Even then, Saffi could not make herself ask for her family’s help. They had given it. She had been thankful for it. But she had not asked for it because she wanted to be strong, wanted to find a way to make them proud on her own.
But this time, she had no pride left.
When she got to Steel’s office, it was clear he was already waiting for her. He had a phone to his ear, and she had a feeling it was one of his security men, reporting to him about what had just happened. She wouldn’t put it past Steel. He had always felt a special need to protect her ever since that awful night.
At the sight of her, Steel ended the call. “Out.” He did not take his gaze away as he spoke the word and the group of harried-looking executives seated around the conference table hastened to do his bidding.
When the door closed behind the last executive to leave, Steel said quietly, “Come here, baby girl.”
Saffi rushed to him, and she was already crying by the time his arms closed around her. “I’m sorry,” she sobbed. “I’m so sorry for being weak.”
“You’re the strongest person I know, baby. You just have a different way of showing it.” Steel hugged his sister as tightly as he could, wishing there was a f**king way for him to absorb her pain. Everything that happened to her since that goddamn night during her high school graduation was his fault, and Steel knew he would feel that way his entire life.
“I issued a check---”
“Sssh. It’s okay, I know. It will be good.”
“I can’t lose him to her, Steel. I love him too much.”
The words pained Steel to hear. He couldn’t see how a gentle sweet soul like his sister could want such an ass**le. He pulled away, needing to look into Saffi’s eyes as he urged her harshly, “Divorce him, Saffi. I was wrong. I was goddamn wrong to force you to marry him.” He started to say more when he saw a red light flickering from his desk, indicating a security matter.
“Saffi?”
Something in Steel’s voice made her look up in fear. “What is it?”
“Your husband is coming up.” The curtly spoken words had barely left Steel’s mouth before his doors flew open and Staffan came stalking in, past Steel’s hapless-looking secretary. Steel nodded a dismissal before turning to his brother-in-law. Steel had never felt strongly enough about anyone outside his family, but this man was fast proving to be an exception. He despised Staffan Aehrenthal to the point of becoming unreasonable, and his tenuous grip on his temper was quickly eroding with every instance he saw his baby sister being hurt.
Staffan’s fists clenched at the way Steel had his arm protectively around Saffi’s slim shoulders. It didn’t f**king matter that he was Saffi’s brother. He was a f**king man and in the mood he was in, he did not any other man touching Saffi.
“What’s this? A touching family reunion and I wasn’t called to be a part of it?”
Saffi jerked at the jeering note in Staffan’s voice, but she still couldn’t make herself look at him.
Steel’s temper rose when he felt his sister’s body jump at Staffan’s tone. He said between clenched teeth, “You are five seconds away from being dragged out of here by security.”
Staffan laughed. “Pretty boy like you can’t handle me on your f**king own, is that it?”
Steel tensed.
Knowing that at any moment the two could get into a fistfight, Saffi made herself look at Staffan. A silent cry of alarm went through her. Staffan looked furious and had sounded like it, which had terrified Saffi. If he had found out about Chloe and was going to take her to task for it, she knew she would never survive the pain.
But it wasn’t that.
Beyond the fury, there was a lost, wild look in Staffan’s eyes, as if his back had been forced against a wall and he didn’t know where else to turn.
“What’s wrong?” she whispered.
Staffan’s virulent look made her flinch. “You tell me, Saffi,” he snarled. “What the f**k are you doing here?”
Steel answered for her. “She’s here because she’s leaving you---”
“Over my dead body,” Staffan growled, starting for Steel.
“No!” Saffi managed to move in front of Steel before Staffan could reach her brother.
Steel smiled icily. “That can easily be arranged.”
Staffan said grimly, “I’ll kill you first.”
Saffi tried pushing Staffan away but he wouldn’t budge, didn’t even move an inch. “Staffan!” When he didn’t look at her, she changed tactics and looked up at Steel instead. “Please, Steel, don’t make this worse.”
“The only way this is not going to end with one of us killing the other is if you tell me why you’re here,” Staffan said coldly behind her.
She froze at his words, even as her heartbeat escalated into a panicky rhythm. Oh my God, could he know? Did he know?
At her silence, Staffan asked bitterly, “Are you trying to think of another lie, Saffi?”
She whirled around at those words, aghast at what he was thinking, at how betrayed Staffan sounded. “No!” Her voice broke as she repeated fiercely, “No!”
The look in Staffan’s face made her cry. “I’m not lying, Staffan. Please believe me.”
“Saffi.” Steel was warning her, protecting her.
She loved him for it, knew he had a reason of warning her against telling Staffan the truth but the look in Staffan’s beautiful eyes was unbearable. He hurt and because of that, she hurt too, badly. “I saw Chloe this afternoon,” she whispered.
Staffan jerked.
She quickly looked down, not wanting to see the look in Staffan’s eyes as she confessed the truth. “I gave her a check for a million dollars,” she admitted haltingly. “I wanted her to go – to never bother you again.”
Saffi’s head suddenly jerked up. “I won’t give you up to her. I know you hate my guts now – but Staffan, she doesn’t deserve you. You’re too good for her.” Saffi took deep gulps of air, trying to find a way to make it easier to breathe through the pain was choking her from the inside. “If you’re going to forgive – then forgive me instead. Forgive me and I promise I won’t ever hurt you again. I’ll always love you.” She looked at him with eyes that shamelessly begged. “Forgive me instead, Staffan.”