Harper raises an eyebrow at me, telling me to jump in at any time with suggestions. I’ve been talking with Fallon and my other sister, Aurora, about ways I can get involved in the non-profit they run that helps women and families in need. We all have equal shares and hold seats in Montgomery Pharma, the company Fallon and Trevor took over when our bio dad died. But helping run a drug company isn’t what I want to do for the rest of my life. I want to do something that matters. Something that helps people and gives back to the community. Something I can be proud of. Something that will relieve this ache that resides deep in my chest that reminds me daily how I’ve accomplished nothing with my life other than live off the wealth I inherited.
Coming up with a job on the fly, I offer, “I already have a house manager, Daniella, but if you don’t mind running errands, you could—”
“No. Thank you,” Douglass snaps, cutting me off.
That’s it. Enough is enough. “Will you let me finish a damn sentence?”
Harper balls her paper napkin up and tosses it on the table. “Okay. What’s going on with you two?”
I’m surprised it took her this long to ask.
I lean forward, elbows on the table. “I’d like to know as well. Did I do something to piss you off? Is it because of what happened with Amelia?”
I can see the rapid flutter of the pulse point along her neck as her heart rate beats frantically. Those hazel eyes turn my way in accusation as if I just reached over the table and slapped her across the face.
She bolts up out of her chair so fast, it skids across the floor and hits the wall behind her.
“I need to go to the restroom,” she says to Harper and dashes off.
Chapter 4
My sister pins me with an ice-blue glower. “What did you do?”
“Me?” I ask incredulously.
Douglass is the one who came in with a chip on her shoulder, flinging attitude and murder at me the entire time. I hadn’t seen nor spoken to her in five years.
Harper gets up from the table. “I’m going to go check on her.” She comes over and hugs me, giving me a quick kiss to the cheek. “I love you to the moon and back, Jorey, so please don’t take this the wrong way when I say, don’t be here when we get back.”
“Fine by me.”
“And we’re discussing this tonight, so I expect you home and not off with Miss Busty Blonde over there.”
Honestly, I had forgotten about the blonde at the bar. “Whatever,” I reply, but don’t move out of my seat when she walks off to track down Douglass.
After a few minutes with no sign of either of them, I decide,fuck this, and make my way over to the bar which is now packed with people I didn’t notice come in. Mike warily trains his sights on me as I approach. He stabs an olive with a toothpick and adds it to a pink martini.
“Here you go, gorgeous,” he says, sliding it to the brunette he plans to fuck later tonight.
Her blonde friend sees me coming and adjusts her tits in her tight tank top, plumping them up and putting her deep cleavage on display. I’m too irritated to appreciate the view she’s giving me. She licks her red-glossed lips and smiles at me.
“Hi—”
“I need to talk to you,” I tell Mike over the din that’s starting to give me a headache.
He grabs a pint glass and pulls a draft. “A little busy at the moment. Can it wait?” His gaze flicks to the darkened hall Douglass and Harper disappeared into.
I know Mike inside and out. I know his tells and can immediately pick up on how he’s feeling. And right now, I’m getting a whole lot of guilt radiating off him.
Blood red fingernails dig into my arm. “I’m Steffi,” the blonde says.
I don’t care.
“Mike. Five minutes. Now.”
He turns to scoop some ice into a glass. I swear to God, if one more person ignores me, I’m going to lose my shit.
“Can I buy you a drink?” Steffi asks, pressing in closer, her overly fruity perfume making my nose wrinkle.
