“Nothing. Now I understand why you’re close with my sister.” I stand, moving closer, enjoying how she tenses slightly at my proximity. “You’re a little spitfire, aren’t you?”
Her eyes narrow. “And you’re exactly the kind of arrogant arse she warned me about.”
I raise my eyebrows, intrigued. “Oh? She warned you against me, did she?” I lean against the counter.
“Mm-hmm.” She takes another sip.
I fold my arms over my chest. “I see. And why, exactly, did she warn you?”
She sighs, setting her mug gently on the counter. “It doesn’t matter. I’m just trying to do my job, despite your best efforts to be insufferable.”
“Insufferable?” I press a hand to my chest. “Here I thought we were having a pleasant conversation.”
“Pleasant?” She arches an eyebrow. “Is that what you call this?”
“What did she warn you about me?” I press further, curious now.
Her cheeks tinge pink and she looks away. This is the first crack in her armor I’ve seen. She opens her mouth to respond just as Grayson strides in, a white patch covering one eye.
I clench my jaw, annoyed at his timing. She almost dropped her wall, and damn if I’m not dying to know what’s behind it.
I wonder what she was going to say. What did Anna warn her of? And why?
What could my sister possibly be worried about?
Gemma steps toward Grayson cautiously. “Grayson, sir. I am so,sosorry about your eye.”
He waves a hand dismissively. “Please, it’s fine. No harm done. Nothing a few lubricating drops can’t fix.”
Gemma’s face crumples at his words.
“Well, not too much harm, at least,” he adds with a chuckle. “It was an honest mistake.”
Her shoulders visibly drop with relief as she nods. But Grayson’s expression hardens as he turns to me. “Max, I hate to drop this on you, but I just got a call from Cole. I need to handle something urgent in New York.”
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
His eyes dart to Gemma before he ushers me around the corner, out of earshot.
“Dad’s contesting the will,” he says, voice grim.
I freeze. “What? He can’t do that.”
“The old geezer will do anything to get his hands on the company and Granddad’s fortune.” Grayson’s fingers rake through his hair. “This could drag on formonths. Dad’s lawyers are ruthless.”
I understand his fury. Grayson and his brothers were always closer to their grandparents than their father. When their grandfather passed nearly two years ago, he left his entire fortune and three businesses to Grayson, Cole, and Noah. Their father got nothing and he was livid. I guess now he’s ready to fight them for it.
“Surely, he’s bluffing. You have all the money and resources,” I remind him, crossing my arms. “You guys have all the power here, not him.”
“Screwing over your own sons—could you imagine?” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Apparently, he’s sitting ontwenty years’ worth of dirt on the company and he’s angry enough to use it.”
My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Shit.”
“I’m fucking stressed, Max.” His voice drops to barely above a whisper. “He’s threatening to go to the press about supposed sketchy business practices in the eighties—whatever the hell that means. It’s all bullshit, but the scandal alone could tank our stock prices.” He rubs the back of his neck. “Cole’s already dealing with nervous investors and trying to calm the board. Emerson’s focused on college. This is the last thing we need.”
“Jesus,” I mutter, running a hand down my face.
“Exactly. He’ll do everything he can to destroy our success, which is exactly why we can’t let him win.” Grayson’s fists clench at his sides. “Max, I’m going to need you to take over Gray Hotel for me while this is going on. I can’t do both.”
