“Like Apex work things or the other kind of work things?”
Without turning around, I answer, “You’re not on the clock, Miss Parker.”
Then I grab my stuff and leave.
44
RANSOME
“What is this?” I ask as I look down at the schedule on my desk.
“Lunch,” Amara answers. She knows exactly which part of the schedule I am talking about. For one, because the last I checked, I was set to have lunch in my office today. Alone. Turns out I could never be that lucky. It tracks since I don’t believe in luck.
“Let me guess. My father called it.”
Her head tips in a discreteyes.
My fist tightens. I’m tempted to slam it down on my desk. But I don’t. Something like that would show weakness. Uncontrolled anger. I’ve let myself slip enough recently.
“Who all is going to be there?” I ask, facing the window so I don’t have to be so guarded.
“From my understanding, your parents, your cousin… and the Chadovichs.”
Goddammit.
“Which ones?” I grit out.
“Dmitry. Katya. Jenica.”
“Might as well throw Tristan in there too while you’re at it,” I snap, knowing full well it’s not her doing.
“No Tristan this time,” she states.
Good. Odd. But good. And yet, that probably means they want to talk about something without anyone unhinged in the room.
Yebat.
I have no interest in the cocktail sitting in front of me.
The scent of the caviar on the table is making me nauseous. Watching Dmitry Chadovich eat it by the chip full is enough to make me vomit right here, right now.
“Ransome,” Katya Chadovich says with her signature staged smile. “We are so glad you could take time out of your busy schedule to make it.”
“I was unaware there was an alternative,” I state flatly.
My dad takes in a labored breath and lets it out uncomfortably.
To be honest, I don’t give a fuck.
“Son,” he starts in. “We are here with the Chadovichs to discuss our agreement.”
“I’m unaware of any active agreements,” I say, taking a sip of water.
My dad’s scowl deepens. My mother reaches for her cocktail. Baron bites his lips, shooting me a warning look that I ignore. Katya’s smile is so impeccable I’m starting to wonder if she’s actually a mannequin. And Jenica is in full-blown RBF. It would be understandable if I gave a fuck.
“Ransome,” my dad starts in, but Katya holds up a hand, a silent asking of permission to speak.
“Ransome, darling. Is there a reason you are fighting the arrangement between you and Jenica so much?”
