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“We have a younger brother, who lives in Texas. He’s also completely removed from the family business. He’s a civil engineer which is a blessing. Gabe manages to be a pain in my ass enough as it is.” He pulls me to him, hands shackling my waist. “Forget Gabe. What were you thinking when I just joined you?”
“I don’t think I’ll share that,” I say, my hand settling on his chest.
“Why?”
“It’s my own personal baggage. It’s not for you, Reid.”
“What if I want it to be?”
“But you don’t. You just think you do because we’re in the moment. Tomorrow changes everything.”
“We had this discussion. Tomorrow changes nothing. What were you thinking?”
“I love your view, Reid,” I say.
He narrows his eyes at me. “And you’re comparing my view to yours?”
“Yes,” not sure how he reads me this easily but maybe that’s part of how he’s made so much money, and he’s under forty. He’s a good poker player. He reads people.
“I have years on you, baby. You know that, right?”
“Yes. I do. I know.”
His hand goes to my face and he tilts my gaze to his. “You don’t have to sell your apartment. You aren’t going to lose your job. We’re going to make a lot of money together.”
“I really hate that you had me investigated.”
“It was before we were personal. You know that, too.”
“That doesn’t mean I like it.”
“You aren’t selling your apartment.”
“I am, and I’ll buy another later,” I say, “more like this one.”
“I’ll make your apartment part of the deal when they sign you as CEO. We’ll pay it off.”
“No,” I say immediately. “No, I’m not some sort of kept woman, Reid. I will earn what I get.”
“Kept woman? The board will award it to you and you take every perk you can get. You think that you won’t be earning it?”
“I think you’ll earn it. I think you’ll make it happen. You thought I betrayed you tonight for a reason.”
“What does that mean, Carrie?”
“You know what it means. I had the chance to sweep control and I didn’t take it, but you would have and that’s why you have this apartment and I’m selling mine.”
“You’re seeing this with the wrong eyes.”
“Exactly,” I say. “If you were me, would you have taken it?”
His expression hardens. “Not with you.”
“But with someone else?”
“Not with you.”
The doorbell rings. “That’s our food.” He kisses me. “We’re doing this together for a reason. I can’t do it without you. I’ll teach you how to swim with the sharks and win. And no, you don’t have to be as brutal as I am.”
