AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I smile and pour another coffee, plucking out some blueberries from the container that sits on my pristine marble kitchen island. “Are you sure?”
“I’ll pay you, so don’t worry about that.”
Jesus fucking Christ. This woman.
It’s going to be a hard lesson she’ll be learning, but one she needs. After all, no one can go through life being as nice and sweet as her without expecting to be burned. And she’s going to get burned.
“If you’re sure,” I say.
“Yes, now say hi to your gran.”
“That I will. That I will.”
And I hang up and down my coffee, following it with the blueberries.
I’ll make more than sure to say hello to the winning gran candidate.
Wednesday and Thursday I’m still interviewing, but after work—work, I’m fucking calling it work now—I hurry away from sweet Zoey. They’re almost finished with the work on her street I sanctioned, but I quietly pay extra for them to work in shifts to have it done.
It’s because it’s giving me a fucking headache and not because I can’t stand the look on Zoey’s face, the toll it’s having on her. No, it’s got nothing to do with that.
I’m running out of time and I don’t need my brothers to tell me that when we have a late meeting Thursday. They’re worried about the flagship company, and to be fair, I am too.
We don’t trust whatever the fuck our dead father is up to.
“It’s worth a shit ton of money. And reputation.” Kingston stretches out in my living room, a whiskey in one hand as he scrolls through his phone. No doubt he’s got an eye on some new investments. I know how he is when that happens.
“I care about the heritage.” For all his lazy air, Ryder, who’s pouring a drink, dressed in his East Village vibe outfit, along with his reputation as a lady’s man, works hard. And he loves the original company.
He looks around.
“And the money.”
“We all have enough.” Hudson is sending a text and it’ll be to Scarlett. No one will color me surprised if they announce a baby’s imminent arrival in the next year.
“It’s not about that, Hud,” I say. “It’s about principle. We’re being fucked with, manipulated from beyond the grave, and it’s annoying.”
“And we don’t know what’s going to change next.”
“Because,” I say, nodding at Ry’s words, “that’s what he’s done so far. And he had some game plan in mind with these fucking jewels.”
“We stick together and we keep the company, and we take our share.” Kingston looks up. “At least, that’s my plan. These jewels are worth a lot in reputation alone. So we just do the bullshit—”
“The bullshit is getting in the way of my project.”
King lifts a brow. “Or is that the girl?”
“I’m handling that. And I’m handling the heart crap.”
And I really am. So many things set to go.
“We’ll be calling you Mr. Bleeding Heart.” Ryder chuckles into his drink.
A low smile hits Hudson’s face. “Or Mr. Philanthropy.”
“Hey, this is for you, jerks. I’m good as I am.” Which is mostly true. I want the heritage to stay our heritage and not somehow fall completely into public hands. I’ve seen too many highly regarded businesses dragged down that way. Still…
“What’s your next move?”
