I want zero part of whatever he has planned.
“Some fires burn themselves out,” Thatcher says, brushing imaginary lint from his sleeve. “You just have to stand far enough back.”
“At what cost?” I ask. “Your name is on the door. I’ve built the rest. You brought me in for that reason, because I gave this firmweight.So if you’re going to let your nephew tank our legacy in exchange for a few participation trophies, or some bigger purpose, then you should ask yourself what we actually stand for.”
The silence snaps taut between us.
“You’ve got it all wrong, Nolan.” Thatcher meets my gaze, keeps his voice low. “If you want partner, you’ll keep your mouth shut. Do the pitch. Deliver the win. And stop pretending like your morality makes you untouchable.”
A slow, bitter smile pulls at my mouth. “And here I thought the whole point of partnership was having a say.”
He doesn’t blink. “You want power, Nolan? Steal it.”
Then, as he turns to leave, his voice lands like a hammer. “But if you can’t, you’ll resign. Quietly. We won’t make it a thing.”
I glare at him.
“And if you decide to go out swinging, take this righteous crusade to the press or the industry at large…” His smile sharpens. “I’ll make sure the only job you can get is assistant social media manager for a startup that sells artisanal dog probiotics.”
A long pause.
He straightens his cuffs. “Your move.”
And just like that, I own a title that suddenly doesn’t mean shit, and work for a company that feels a little less like mine than it did yesterday.
CHAPTER 28
ASTRONOMICALLY SCREWED
RORIE
I did something naughty the other night and I can’t believe I actually went through with it.
Define “naughty.”
Are we talking “I used someone else’s Netflix account?” OR “I’m now legally banned from a zoo in three states?”
Not giving specifics, Carl. Just know that I blushed the entire time
That tells me nothing and everything
Good. Sit in the mystery.
Fine. But if you end up on a watchlist, I’m not testifying in your defense.
Unless you bribe me with details. Or visuals.
A demonstration?
Tempting, but I’m taking this oneto the grave.
My body’slaunched a full-scale rebellion, addicted to one specific memory:Nolan Rhodes pinning me against porcelain.
It’s been twenty-four hours since I let that man finger-fuck me in a bar bathroom and rode his clothed cock like it was my patriotic duty.
And I regret nothing.
Except maybe everything.
