I shouldn’t be, truly, I shouldn’t, but last week’s activities in that hotel room run like a movie trailer through my thoughts. The way she felt beneath me. The way she felt on top of me. The way she felt beside me in the bed while she slept in my arms.
But it wasn’t just the sexual activities. I adore everything we’ve done together, from talking to dancing to dining. She’s intriguing and funny. Sweet and strong.
I’m jolted from my reverie by Charlotte’s voice over the intercom. “Phoenix, some handsome devil is here to see you.”
Pressing the button, I reply, “By all means, send him in. I could use something pretty to look at.”
“Been staring in the mirror again, huh?” comes her cheeky reply.
“Charlotte, make sure your contact information is up to date in the system so when the unemployment office calls, I can pass that along to them.”
She doesn’t even pause. “Don’t threaten me with a good time, mister.”
I’m still grinning and shaking my head when my twin enters, taking the leather chair across from my desk.
“Hey, Helix. What’s up?”
He crosses one ankle over the opposite knee. “Just wanted to come see my brother. How are you?”
“Good. Been working on some television marketing ideas this morning.”And thinking about a woman I shouldn’t be thinking about, I add silently.
Helix flattens his lips and nods. “And you’re doing okay?”
Something prickles at the back of my neck. Call it twin instinct, if you will, but usually when Helix shows up in my office, it’s about marketing for a new product they’re developing in the lab. He never just leaves the lab building next door to come over here and question my general well-being. Did we have a lunch meeting planned that I forgot about?
“What’s wrong?” I ask, and he fiddles with the collar of his pale-blue button-down shirt. On the surface everything seems to be normal. He’s wearing his customary suspenders, dress pants, and glasses, though his eyes haven’t quite met mine since he arrived. But they do now.
“You haven’t been online today, have you?”
“No, not really. I had to do a quick search for something related to this campaign earlier, but that’s about it.” I ask again. “What’s wrong?”
Helix nods at my laptop. “Pull up your browser and search for The Bettencourt Corporation.”
The prickles at the back of my neck intensify until it feels like someone is smacking me with a cactus. What the hell has my ex done?
Determined to find out, I open my laptop and tap in my passcode. When the browser automatically pulls up, I type inThe Bettencourt Corporation. Articles and photos begin to populate the page, and my eyes fall on the headline of the first article, dated today.
Bettencourt Corporation Names New CEO
I lean back in my chair and tap my lips with my pointer finger. “Well, I guess Beatrice finally got what she wanted,” I say with more than a little bitterness.
A small line appears between Helix’s eyebrows. “Did you read the article?”
“Just the headline,” I say. “I hope she doesn’t think she’s going to come back and be a part of Reece’s life. She gave up her rights, and the contract is airtight.”
My words are spoken with all the confidence in the world, but a tiny part of me wants to pull out the paperwork and make sure there aren’t any inadvertent loopholes. I know there aren’t. Three other lawyers and I had all gone over it with a fine-toothed comb over five years ago.
“Phoenix.” My twin’s voice is soft, but it carries a heavy weight. I look up into his concerned eyes. “Bro, read the article.”
I stare at him for a long moment before clicking on the article. I start reading from the top, catching several key phrases.
Retiring at the end of the month… one of the leaders in global e-commerce… efforts led by his daughter, Beatrice.
And then the part that has my mouth dropping open.
In a surprise move, Mr. Bettencourt has named his nephew, Justin Bettencourt, the new CEO of his tech company. His only daughter, Beatrice, will take over as senior director of technology.
“Holy shit,” I mutter, looking up at Helix.
