His eyes were venomous. “Do you think you’re some big shot now that you’ve got new backing?”
“I’m surprised you have the guts to say this when you looked seconds away from kissing said backing’s feet.”
She spared no false pretenses when it came to him. He was worse than the twins.
“That’s all business,” he snapped. “Something you’d know nothing about with your little career as an actress.”
“I’d be offended if you were actually a successful businessman, Jason. Don’t think I didn’t overhear Aunt Evelyn coaxing you to bring up your store’s impending bankruptcy to Grandfather. You Evanses are so disgusting. Even on his birthday you’re opportunistic.”
“Shut the hell up!” Jason shouted, the veins in his neck bulging. “What the fuck do you know about me and my business? You women don’t know shit but always act like you do.”
“Well, from aman’sperspective, even Nicolas hinted earlier that it’s the last breath it’s about to take financially.”His eyes widened. “I also heard you borrowed money from some shady people. Are youthatstupid? They said they’ll have a bounty on your head if you don’t pay up!”
“My friend introduced me. It was a great interest rate, beat what the banks were offering,” he rambled. “You don’t have to worry about it. Grandfather just agreed to help me out. I’ll pay them back once the deposit hits.”
“You really are the worst.”
Emily shoved past him, making him hit the staircase, groaning.
She stepped outside, her eyes sweeping the yard for any sign of her husband.
Then she saw it.
A silhouette,illuminatedby the outdoor lights, moving to face another.
Bridget’s nasally voice came. “Why don’t you ditch my cousin and come have some fun with me?I amthe prettiest in this household for a reason. I’m also quite skilled in areas she isn’t. Not that I’m outing her or anything.”
Okay, that’s it.
Emily took three steps and blocked Nicolas from the redhead. “What exactly do you think you’re doing?”
“Emily! Nice of you to join us, though honestly, it was better without you here.”
“Gee, I wonder why.”
Nicolas’s head turned to her. “Bridget was just?—”
“I know what Bridget was doing just fine,” Emily interrupted cooly. “This conversation ends here.”
Her hand went to encircle Nicolas’s arm, but Bridget intercepted, taking a hold of it. She held Emily’s hand, giving it a painful squeeze.
The passive look on Emily’s face remained intact. “Are you trying to start something here?”
Bridget arched a brow. “Areyou?”
Emily leaned in, her cousin’s nails sinking into her skin. “If you didn’t know, let me tell you now. I’m done playing your childish games. You tried it with Jake, but I guess he was too scared to risk anything this close to home.It’s no secret that you have a big mouth and it’d take all the money in the world to keep it shut.” Bridget gasped. “But this man? You can’t have him. Youwon’thave him, you won’t even get the chance to try.”
Emily pulled back with a smile that could cause cavities because of how sweet it was. Her free hand wrapped around Bridget’s, ripping it from hers.
Nicolas opened his mouth, but Emily cut him off again, “I think we’ve had enough of you meeting my family. We’re going home.”
40
Nicolas watched Emily. He’d been smirking at the reaction she had of her cousin hitting on him. It was obvious she was jealous though she tried to conceal it.
He tugged at her arm as she made it past the living room. “Are you upset?”
“About what?” She feigned ignorance.
