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I need to deal with this Zoey Smith situation first, and then I’ll deal with the inheritance bullshit.
Proving I have heart. What a crock.
Still…it’s not a hard one.
Showing heart should be easy enough to fake.
Maybe I’ll kill the two birds with one perfect stone.
“Strippers?”
I glare at my grinning brother, Ryder, as he leans back in his chair in the upscale lounge deep in TiBeCa. This is totally his vibe; hot women abound. And with the photographers outside, I’m sure there’s someone stupidly famous here tonight. We’re just loaded.
But places like this make him happy and as long as there’s booze and company I actually like being around, I don’t mind it. Personally, I’d rather spend the night working, but I’m waiting on the call that my problem has taken the offer, so… here I am.
Hudson is there with his new wife, looking happier than I’ve ever seen him. They did a rush job marriage because she didn’t want some big affair and neither did he. Let our mother get her hands on something like a wedding and we’re talking months of prep and full-blown headaches.
But the Sinclair ring is on Scarlett’s finger. He’s all smiles and they’re in the fairy tale stage, the one I’ve seen friends go through—our father go through—until the shine wears off and everyone wants to get out of the marriage contract and constraints.
Except… they don’t have that look. They look blissed out. It’s sort of disgusting. I shoot Ryder a look. “No strippers, what’s wrong with you?”
“I’m thinking of you.”
“It’s tacky.”
“I’m just a philanthropist. I’m into supporting different industries. Especially female centric ones.”
I hide my smile as I take a swallow of my tequila. “You’re thinking of yourself and your dick, Ry.”
“My dick is very important. It has needs. Women love it and I love to give, as you know. But I’m talking strippers, not hookers. My dick’s not involved.”
“Fuck, you have issues.”
“I’m supporting female industry,” he says, taking a swallow of his drink and crossing his legs. “I like to watch. And I thought you might like to see a show.”
I raise a brow. “Do I look like I enjoy that kind of thing?”
“Yes. Unless you changed teams when I wasn’t looking. There are some all male shows. I’m willing to indulge your—”
“Idiot.”
A hot blonde makes eyes at Ryder and he doesn’t move, only smiles and she starts slinking over. I’m pretty fucking sure he’ll be getting his own private strip show shortly.
A hand comes down on my shoulder. “I hear you caved.”
I flick a glance up at my other brother, Kingston, who’s just arrived. He’s in a three piece suit, so whatever events went on in his business life today probably involved something important.
“Not caved, but the family business is on the table.”
Kingston sips his Scotch and takes a seat next to me. “Our father was always a manipulative bastard. We should just sell it.”
“And crush Ryder’s dreams of getting his hands on a piece of family history? No, I can do this. It’ll be easy. All I have to do is show I have heart. I’ll set up some charities, maybe swoop in and save some struggling company. I have it under control.”
I look at King. “You want to sell?”
“The family business is our heritage, but it’s a money maker, so not particularly. I just don’t like manipulation.”
“Me either. But this is nothing at all.”
