The scrutiny sets me back in my chair. Always calculating, my brother. “Why does it have to be about anything?”
There’s the head tilt. Christ.
“Fine. What do you know about Kyle these days?”
The principal’s office feeling is back as Reed stares warily. “I didn’t realize you two were close.”
“We aren’t.” I’d rather cut off my own cock. “He’s a little shit. I want nothing to do with him, and you know it.”
“Do I? You seemed awfully cozy the other night. Two years of not seeing you for so much as a birthday, and last week, you plan a dinner and invite him? If you aren’t friends, what is it?”
There was a time I wouldn’t have hesitated to tell Reed everything. Having him on my side, us against the world? We were invincible. But this is bigger than him and me. It’s Mum and Darce and every bloody person working here.
I can’t blow up their livelihoods. Even in the off-chance Reed doesn’t blow his top, what’s stopping Kyle from leaking it publicly? The business might be smaller than it was back in Deacon’s day, but those colleges might pull the scholarships once it’s known the owner’s brother fakes orgasms for a living.
Well. Mostly fakes.
“He hasn’t pressured you into investing in that ridiculous venture, has he? If you’re in too deep, I’ll call my lawyer.”
Does he really think I’d give that sanctimonious wanker a single cent? “I wouldn’t trust him with a bog roll.”
“Then what?”
I run my hand over my jaw, looking past him. “He came to see me today.” There are more framed photos hanging over Reed’s shoulder. The one that has my attention is three decades old, taken at Dad’s old place. It was one of the few Christmases we spent in London before Deacon guilted Mum about keeping us away. All five of us are huddled around a tiny tree, in pajamas and robes, smiles wide with hot chocolate mustaches.
I’d forgotten about it until now. I never knew Reed had this photo. Probably would have if I ever came into the office.
I look away. “He’s still on about that job.”
“Why would he come to you about that?” Reed’s eyebrows raise with a sudden clarity. “Ah, I see. He talks to you. You come here bearing gifts. And I’m supposed to… what? Hire him as sales VP?”
I’m trying not to get pissed, but it’s always been an impossible feat whenever Reed starts a lecture. He takes my silence as confirmation.
“Let me guess, if I don’t agree now, he’ll try again at the house this weekend?” He shakes his head, disappointment seeping from every pore. “Is this why you said you don’t need money? He’s roped you into some sort of scheme, and this is the next step?”
“No.” I drop the word like a boulder, and Reed sits back and turns his head. Now he can’t even look at me. Fuck Kyle.
I hate what I’m about to ask. Hate that it’s going to confirm Reed’s worst suspicions of me. But this place means everything to him and Darcy, and I won’t be the reason it fails.
Staring down at my knees, I bid a silent farewell to any good blood between us. “If you know he won’t give up, why not just make him a nonoperational title and shut him up?”
Reed’s voice is as cold as the night I stopped talking to him. “Because he’s a pest, and once he knows he can get what he wants, he won’t stop. I can’t believe you’re even entertaining this. But then, you don’t have anything to lose, do you? It’s so much easier to sit there and ask me to take the risk. How about you leave the critical thinking to me and you worry about yourself?”
Of course he can’t imagine thinking is my strong suit. Only the great Reed Reeves is capable of that.
I push out of the chair, but even though I’m the only one standing, Reed’s looking at me like he’s standing on the high ground. “This is your fault, by the way. If you hadn’t cut them out of the estate?—”
“You don’t have the faintest clue what you’re talking about.”
Oh really? “But then you have practice at cutting people off.”
He rolls his jaw slowly, taking his time. It’s his trick. Give himself enough time to gather his thoughts, restock his arsenal. While I’m busy shooting from the hip, Reed’s collecting reinforcements. It’s another reason he was the only choice to take over from Deacon.
“One day you’ll appreciate the decisions I made for this family,” he says, and it’s clear this conversation has hit its inevitable dead end. “Perhaps then you’ll start taking your life seriously and see I’m trying to help you.”
No, he’s only determined to get me to act according to his rules. Reed’s tenants for right and wrong.
“Just because you wanted to become Deacon’s clone doesn’t mean I want to.” If he doesn’t want to hear what I have to say, then I’ll deal with Kyle myself. “Call me when you get your head out of your arse.”
