“Real mature.”
I returned everything to the folder and tossed it back onto the desk. “It’s fine.”
“You can keep them.” She held up her hand, not interested in the paperwork that was full of my licks. “I’ll just print another copy.”
I propped my cheek against my knuckles, staring at her, both annoyed and relaxed in her presence.
She stared at me for a while. “She didn’t take the deal.”
“I know.”
“How?”
“Because if she had, that would have been the first thing out of your mouth.”
Slowly, a look of pity came over her face. “She’s purposely useless so she doesn’t have to work, and she continues to collect her paycheck like she’s employee of the month.” She didn’t directly accuse me of anything, but the resentment was there, deep under the skin, hidden in her gaze.
“I’m sorry, Renee.”
“I don’t blame you—”
“Yes, you do.”
She sighed quietly, her shoulders lifting with the breath she took.
“And you have every right to.” I hadn’t taken my father’s advice when I’d married her. I was an arrogant dumbass who risked the company that had been in my family for two generations. I gave my marriage everything, not realizing I was giving my family nothing. I shouldn’t be sitting in this chair at this point. Didn’t fucking deserve it.
“We’ll figure something out…eventually.”
I didn’t have any options. I’d tried to buy her out many times, but there was never any price high enough—not when she could get a fat check every month for the rest of her life. “What’s new with you?” I didn’t want to talk about her anymore. I didn’t want to spend any of my precious time thinking of my gravest mistake.
“William and I went to dinner last night.”
“Sounds like it’s getting serious.”
She shrugged. “Might be.” Renee was beautiful, looking so much like my mother, it seemed as if she were still here even though she’d been sleeping in her grave for years. She was also smart, talented, and funny…so she could have any guy she wanted. But there never seemed to be a serious man in her life for whatever reason.
Maybe my horrific marriage scared the fucking shit out of her.
It would scare anyone. “Should I meet this guy?”
She released a quiet laugh. “So, you can run him off?”
“I wouldn’t do that.”
She turned back to me, one eyebrow raised.
“I wouldn’t,” I repeated.
“Uh-huh…”
“If I liked him, I wouldn’t.”
“And I doubt you’ll ever like anyone.”
“You’re the pickiest woman I know, so I trust your quality-assurance program.”
She rolled her eyes, but there was a smile on her lips. “Let me think about it.”
“First of all, do you like him? Because that’s the most important thing here.”
“Yes.”
“Like, really like him?”
“I don’t usually let myself like anyone until they pass all the tests.”
“Has he?”
She nodded.
I started to count on my fingers. “Honest?”
She nodded.
“Kind?” I held up a second finger.
“Yep.”
“Got a job?”
She rolled her eyes. “You think I’m gonna date a guy without a job?”
“Just going through the motions here. Does he like sports?”
“Why does that matter?”
“Want to make sure we have something in common.”
“So, you have to have something in common with my boyfriend to like him?”
“It would certainly help. Does he play basketball?”
“Uh, I’m not sure.”
“Golf?”
“I’m pretty sure he golfs.”
“Good.”
She shook her head slightly. “Now I want you to meet him even less.”
“Well, I’m gonna meet the guy eventually, so there’s no avoiding it.”
“But you can try to be cool about it.”
“Mom and Dad aren’t around anymore, so it’s my job not to be cool about it.”
She thought I was joking and got to her feet. “I have to get back to my desk. See you later.”
I didn’t want to give the guy a hard time, but I didn’t want my sister to make the same mistakes I did. I didn’t want her to be not only heartbroken, but humiliated, ashamed. I carried that every single day, and it was worse when I had to look her in the eye—the eyes of the fucking devil.
After work, I met Clint at the bar. I was in my suit, as was he.
He sat at the table alone, tucked in the corner because it was the table always given to him when he came in to spend money. He was already drinking when I walked in. “You look like shit. Did you see that cunt today?”
“Not in the flesh.” All I did was raise my hand, and the waitress brought my regular drink—a scotch, neat. I grabbed the glass and took a drink, wiping my lip with my thumb when a drop missed my mouth. “But I can feel her presence in the building—because it’s five thousand degrees.”
He chuckled. “Her horns poke through the ceiling, too?”
“Wouldn’t be surprised. What’s up with you?”
He shrugged. “Made some money. Lost some money. You know how it goes.”
“No. I tend not to lose money.”
“You lost quite a bit when your divorce went public.”
I gave him a cold glare.
“Alright, that was low.”
I drank from my scotch.
“So, how’s it going with that sassy reporter?”
I sighed as I looked into my glass then dragged my hand down my face, feeling the guilt, the anger, all the self-loathing.
“Damn…sorry I asked.”
“Everything with her is fine.” I straightened and dropped my hand to the table. “I’m really into her.”
“Then what’s with the bad mood?”
“Because…” I stared into my scotch, seeing the dark liquid staring back at me. “I keep lying to her.”
“Come on, you have to protect yourself. The second a woman knows who you are, it changes everything. It’s not fair to you.”
“I know. But she was at my fake apartment last night and left her phone behind. When she went back to get it, I wasn’t there. I had to tell my driver to turn around and haul ass to get back there. Then I lied about helping a friend…at eleven at night.”
“But you would help a friend at that time of night.”
“That’s not the point. I’m not sure if she was suspicious or not, but it just felt…dirty.”
“Then tell her.”
I didn’t want to do that either. Since I actually liked her, I was afraid it would change everything.
“How upset can she really be?” he asked incredulously. “When she finds out you’re a billionaire, she’ll probably be excited. She won’t have to sleep in a shitty apartment. She’ll come to your penthouse and check out that view. Party with us on the yacht. You know, live life in the fast lane. Trust me, she’s not going to give a damn that you lied.”