Page 147 of The Rebel Billionaire

“Are we talking about Brooke?”

“She’s a young woman, at a very different stage in her life,” she says. “There’s a lot you don’t know about her.”

“I’m very aware of that, and there’s nothing going on between Brooke and me,” I say, which is technically true, though not the whole truth.

“I’d suggest you keep it that way.”

When she leaves, I drop into my chair.

There’s a lot you don’t know about her.

How bad can it be? She brought Brooke into our lives and even invited her to spend Christmas with our family.

My muscles tighten, an unfamiliar pressure building in my chest.

My mother is right. I’ve never covered for someone before. I’m meticulous and have high expectations, but we’re all human, and something was definitely wrong with Brooke this morning. Every bone in my body told me as much.

I pick up my phone, tempted to call, but drop it back in its cradle.

Stop, you’re overstepping. She hasn’t asked for your help. She told you she’s fine. You need to let it go.

Letting it go is potentially one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

CHAPTER 43

HARPER

There’s a knock at my door.

I shrug off the blanket I’ve wrapped around me since coming home and cover my sketchbook.

I fucked up, and Alex covered for me in front of a room full of important clients and investors.

“I’m not sure what’s going on, but it needs to stop,” Sophia says, walking past me and into my apartment.

“Sophia?” I say. “Come in.”

She moves through the apartment, inspecting my bedroom and bathroom.

“Not bad,” she says. “At least it’s clean and tidy.”

“Sophia, I don’t mean to be rude, but what are you doing here?”

Sophia steps back into my living area, her presence filling the space.

“Sandro,” she says, her gaze locking on mine. “He covered for you this morning.”

“I don’t understand,” I tell her truthfully.

What the hell?

“For some reason, my son covered for you, with both our clients and me. I want to know what’s going on. Are you sleeping with him?”

“What? No!” I stare at her wide-eyed. “Definitely not.”

My reaction must put her mind at ease, because her shoulders lose some of their tension.

“Want to tell me what happened?”