Oh, fuck.
Rothschild turns, smile easy, hand already out. “Wesley,” he says warmly. “Good to see you again.”
“Mr. Rothschild.” My voice sounds far away to my own ears. “I-I didn’t realize?—”
“Julian, please.” His handshake is firm; his eyes are sharp. “And yes. I’m Joy’s uncle. I assumed she’d mentioned that.”
Time stalls.
I glance down at Joy.
She’s gone white. Not blushing—white. Staring at the carpet like maybe if she doesn’t move, the floor will open and eat her alive.
She didn’t mention it.
She didn’t mention that the man who signs my checks, who could move me to the bench or trade me across the continent with a phone call, is her relative.
“No,” I say slowly. “It…didn’t come up.”
Julian’s brow lifts a millimeter, but he doesn’t comment. “Well,” he claps my shoulder easily, “for what it’s worth, you’ve been a tremendous asset this season. You and Sokolov have been a wall. We’re lucky to have you.”
“Thank you, sir.” My throat feels tight.Lucky to have youechoes in my head.
Beside me, Joy still hasn’t looked up.
Why didn’t you tell me?
Lila slides between us, a human buffer, all champagne sparkle. “I saw you on that Times Square billboard,” she says, eyes bright. “The sports drink. You definitely do it justice.”
Heat snaps in my neck. I force a grin. “Appreciate it.”
“How wonderful,” Serena purrs, and her smile goes sharp. “Endorsements.”
“It pays the bills,” I manage.
“I’m sure it does,” Serena murmurs.
Lila shoots her mother a look. “Ignore her,” she stage-whispers to me. “She’s allergic to the concept of other people’s work.”
Robert clears his throat. “Shall we sit? Curtain’s in a few minutes.”
We settle in. Joy sits beside me, her thigh pressed to mine, fingers cold where I take her hand.
Leaning in, I whisper, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was going to,” she whispers back, voice shaking. “I tried?—”
“Your uncle is my boss, Joy.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I?—”
The house lights dim before I can finish. The chandeliers rise slowly toward the ceiling. The orchestra swells, bright and merciless.
My spine goes ice cold.
Her uncle isn’t just well-connected. He’s Julian Rothschild. He is the franchise.
And she didn’t tell me.
