“Good. Want to hand it over to Angelo?”
Despite the revelation that he’s a staunch humanitarian, Angelo possesses fists that can break your face with one swing. “Probably a prank. Not worth getting him involved.”
–Unknown: It’s immature to block me on other numbers, Ms. Norman.
“And now I know who it is.” I drop the phone on the table and return to eating. “Some lawyer from High-Strung Dicks, trying to meet his billable hour quota, probably.”
Worry crosses Rhys’s face. “Are you getting sued? Need a lawyer? Anybody from Huxley & Webber can fuck this guy up. I’ll make sure of it.” He jumps to my defense without question. It’s like he believes me to be the kind of person who deserves his unquestioning, unconditional protection.
My heart kicks hard against my chest. Warmth tinged with apprehension races through me. I revel in his trust and protection, but a small part of me is hesitant—almost afraid for some inexplicable reason.
I shake my head, more to clear my mind than to respond to Rhys. “Told you I’m not that interesting. He’s Trevor’s lawyer, not anybody important.”
Rhys’s eyebrows immediately snap together. “What does he want?”
I start to brush him off, then stop. I’ve never spoken of Trevor—always treated him like he’s dead to me. Not even Ailee knew my dad was alive until recently, although she still has no clue who he is…yet.
But Rhys has already run into Trevor and helped me deal with him. He backed me up without asking a single question, and that deserves more than a casual rebuff. “Supposedly his mistress-turned-wife cheated on him. The son she gave him—the one he abandoned me and my mom for—isn’t his after all.”
Three heartbeats. “Wow.”
“Right?”
“So Boobsie Barbie backstabbed him.”
I chuckle at Rhys’s nickname for Lily. “I guess what goes around comes around. He betrayed Mom, so he’s getting what he deserves. Not that I condone what Lily did—she knew Dad was married. But I fault him more for the affair. She didn’t oweMom anything, but he owed his wife loyalty. He always says he only married her because she was pregnant, but I think he actually needed her more than the other way around. She was a strong woman, didn’t need his sorry ass for anything, while he wanted somebody to prop him up while he did his ‘legacy building.’”
“Legacy building?”
“Making a boatload of money so he could ‘become somebody.’” I roll my eyes. “She kept her end of the bargain. He should’ve, too. I actually wish him chlamydia.”
Rhys winces. “Harsh, but fair. So why is he contacting you? He has to know you don’t like him, to put it mildly.”
“He needs an heir, even if his only real choice happens to lack a penis.” I let out a soft snicker to hide the needle-prick pain in my heart.
“He’s unworthy of you.” Rhys’s blue eyes soften with sympathy.
Suddenly, I can’t keep the raw words in. “As much as I despise Trevor, I also hate it that I occasionally wish he weren’t such a mega dino turd. Sometimes—” I stop abruptly and rest my brow on my knuckles, hiding my face, not wanting to reveal more than I already have.
“Freckles, you have nothing to be upset about. The one who should be sorry is him—for missing out on the life he could’ve had with a loving wife and a beautiful daughter,” Rhys says.
I close my eyes briefly to regain control. His calm tone soothes the pain until I feel like my usual self again. I straighten and manage a passable smile. “Exactly. He’s the one who lost out.”
“You should send him a greeting card, consoling him on raising a child that isn’t even his, while welcoming him to the twenty-first century.”
I laugh.
He grows serious. “Are you considering being his heir?”
My stomach churns at the very idea. “Ugh, no. He keeps dangling money like I can be bought. I’m priceless.”
Rhys grins. “Yes, you are. And I’m proud of you.”
“For what?”
“For knowing your worth. A lot of people cave at the temptation of money.”
“I guess.” I heave a sigh. “But in a way, I’m very fortunate to be where I am. He’s offering a couple of billion bucks, so if I were in a bad place financially, I might take it. But I’m not. I’m gainfully employed, and my boss pays me well enough.” I smile at Rhys.
