Logan whistles. “Petty bastard.”
“You have no idea.” I lean back, staring at the ceiling. “We secured Ravenwood, at least. Silverpoint would've been the real victory. Would’ve pushed us closer to where we were before the merger gutted our market share.”
“Would have been?” Ethan stops his reps. “Since when do you give up?”
“I'm regrouping. Maddox is digging into the council members to see who my father bought and who might still have integrity.”
Logan raises his glass. “To corporate warfare and generational rot.”
I don't laugh.
“All right,” Logan says, eyes narrowing. “That's not all that's eating you. You've been staring at that glass like it contains the secrets of the universe.”
I watch the ice shift in the amber liquid. “I met someone.”
The room goes silent.
“You?” Logan's voice climbs an octave. “Met someone? Like a human woman?”
“I went to a painting class with her.”
Ethan stops mid-stretch, jaw dropping. Logan nearly chokes on his whiskey.
“The Bulldozer is painting happy little trees,” Ethan says. “This is incredible. Did you wear a smock? Please tell me there are photos.”
“Lay off.” But the ribbing continues.
“He's fixated,” Logan says, leaning across the bar with a wicked grin. “Look at him. He's prickly. He's actually bothered. This girl didn't just meet him. She dismantled him.”
“Fuck off.” I cut through the noise. “Her ex is still in the picture. The guy's a prick, sends her these texts that keep her on edge. I found out where he is. I wanted to protect her, but I ghosted her for a week while I was in Tokyo. Trying to get some distance.” I shrug. “Anyway, I showed up at her work event today like a total idiot, and she told me to call her tomorrow. Maybe.”
Ethan wipes his face with a towel, expression shifting from amusement to something more grounded. “You’re a bulldozer, Kai. You don't ask permission. You occupy territory. You probably walked in there thinking you were the prize and she was the acquisition.”
“I might have overplayed my hand.”
“You think?” Logan laughs. “You get fixated on a target and forget that real people don't follow a business plan. If she said no, it’s because you walked in like you already owned her.
“Call her,” Ethan says. “Be a human being for once.”
“And let us know how it goes,” Logan adds, smirking. “Worst-case scenario, she shoots you down in flames, and frankly, we'd love to see that. It’d be good for your soul.”
“My soul is fine.”
“Is it?” Logan tilts his head. “Because from here, it looks like you're finally realizing money can't buy the one thing you actually want.”
I finish my drink, set the glass aside. The conversation is over.
“I'm leaving the Yamaha here tonight,” I tell Logan. “Something's off with the throttle. I don't trust her on the road in the dark.”
“I'll have it trailered to Rex's shop tomorrow,” Logan says. “You need a ride?”
I'm already pulling up the app for my driver. “I've got it.”
Later, in the back of the car, Emma's face surfaces. The way she lifted her chin to meet my eyes. Her defiance making her seem taller even though she barely reaches my shoulders. She didn't crumble. Didn't give me an inch I hadn't earned.
I pull out my phone and stare at her contact. My thumb hovers over the call button.
Too late tonight. Too much whiskey. Too many things I can't say.
