arguing. Badly bruised? Allie gingerly touched the tender skin around her eye. “How bad does it look?”
Hudson’s brow creased.
“That bad, huh?” Her heart sank. After all these years she and Hudson were finally together and she looked like she’d gone eight rounds in a boxing ring.
His expression softened as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You look beautiful, Allie. I just thought you’d rather not have to explain.”
“Mmm, good point.” The last the last thing she wanted was to answer questions about the bruises on her face. The more people who knew about Julian’s attack, the more likely it would make the news. Her father would undoubtedly block Ingram subsidiaries from covering the story, but his influence only extended so far. Plenty of rags and websites would be thrilled to run with the story of a battered heiress. Her privacy had to come first, which was why she’d opted not to file a police report. There was no doubt Julian deserved to go to jail, but calling the police would have alerted the media as well. And while the image of Julian in an orange jumpsuit bitching about the lack of caviar and French champagne was tempting, it wasn’t worth being dragged through the tabloid mud.
She knew none of her coworkers would tip off the press. Most of them were her friends, and the rest were far too afraid of the wrath of Victoria Sinclair to risk it. But she also knew if she showed her face at the office, it would only be a matter of time before word of her condition reached her mother. She wasn’t ready for that confrontation just yet. Eventually she would tell her parents what that monster had done to her. The monster they’d unleashed. But for now she had no desire to leave Hudson’s arms, let alone his penthouse.
Allie’s eyes drifted shut.
“Is the pain worse?” Hudson asked, his concern evident.
She opened her eyes to find him staring at her intently. “No.” She placed her hand on the side of his face and smiled. “It’s much better, actually.”
For the first time in her life, Allie was exactly where she wanted to be.
“So a day in bed, huh? Is that your professional opinion, Dr. Chase?” Her fingers stroked across his bare shoulder and down his bicep.
“If you’re head’s still hurting, you probably have a concussion. So yes, your day will be spent in bed.”
“Sounds perfect.” Allie’s fingers trailed down his stomach before disappearing under the sheet. “Perhaps you’d like to do a more thorough examination?”
Hudson caught her wrist. “Resting in bed, Alessandra.”
Uh-oh, the full name. “Where are you going?” she asked as he slid out of bed.
He leaned down, dropping a quick kiss on her mouth. “To take a shower.”