Page 38 of Perfect Satisfaction

“No one has associated Brendan as a Moore. Hell, his Wikipedia page doesn’t include it and they make StellaNova look like amateurs.”

“And they even list Becks’s full name.”

“Beau Beckett Miller? I know. Took me forever to get over that one. That screams ‘my family hates me and burdened me with a treasured family name,’ or ‘I was born south of the Mason-Dixon Line.’” Dreaming, I wonder how long it will be before I can become someone other than Ursula Moore, the daughter who was eviscerated in the media when news of her father’s will was leaked.

Or Ursula Ronan. The wife whose husband used her for information before he let her go.

Either way, Ursula the fool.

“When will I get to just be Ursula?”

“You mean when do you get to start sounding like a bad cartoon character?”

I crack up before informing Angie, “I might have—might, mind you—a black gown I could start strutting around in.”

Angie screeches with laughter as she topples over onto Ward’s lap. He rights the phone so I’m not getting a bird’s eye view of his package before saying, “Hey, Sula.”

I wink at my “brother-in-law.” “Hey, Ward.”

“I will find a way to get even. I can’t believe you’re the one who came up with that moniker,” he grumbles, good-naturedly.

“Listen, my business blog is a side gig,” I begin.

“For the most part. You take too much enjoyment out of it,” he corrects.

“True,” I cede. Then I warm to my topic. “Just think, I could have christened you, ‘Wealthy Ward’ or ‘Windfall Ward’ or...”

He chuckles. “Don’t hold back, Sula. I get your point—you could have made it significantly worse.”

But I’m on a roll. “I’ve dealt with people at your level of wealth for years. There are exactly two things I knew about them before I met you.”

Curious, he asks, “What’s that?”

“Most of them are entitled assholes.”

Ward chokes on air. “And the second?

“They don’t look as good as you.”

That sets him roaring with laughter before asking, “What about your brothers?”

Thatwas my wedding gift to Angie—that she could share the final secret she’s been holding back from Ward. Once the “I Dos” were said, JB and Brendan agreed to Ward being let in on the family secrets. To say he was astonished was an understatement.

I feign a horrified expression. “Good god, Ward. They’re trolls. I don’t know why so many people chase after them.”

Angie’s laughter must be bouncing off the walls. His countenance softens. He mouths, “Thank you.”

I shake my head.The thanks belong to you, Ward. You were her knight in shining armor. You slayed her demons. I’m the one who keeps bringing them to light.

He hands the phone back to Angie once she’s recovered. She asks, “How’s JB?”

I choose my words carefully so I don’t let my anguish slip free. “Frustrated.”

Angie twirls a piece of her titan hair. “I think he was born that way.”

I snicker. “I’m going to tell him you said that.”Once I’m speaking with him again.

Her horrified expression causes my own laughter to bubble up. “Don’t you dare, Ursula Moore. Now tell me why he’s irritated at you now.”