Wildest Hearts

of Annie's office.

    As Ella had said, Annie was not alone. Five pairs of accusing eyes turned toward him. Sybil, Heather, Valerie, Richard, and Nathan all sat, stood, or lounged around Annie's desk. Annie was in her chair, dabbing at her tear-reddened eyes with a tissue.

    “What are you doing here, Oliver?” Sybil rose to her feet. Her face still showed the strain of having learned who and what Jonathan Grace really was.

    “I came to see my wife. Any objections?” Oliver surveyed the faces of the rest of his family.

    “If you're here to terrorize Annie, you might as well know we won't tolerate it,” Valerie said.

    “She's been through enough,” Heather agreed.

    “Heather's right.” Richard eyed Oliver. “We don't want you bullying Annie.”

    “You've already made her cry,” Nathan growled.

    “I'll be okay.” Annie sniffled into the tissue. “Oliver isn't going to bully me.”

    “Don't be too certain of that,” Sybil said. “You don't know him as well as we do. Oliver will do anything to get his own way, won't you, Oliver?”

    “If you don't mind,” Oliver said evenly, “I would like to talk to Annie alone.”

    Valerie frowned. “I don't think that's such a good idea.”

    Nathan straightened away from the wall. “Yeah. I don't think it's such a good idea, either.”

    Oliver looked at each of them in turn. “What do you think I'm going to do to her?”

    “Probably not what you should do,” Sybil said.

    Oliver's brows rose. “And just what is it you think I should do, Sybil?”

    “Beg,” Sybil said simply. She gave him an odd little smile. “For once in your life, Oliver Rain, it's time you learned how to ask very nicely for what you want. It's time you learned the virtues of humility.”

    “I wasn't aware there were any virtues in humility,” Oliver said.

    “Sybil's got a point,” Valerie said. “It's time you learned you can't have everything you want. Not unless you learn to ask politely.”

    “Stop it.” Annie waved the tissue about wildly. “Stop it, please, all of you. I appreciate what you're trying to do, but there's no need to attack Oliver.”

    “It's true,” Valerie charged. “Oliver is accustomed to taking what he wants. He always gets things his own way.”

    “That's not true.” Annie reached for another tissue and blew furiously into it. “Good heavens, Valerie, you can't possibly believe your brother has had everything he ever wanted in life. It's just the opposite.”

    “What are you talking about?” Heather asked, frowning.

    “Don't you understand?” Annie gulped on a sob. “Oliver never got anything he really wanted. He didn't even get the career he once dreamed of pursuing.”

    “Annie, you're being too soft on him,” Nathan said, looking uneasy.

    “Oh, for heaven's sake,” Annie mumbled into the damp tissue. “Don't you see? Oliver's always had to give up what he wanted in favor of what was best for the rest of you. He sacrificed everything for the sake of the family.”

    Valerie and the others looked at each other. Then they looked at Oliver.

    It dawned on Oliver that he had just gotten very lucky. His family's attack on him had caused Annie to spring to his defense. The balance of power had just shifted subtly in his direction. If he played his cards right, he wouldn't have to expose his vulnerability. Annie and the others would never know the extent of his weakness. He wouldn't have to beg.

    “I can see I'm not wanted around here,” Oliver said quietly. He looked at Annie. “Good-bye, Annie. Maybe we can talk some other time.”

    Her red eyes widened in dismay. “Oliver, wait.”

    Oliver didn't wait.

    “Annie, don't you dare run after him,” Sybil hissed.

    Oliver didn't glance back to see if Annie was indeed trying to follow. He strode quickly through the shop and let himself out the front door.

    Outside he took a deep breath. Victory was within his grasp. He could sense it. All he had to do was stay in control.

    Suitcase in hand, Annie got off the elevator on the penthouse floor shortly after six o'clock. She crossed the hall to lean on Oliver's doorbell.

    Bolt opened the door immediately. “Good evening, Mrs. Rain.”

    “Hi, Bolt. Is Oliver home?”

    “Yes.” His gaze went to her suitcase. “I realize this is none of my business, but I'm not certain this is a good idea.”

    “I know. Everyone thinks I shouldn't come back to Oliver so easily. The trouble is, the rest of you don't understand