CHAPTER 3
I’ll Be There for You
Spencer
“Did you get my calls?”
“Is this a trick question?” I asked my sister when she waltzed into my office. After the tenth message, I’d placed my phone ondo not disturb. Because Sabrina didn’t want anything. There was never an emergency. Somehow, she’d concluded that everyone needed to drop everything when she had an idea. This time, she’d solicited donations for the annual Jack and Jill Club Debutante Ball in April. When no one responded, she’d proceeded to badger us—in age order—until they relented and agreed to support the endeavor. It was my turn.
Sabrina took a seat across from my desk. “Ryan agreed to attend, so did Mark. All that leaves is you. We’d love to have Cross Investments sponsor one of the debutantes. Can I put you down to hold an entrepreneurship workshop?”
Ignoring her, I clicked through my emails. My morning had been jam-packed with meetings and my inbox seemed togrow exponentially since the last time I’d checked. Which reminded me it was time to fill the vacant admin role.
“Well?” she asked.
I met her waiting gaze. “No.”
Three.
Two.
One.
“I know you didn’t just tell me no,” she snapped.
Never failed. My sister was the oldest of the group. By the time I was born, she was already married with a kid. Since Momma worked, Sabrina served as a stand-in mother. At one point, she’d even offered to raise me herself, but my parents weren’t playing that shit. That didn’t stop her from trying to dictate my life.
“I did,” I told her, leaning back in my chair. “My answer hasn’t changed since last year. I have too much on my plate with work.”
“You own this company,” she argued. “You can take time for what’s important.”
I tapped my pen on the desk. “My work is important. To me.”
“Baby brother, it’s one event,” she insisted. “A couple of hours out of your day. Besides, I thought it would be a great opportunity for you to meet one of our board members.”
I should’ve known there was more to the story.
“She’s a lovely woman, successful. She’s divorced and?—”
“Hell no.” The last time my sister tried to hook me up, I ended up at the restaurant of the woman’s ex-husband who wanted her back. After I almost dragged that man in front of his patrons and employees, I vowed to never go out with someone Sabrina thought was ‘lovely’.
“Spencer Lavell Cross.”
“Sabrina, stop,” I warned. “If you need cash, I got you. But my time isn’t up for negotiation—not for your event or for your board member.”
I turned my attention back to my computer. As I scrolled, an unread message from Alaiya caught my eye.
To: Spencer Cross
From: Alaiya Young
Subject: Urgent
Realtor got back to me this morning on the Martz property. Potential offer on the table. Meet me there at 1:00 pm.
Best,
Alaiya
