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Vivienne

What do you mean you’re not coming home?

Harrison.

HARRISON.

I swear to God if you’re ignoring me

Mom is going to lose her mind

Dad is already in a mood about the Whitmore deal falling through

I cannot handle them alone for the holidays.

You promised you’d be here. Harrison, I need you here. This is important.

Sam’s gaze grew worried, but I couldn’t allow that. She was carrying enough stress over this visit with her family. I was here to support her, not add to it.

I opened the most recent text and typed out a response, keeping it brief. That was the only way to handle Viv when she was spiraling.

Me

Sorry Viv. I need to help a friend. Mom and Dad like you better anyway.

The three dots appeared immediately. Disappeared. Appeared again. I could practically hear her indignant scoff through the screen.

Vivienne

Maybe that would be true if I had a penis. We both know you’re the one who’s supposed to take over the family business when you graduate because you’re the son.

I had to fight back an audible groan at that.

The family business. As if those three words didn’t carry the weight of a thousand expectations I’d never asked for. I’d do whatever I could to put off taking over Gordon Holdings for as long as possible. I had no desire to become another shallow businessman.

“My sister, Viv, knows more about our family business and all its subsidiaries than most of the people who actually work for the company. She might sound like she’s freaking out, but trust me, she can handle herself.”

“I shouldn’t have pulled you away from your family.”

She still didn’t understand, but maybe she would after this trip.

There was nothing I wouldn’t do for her.

Not a single thing.

And this trip was going to finally satisfy some curiosity I’d had about Sam since the moment I met her.

She was vibrant, lively, and always the life of any party. She rarely had anything but a smile on her face. But I grew up in a world where everyone wore masks. I knew what one looked like.

And her eyes gave her away.

Every so often, I’d see a flicker of something I couldn’t put my finger on in her gaze, but then she’d dazzle everyone with her smile and her curves. Now I would finally get my answers because I had no doubt whatever that look was, it had to do with her family.

Vivienne

Who’s this “friend” anyway? Since when do you have friends important enough to skip Christmas?

I stared at that question longer than I should have.