Page 2 of The Rebel Billionaire

"So do you," I said in a short burst of sound. He did. He worked every day. He was here first and was the last to leave. Except when I was here late. Orearly.

He might have a point about me working too much, but I was no worse than Aiden and heknewit.

"But I love my job," Aiden said, his tone so gentle I had to fight back tears. "I love this company. I always have. And youdon't."

"You can't fire me for not liking my job!" I shouted. "No one likes their job. That's why it's a job and not a hobby. This isridiculous!"

I felt myself losing control, my fury and terror spiraling up and spewing out of my mouth. "You can't fire me because I don't love my job. I'm an exemplaryemployee—"

"You are," Aiden interrupted. "You're an excellent Vice President. If you weren't my sister, I'd be giving you araise."

That little bit of complete illogic pushed me over the edge. I kicked my chair, sending it rolling to crash into Aiden's huge walnut desk. He didn't flinch. I pointed at him, stabbing my finger into the air to punctuatemyrage.

"This is completely sexist. You're doing this because you want me to get married and start having babies likeMaggie."

"That's absurd," Aiden said with a wince. "I do NOT want you to get married. Jesus. Not until you get better taste in men. And I'd rather not think about my baby sister having babies ofherown."

"You wouldn't be doing this if I were a man," I said, sullen, my arms crossed over mychest.

"Charlie, how many senior executives do we have who arefemale?"

"Seven," I said, knowing the point he was goingtomake.

"Exactly. Just under half. And how many of those havefamilies?"

"Five. So why me? Why are youfiringme?"

I bit my lip to shut down the plaintive whine in my voice. I knew Aiden wasn't sexist. I was grasping at straws. I knew it wasn't my performance. I was good at my job, even if I didn't like it. If it wasn't sexism,thenwhat?

Why was he doing this to me? Didn't Aiden understand that my job was allIhad?

"It isn't about your gender, Charlie," Aiden said in that same gentle tone. "I'd do the same if you were Holden or Tate. EvenJacob."

"But not Gage?" I asked, half sarcastic and half trying to figure out what the hell was going through Aiden's oversizedbrain.

"Not Gage. Gage loves the company," Aiden said, his tone almostwistful.

"Then why isn't he here?" I said in exasperation, feeling my temper slipping its leashagain.

"I never should have let you come on board, sweetheart. But you were so determined and I wasselfish."

I sat in my chair abruptly, my anger down to a simmer. "Aiden, you're never selfish." He wasn't. Aiden was about two things—his family and the company. He'd open a vein for any one of us in asecond.

"I was," he insisted. "I never pressured any of the others to join the company. I knew Holden and Tate would find their futures elsewhere. And Jacob loves business, but he needed to run his own shop. With Vance and Annalise, it was clear they had no interest in a nine-to-five job. I was right with all of them.Exceptyou."

"Aiden," I protested, "You’ve always supported me. That's why I don't get this. You don't have to fire me. We can work something out. I'llcutback."

"I supported you, but I didn't look out for you. I was selfish. I always thought Gage would come home and we'd do this together. But he's doing what he needs to. I understand that. When you wanted to come on board, I should have toldyouno."

"But why?" I begged. "Don't try to tell me I haven't done agoodjob."

"I can't. You're bright and you have a head for business. No one works harder. But your heart isn'tinit."

I shoved to my feet. "I'm not the only one here who isn't in love with WintersIncorporated."

"No, Charlie. But you're the only one who's my sister. I love you. And you're not happy. I can't be a part of thatanymore."

"You don't get to choose thatforme."