Page 27 of Threaded Lies

Why she’s with Chad.

Because I need to see her.

“The new ad campaign.”

NINE

Rowan

I’m hyperaware of everything.

The fall of footsteps down the hall. The click of office doors being closed. The specific rings to each person’s cell phone. One deep baritone that I’ve been successful so far in avoiding.

It’s my third full day back in the office and the first that Holden’s been here. I try to pretend I don’t care he’s here but that’s a lie.

“Holden would like to see you still,” Audrey says from my doorway.

“And my response from the last three times you asked still stands.” I lift my eyes to meet the displeasure in hers. “Everything he needs I’ve supplied him with via email. Every question he’s asked has been answered. Every wild goose chase he’s attempted to put me on has been dealt with. I’m busy and have more important things to do than to cater to his whims that don’t have anything to do with my job. So, again, tell him to check his email.”

I swear there is a flicker of a smile on the ice princess’s lips, but it’s gone as soon as I see it. “I believe the whole point of asking you to his office is that he wants to have a face-to-face discussion with you.”

“Hm. Yes.” I look back toward the documents I’m signing before glancing back up to her with utter disinterest. “Well, let him know I’m busy. If I get caught up, I’ll be sure to find him.”

Audrey raises her eyebrows and tsks. “You’re playing with fire, Miss Rothschild.”

I purse my lips and hold her stare. “Or maybe he’s the one who is.”

She gives the subtlest of nods, but it takes her a few seconds before she backs out of my office.

My sigh is long and measured as I close my eyes for a beat to center myself.

When I open them, Rhett is standing in front of me. “You good?”

“Mmm. Yep.” Yet another man who is lying to me about the deal being finalized.

“You sure? You seem … off?”

I meet eyes that match mine and get smugness when I’m hoping for guilt. “Off?” I chuckle. “Why would I be off? You’ve agreed to sell our company. You—”

“You’re getting married. Doesn’t that trump everything else, Row? You have so much to look forward to.”

“Yep. Seems so.”

He angles his head to the side and studies me for a beat. “You want to tell me what made you have a change of heart in regards to Chad? Talk about coming out of the blue. I mean … I figured he’d at least have asked me if it were okay first.”

I shrug. “Being blindsided sucks, doesn’t it?”

“I deserve that,” he says but clearly thinks I’m referring to the deal in general and not the deal being closed. “Why the about-face though?”

“I just … “I struggle with what to say and how to explain. I’ve practiced the answer a million times in the mirror but facing my brother is so very different. “He’s a good guy and after all this turmoil, I realized how maybe it’s finally time to—”

“Out. I need to talk to Rowan,” Holden orders as he strides into my office like he owns the place.

I mean … he does in fact own the place, but I’m too busy focusing on the man I loathe and want and desire and detest to even consider the point.

“Excuse me?” I say as Rhett voices his own protest. “You can’t just waltz in here and give orders.”

“I believe I just did.” Holden crosses his arms over his chest and lifts his eyebrows. He doesn’t once look at my brother but he sure as shit speaks to him. “Shut the door on your way out, Rhett.”