“My brother found a lot of things, but your mother is kind of?—”
“A bitch?” I fill in for him. “Hard to work with? Annoying?” As I list off the things, some hit a little too close to home for me. I’m sure I’m annoying the hell out of Ari, but for some reason he’s allowing it. Why? “I’m sure you know how she is. You’ve made that clear a few times.” I stab my chopstick into one of his dumplings, stealing it for myself.
What is this cat and mouse game Ari is playing with me? I find it hard to believe he might really be attracted to me. I’m a mess and never wear anything on my feet other than sneakers. Ari is very put together. I thought a few times he was checking me out, but most of it has been teasing. What if this is some backwards trap? Is he seducing me?
“Just so you know, I’m not attracted to you,” I blurt out to foil his possible plan. I’m so full of it, but Ari and I are in two different leagues.
My father might have money and be a successful architect, but I never played in the socialite world. If anything, I’ve always been modest, no matter how hard my mom tried to get me to show off when I was younger. She was always trying to get money out of my father and be seen around town, while I tried to ask for as little as possible. I have this need to try and make up for her by offsetting things. If I don’t seek the attention she’s craving, we balance each other out.
For the first time, I think I actually really surprised Ari, and his brows lift. A trace of true annoyance or maybe anger flicks through his eyes. Okay, so I guess I ruined his plan after all. I want to relish my victory, but it actually stings.
He said he brought me here to tell me something about my father. Instead it's all been a con, and I played right into his hands.
Chapter Eight
ARI
“If you want to lie to yourself, that’s your choice, but if you want to know more about your parents’ divorce, then let’s at least agree to be honest with each other.”
I’m doing my best to not let my annoyance show, but it’s probably no use. I’m sure if I saw myself in the mirror right now, I’d look like a raging asshole. Hearing Sadie deny how she feels is a punch to the gut. Maybe she doesn't feel it as strongly as I do, but the attraction is practically a living, breathing monster between us. Or am I just describing myself?
I finish off the box of food and grab the one with chicken next.
“Fine, from here on out I’ll be honest with you.” She takes a deep breath and nods as if she’s convinced herself to do it. “The most important thing to me is protecting my dad, and I want to know the truth.”
“There’s a file I can show you.” I go over to my desk and grab it out of a stack. When I hand it to Sadie, she looks at it cautiously. “This is just the initial request. It seems like some of it you’re already aware of.”
While she reads over the report, I make sure to hand her different containers of food so she can eat at the same time. After about an hour, she closes the folder but doesn’t look any more relieved.
“There’s nothing here. It’s all surveillance on the most boring man in the world, and as much as I love my father, he has got to get a hobby.”
“Like I said, it's only the initial findings. Your mother called constantly asking for updates and when we couldn’t provide one, she invented it.”
“That’s when she planted the drugs,” she says, and I nod in agreement.
“Initially, we didn’t suspect her, but it didn’t take long to see what she was capable of. Not after my brother decided to check into her background.”
“Then why the delay in the divorce? I don’t understand.”
She puts the file on the table, and I hand her a fortune cookie. “It’s late, I think you should get some sleep, and tomorrow I can get everything you need.”
“The bigger the obstacle, the more satisfying it is to conquer,” she says, and I smirk at her.
“Oh really?” I crack mine open and glare at the note. “What the hell is this?”
She takes it out of my hands before I can keep it out of her reach, and when I try to grab it, she falls back on the couch.
“No!” She’s laughing and then squeals when I tickle her side.
“Give that back!”
“Never!” she shouts over me.
“Give it up, shorty, or I’ll take it from you.” She somehow manages to move out of my reach and holds up the fortune to read it.
“It’s not the size of the boat that matters, but you still need a decent captain.” She falls into fits of laughter so hard she rolls right off the couch.
I try to pretend I’m upset but the more she laughs, the more I smile. “Are you sure you didn’t write that?” I ask, and Sadie shakes her head as she wipes tears away.
