"Hans helped me land that shipping contract," Grant explained. "His dad owns the company."
"Yes, but I didn't want to just work for my father. I wanted to do my own thing. That's why I founded my business."
"It’s a great company," Carter said. "Fostering energy independence and helping the environment."
"After fighting overseas, I don't want my country to be reliant on foreign energy," Hans said seriously.
It was dark when they were finally released. Allie once again did not have a warm coat, Carter noticed. She shivered as she walked ahead of him. He hurried to catch up with her, his dress shoes sliding on the icy sidewalk.
"Wait up," he said.
She didn't stop and barely turned her head to look at him.
"What is it, Carter?"
"Hey, Carter," Vance said. "There's a great club that just opened. It's super fancy. You in?"
"Nah, I'm good," Carter said.
Vance gave him a strange look. "What else do you have going on?"
"Does it matter?"
They all stopped next to a storefront, and the rest of the interns streamed around them, hurrying for the hotel to escape the cold.
Vance looked between Allie and Carter, a look of disgust on his face. Allie looked upset, and Carter could feel his anger rising.
"Carter," he sneered, "I expected better of you."
Digby chuckled, and Carter hauled back and slugged Vance in the face.
"Stop it!" Allie yelled.
She grabbed Carter, but her feet slid on the ice. Her motions threw Carter off balance, and he slid into Vance, taking him down to the ground.
"What are you doing, Carter? Are you fighting?" Grant yelled, furious as he came over to them. "I can't take you anywhere."
"He just punched me out of nowhere," Vance said as blood streamed down his face.
Grant looked between Vance, Carter, and Allie.
"I thought you were done with her," Grant spat.
Carter opened his mouth to protest.
"I don't want to hear it," Grant warned. "Come with me. You… Digby, right? Take Vance to the hospital."
As they followed Grant back to the hotel, Allie seemed annoyed. As soon as the three of them were alone in Grant's suite, Allie lit into Carter's cousin.
"Why are you treating me like this?" she demanded. "Carter is an adult. He can make his own choices. I am not a witch manipulating him with magic or something. You all didn't want Carter around me. Now he's not. What he does is not my problem."
"I know you two were having a workplace affair," Grant interrupted. "I thought I would overlook it. After all, Kate and I started our relationship when we were sort of working together, so I understand. But now it's causing Carter to fight people in the middle of the street. Carter, you are going to be helping to run this company soon. You need to act like it."
"What if I don't want to? Maybe I'll start my own company," Carter said hotly.
Grant barked out a laugh. "No, you won't. What if you had been arrested? It could have been all over the news. As it is, Vance will probably talk."
Carter glowered.
