Page 58 of The Rebel Billionaire

Charlie let out a high-pitched nervous laugh. Reaching out, she lay a hand on William Davis's arm and said, "No, Uncle William, Lucas is myneighbor."

"And your neighbor comes over for coffee before8a.m.?"

Ignoring his insinuation, Charlie looked at me and asked, "Why is it that everyone assumes they have the right to comment on mypersonallife?"

I shook my head. I wasn't stepping in the middle of this. William, incorrectly taking my silence for agreement, said, "Because you need lookingafter."

I didn't like the way his words echoed my own from the day before. Charlie did need looking after, but I knew in my gut that William Davis and I meant two completely different things when it came to looking afterCharlie.

Proving me right, he said, "This is just one more problem from you, Charlie. When are you going to give up this foolish rebellion and move home? Aiden needs a hostess. Since he can't manage to get himself married again, that has tobeyou."

"I don't want to be Aiden's hostess," Charlie said. "I don't want to move home. And besides that, I'm still mad atAiden."

"This is what I'm talking about. Aiden did the right thing in firing you from the company. He never should've hired you in the first place. I've been telling him since you were a teenager that a young woman like you has no place in business. I'm glad to see he's finallylistening."

I'd swear I could hear the low sound of Charlie's teeth grinding together as she stared at William Davis. While she struggled to formulate a respectful response to this man who was obviously important to her but clearly out of touch, I couldn't help poking at him alittlemore.

Gesturing with my empty mug, I said, "Coffee?"

William narrowed his cool brown eyes at me, raising one eyebrow in a perfect expression of privileged disdain before saying, "Why don't you go back home and let me talk to Charlie in private? You're notneededhere."

Charlotte's face flushed red. Before she could speak, I said with a casual shrug of one shoulder, "So . . . no coffee then? Charlie? Morecoffee?"

Not needing an answer—I knew damn well she needed more coffee—I plucked her mug from her hand and crossed the room torefillit.

"Uncle William," Charlie said evenly, "Lucas is my neighbor and my friend. There's nothing you can't say in front of him. And it's completely inappropriate for you to ask him to leave when we are inmyhouse. Just because you're upset doesn't mean you can forget yourmanners."

She finished with her chin up, looking down her nose at William even though he was taller than her. I kept my eyes on the coffeemaker, hiding my grin. On William Davis, privileged disdain was irritating. On Charlie, it wasadorable.

William let out a sigh. In a low voice, he said, "Charlie, surely, you know you can do betterthanthis."

William's eyes slid to me. It wasn't hard to read that he knew I'd heard and didn't care. I didn't care either. If anything, I needed this kind of in my face reminder that Charlie and I were worldsapart.

I thought about leaving. I didn't need to put up with this bullshit. But I didn't want either of them to think this douche-bag could run me off. I added a splash of half-and-half to Charlie's coffee the way she liked it and handed herthemug.

She took it, shooting me an apologetic look. I gave her a small shake of my head. It wasn't Charlie's fault this guy wasanass.

"Uncle William, I don't want to be rude, but if you say anything like that again, I'm going to ask you to leave." She took a deep breath, as if bolstering herself. Then she said, "Jacob is still upset with you after the things you said to him about Abigail. Please don't put me in thatposition."

William gave her a hard stare, not appreciating being put in his place by a woman he still considered a child. But even he couldn't argue with her logic. I wondered what he'd said to Jacob Winters aboutAbigail.

I could guess. Abigail had had a sterling reputation until she'd married Big John's son. William Davis probably hadn't considered her good enough for Jacob. It made me wonder exactly whowasgood enough for the Winters children. Did he have a crown prince lined up for Charlie? I wouldn't besurprised.

William huffed out an exasperated breath. "You always were a handful, Charlie. You and Annalise both. Will you at least go see your brother? It's not right to hold agrudge."

"I saw himyesterday."

"And did youapologize?"

"No." Charlotte's eyes narrowed dangerously, the blue of her eyes a dancing flame. "No, I did not apologize to Aiden for firing me, without cause, frommyjob."

"He was only doing what was best for you,Charlie."

William's placating words set my teeth on edge. Based on the tight muscles of her jaw, he was doing the same toCharlie.

"Newsflash, Uncle William. This is a whole new century where women are allowed to decide what's best for themselves instead of letting the men in the family figure everything outforthem."

William shook his head sadly. "All this feminism stuff just complicates things. I don't know why you girls can'tseethat."