I roll my eyes, desperately wanting this conversation to end. “He startled me, and I instinctively threw a punch.”
Parker laughs this time, earning his brother's attention. “Oh, how I would have died to have seen it.”
I stand up from my chair, intending to go to the bathroom to shower. “I’ll be done in ten minutes and perhaps we can have our scheduled meeting a little early? Discuss charity donations and get it out of the way?”
He nods, still smiling. “It’d be my pleasure, Miss Riley.”
I roll my eyes again and shut the bathroom door. It sounds like a hammer dropping. One that may crush me.
Chapter 19
“Ihave a rather odd question if you don’t mind me asking?” I say to Parker after our meeting. He’s sitting in a chair in front of my desk that he dragged from his brother's. His feet are propped on my desk, and his arms are tucked behind his head. He looks more like an unruly teenager than a businessman. However, it makes sense, given what I’ve been told about him. He grew up with his mom, away from the business world. He also got into modeling early, so I doubt he even has more than a high school degree.
“Not at all.” A bemused smirk graces his lips.
“Has Owen legally signed over all control of these charities to you?”
Parker cocks his head and doesn’t say anything right away. I fiddle with my thumbs, hoping I didn’t say too much or step over some boundary.
“We’re in the process,” he answers. “Why do you ask?”
“Just curious. Seems I’ll be your assistant once that’s all said and done.”
Parker smiles when he realizes it’s probably true, even though I’ll be long gone by then.
“When do you sign the papers?” I ask, trying to sound as though these questions are innocent.
“Sometime next month. You eager to escape my brother, Miss Riley?”
“You seem far too confident in my impression of you, Mr. Mills.”
Parker laughs, and I can’t help but love the sound of it. “You didn’t answer my question, Miss Riley.”
“I am neither eager to leave nor eager to stay.”
Parker snorts. “That’s a non-answer if I’ve ever heard one.”
I shrug.
We’re interrupted by Owen and Noah, who both come barreling through the doorway and look as though they want to kill each other.
Standing, my eyes dart between them. “What the hell happened?” I ask. It’s only been an hour, and they are already fighting with each other.
“Mr. Mills here has the impression that he can still do whatever the fuck he pleases without the protection of his security.”
I raise a brow at Owen, who shakes his head but doesn’t offer any sort of explanation.
“We detected some unusual activity across the street from the office. My men are investigating, but Mr. Mills here thought it would be a great time to slip out the front door and—what?” He turns and addresses the question to Owen. “Get abetterpastry from the coffee shop down the street?”
This time I laugh, and all three men shift their attention to me, which only makes me laugh harder.
“I’m sorry,” I choke out, wiping away the moisture from my eyes. “That is just—”
“The pastry was for her,” Owen grumbles. “I couldn't care less about the goddamn pastry.”
“Oh, so this is my fault?” I practically shout across the room.
“I didn’t say that.” He grinds his teeth.
