Seb looks down at his watch. “Speaking of leaving. I need to go soon. Some fucking idiot who works the front desk at The Huxley had sex with someone from housekeeping after a happy hour a few months back. Now she’s pregnant, and it’s a fucking mess. So, can we get to why you called me? Is it Claudina?” he asks, then sucks back the whole glass of scotch.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Leo’s eyes widen, knowing if he’s drinking like that, he’s stressed, and this will not go over well.
I walk around my desk and sit in one of the chairs. I know how Seb thinks. If I’m behind my desk, he’ll take it as a power play, and I need an even playing field right now.
“So, I met a girl and…” I trail off, thinking of my words carefully. I’m the CEO of a trillion-dollar company, yet I can’t think of a single word to say to him right now. Guessing how his face morphs into anger, he understands what I’m trying to say.
“And you what?” Seb spits in a fury.
“And…I’m in love with her, Sebastian,” I tell him truthfully, saying the words out loud for the first time. Leo gives me an encouraging smile. “She loves Claud?—”
He interrupts, slamming his empty glass on the table. “You fucking piece of shit. You introduced her to Claud?”
“All right, calm the hell down, and let me explain.”
He grips the arms of the chair in a punishing grip and leans forward toward me. “You made a fucking promise to me that Claudina would be your one and only priority. Since when did you become so fucking untrustworthy?” He stands up and steps in front of me. “If I can’t trust you with one fucking promise, how do I trust you with Claud?” he bellows, and that’s when I draw the line.
I stand up to him, face to face. “You want to say that fucking bullshit. Say it to my face.”
“You’re a fucking liar, and I don’t trust you.”
“Bullshit!” Nate yells, defending me without hesitation.
Leo jumps up from his chair and pushes Seb away from me. “Shut the fuck up, Sebastian, before you say something else you’ll regret. Since when have we not been in each other’s corners? And since when did you become such a selfish prick? Your best friend and brother just told you he’s in love with someone, and this is how you react?” He shakes his head, disappointed in his brother.
Nate stands now. “And you have some nerve questioning him as a father. That’s a low fucking blow, Sebastian. Even from you.”
Leo’s still shaking his head. “He is the one who has always been on your side, more than anyone in this family, and this is how you repay him—by questioning his integrity. I would have knocked you the fuck out if I were him.” He walks away, then turns back. “You know what. I’m ashamed we’re even fucking related right now.”
Sebastian’s chest heaves, breathing heavily through his nose as he stands there, taking on insult after insult. Finally, he has had enough and turns toward the elevator without another word.
“I made a mistake years ago, dating the wrong woman.” I raise my voice loud enough for him to hear in the hallway. “Thatwas a long time ago, and Juliette is nothing like her. We, as brothers, take each other as we come, and now Claud and I come with Juliette. I’ll give you this one pass, Sebastian, because I know I fucked up by going back on our deal and that you’re still hurting. You bring up my parenting one more time, and that will be the end of everything. If you want to do the right thing, come to Sunday dinner when Mom and Dad are home and meet her before you judge her or our situation.”
I walk around him and leave everyone behind when I enter my private elevator. It’s time I get back to my girls.
“What’s up?” I answer my phone when I see Matteo calling.
“Don’t get in your car. I’m right behind you and need to talk.” I turn to see Matteo running toward the curb outside our office building, with a girl trailing behind him.
Talking to him is the last fucking thing I want to do right now.
“I tried your office, but you were gone,” he says, panting.
“You need to start using the gym more. You ran less than one hundred feet and look like you’re about to die.”
He waves me off, then playfully makes a muscle. “Gym who?”
“You’re an ass.”
The woman catches up to him, looking familiar, but I can’t put my finger on it. She must work at Abbott, too.
“Hi, Harrison,” she greets.
Wait…
I narrow my eyes. “Becks?”
