Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56591 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56591 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
He wants me to tell him all about our Public Liaison Initiative. That’s the name we give to our efforts to schmooze politicians to help get our permits. It’s slightly under the table, but we only use PLI when it comes to low-income housing. The greater good. I refuse to feel guilty about that.
A knock comes at the door before I can reply. Through the glass window, I can see a pair of glimmering earrings I recognize. I keep my face passive, but my gut twists and my body heats up. She looks gorgeous today, as usual, with pleated pants and a pressed shirt. Her hair bun makes me want to pull it free and run my fingers through her mussed perfection.
“Coffee, everyone?” She asks, eyes on the floor. Has someone said something to her? I hate seeing her so nervous and withdrawn.
“Finally,” Aaron says, laughing harshly. “I thought I was going to die of dehydration.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” Izzy murmurs.
“You don’t need to apologize to him,” I snap.
“Oh, she doesn’t?” Aaron looks at Izzy in a way that makes me sick, shamelessly letting his gaze roam up and down her, a sneer fixed on his face.
I can’t show weakness. Or let him see that I care. But if he thinks I’m going to sit here and let him ogle her, he’s got another thing coming.
“No,” I grunt. “She doesn’t. You’ve got no right to talk down to my employees. If that’s your game, Pike, then I’ll throw you out myself.”
Under the table, my fists are clenched. I’m ready for a proper fight. But on the outside—I hope—I’m as calm as a cucumber.
“You’re right,” Aaron says. “I would never dare to insult your employees. But considering that Isabella and I are family, I think we can make an exception. Isn’t that right, Izzy?”
Family? Family? What is he talking about?
Aaron tilts his head at me, that sinister smirk on his face. “You didn’t know, Vale?”
“I don’t prejudice my employees based on who their family is,” I tell him evenly.
“Clever way to avoid the question.” Aaron laughs uglily. It makes me want to knock his teeth in. “My sweet niece here makes a good cup of coffee. I’ll give her that. I would’ve let her work for me if it wasn’t for the fact she’s absolutely god-awful at everything else.”
My chair falls to the floor when I bolt to my feet. Aaron’s smirk widens, like this is the reaction he was waiting for. As far as he knows, he’s baiting me by insulting my employee, by getting one over on me. He doesn’t know about the rest of it: how badly I want to kiss her, hold her. Own her.
“Related or not, you’ve gone too fucking far. I took this meeting in good faith. But you’ve got no right to talk down to my employees. I don’t care if she’s your niece.”
Don’t you care that she withheld that information? My father mocks. She lied to you, son. What else is she hiding?
Aaron shrugs, stroking his beard. He’s almost twenty years older than me. When he looks at me, it’s as if he can’t believe I’d ever dream of standing up to him.
“Don’t just shrug,” I snarl. “Get the fuck out of my office. And when you leave, keep your mouth shut. No snide little comments or trying to play the tough guy. You’re a scumbag, Pike, that’s all.”
“Jeez,” Aaron says, shaking his head slowly. “A man makes a little comment and you go all holier-than-thou. You’ve never chewed out an employee? How about family, hmm?”
I say nothing. There’s no way he knows about my father, Sebastian Goodfellow, and Liam, and that whole mess. No, damn way. He’s just trying to make me even angrier than he already has.
He sighs and stands. “I suppose we'd better head out.” His team stands up a beat later. Aaron bows in Izzy’s direction, but he keeps his eyes fixed on me. “My sweet niece, please accept my sincerest apologies. I’d hate for my mother to learn I’d behaved so disrespectfully. I’m sure she’d be positively sick with shock if she learned about this.”
My hands are trembling at my sides. Izzy lied, or at least withheld information. But that doesn’t stop me from wanting to knock this bastard’s teeth out for throwing her sick grandmother in her face. I remember what Izzy told me last night about the uncle who refused to take her in. This is that uncle, that lowlife.
Aaron and his executives leave. The tension in the room remains stifling even after the door closes.
Ethan is the first to break the silence. “Aaron Pike is your uncle? Why didn’t you say anything?”
Izzy’s voice comes out small when she answers. It tugs at my heartstrings, triggering all my protective instincts. But I keep them hidden from my face.