Page 93 of The Logic of Loyalty

“Trevor—”

“Just like that.”

I smile. Just a little.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

TREVOR

Monday morning rolls in, and I saunter into that office like I’m floating on air. Paige fell asleep on the phone with me last night, and I made her laugh. There’s something electric buzzing through the office, but I ignore it. I’m in Paige tunnel vision through the hallways and to my office.

I also get to see my babies today. Twins. I’ve been terrified, but researching like crazy from the moment that sonogram hit my hand. Two babies. Two beautiful babies. I know that they’ll be beautiful and perfect, and I know that I’ve seen them in the images Paige has shared with me, but something about being in the room is different. I get to be in that room today.

“Good morning, Trevor.”

“Morning, Glenn.” Asher smirks at me and strides through the hall to my father’s office. He walks like an officer, but nobody has any idea. I’d seen Bobby, who has been blissfully absent lately, try to give him grunt work, but Asher found a way to get Bobby to do Richard’s copies instead. Bobby’s propensity to underestimate people has been his ultimate downfall.

Krista walks by, her head bowed, and she brushes past people. She doesn’t look up once as she walks to her destination. Interesting.

When I see my father poke his head from his office, I duck into mine and pray he didn’t see me. Today, I have a total of two work calls to make, and then I’m working on the paperwork to change Billy’s Automotive back into The Shop. We’re already looking at being back in the black and will soon surpass growth expectations if current trends continue. Billy has been showing his face around town and The Shop more often, and I believe that’s part of the reason for the influx. He insists it’s my organization.

Either way, it’s exceptionally satisfying to see.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Asher’s snippy tone makes me roll my eyes, but I turn to him with a grin, jacket hanging over my arm, hand already moving to loosen this noose—or tie.

“Glenn.”

“Where do you think you’re going?” He crosses his arms and looks menacingly at me, but I twitch my eyebrows at him.

“I have my babies’ appointment today. I probably won’t be back in until tomorrow.” Paige might let me take her to her favorite place for lunch. I have the list of the best nutrients to fill your body during this stage of pregnancy, and I made a list of the best places in the area that serve foods rich in them that I know she’ll enjoy.

“Need you for the meeting in ten minutes, man. It’s been on your schedule.” He hands me a folder of papers I don’t even need and talks in a hushed voice.

“Why do you need me there?”

He freezes and looks at me like I grew a horn. “Because you need to be the one to show the data again? Remember? It’s the next big step. We only have two left before we have enough information⁠—”

“Afternoon, Brandon.” I cut him off before he says too much as my coworker walks by.

“Afternoon, Trevor, Glenn.” Brandon gives me a weird look before he walks away. Ever since Bobby’s sudden transfer last week, people have been acting jumpy around me. I think it’s because they think I did something, which is accurate. Or it’s because they know I’ll likely be the new VP, which is inaccurate. Either way, it’s been extremely annoying.

“I get it, really I do, but I can’t go to the meeting. I have to be at this appointment. I will not miss it.” I turn back into my office and pack up my bag. I no longer leave any files I deem important, unless Asher asks me to. I also lock the door and have cameras, but luck favors the prepared.

“Can’t she reschedule?”

I bark out a laugh. “No, absolutely not.” I glance at the older guy and look him over. “You’re single, aren’t you?”

His eyes narrow at me. “Not the point, Whitaker.” He runs his hands through his hair and stares at the floor like it has answers before setting his eyes back on me. “It’s not like they’re doing the scan on your body.” I raise my brow at him before continuing to pack. “Fine. Fine. Can you give me your program details?”

“In ten minutes?” I pull my laptop back out of the bag and load up the program. “I’m setting a timer, and I’m out the door the second it goes off.”

He grins. “I’m a fast learner.”

“And that’s supposed to be hard?”

“No, you annoying shit.” I’ve decided that Asher is annoying and arrogant. “It’s not supposed to be hard to plug the number in. It’s meant to be difficult for people who haven’t been taught to use it. It’s meant to be easy for those who do. That’s partly why it’s an amazing program. You don’t have to work hard. The program does it for you.”

“Hey, Trevor, Glenn? Get back to work.” Dick Shitaker—my wife’s name for my father—stands in the doorway to my office with his thumbs hooked in his pockets. Asher snaps the laptop shut before backtracking out the door without another word.