Page 65 of Perfect Satisfaction

“That wasn’t malicious, that was blunt. Besides, I merely repeated what was told to me.”

“Who said it?”

“Angie. It was at Dani’s urging I printed it.”

Carys’s laughter peals out before she can stop herself. “The most renowned supermodel on the planet said to call out our Becks? Now that’s truly rich.”

I brush my nails against my skirt before blowing on them. “I thought so.”

“What about the phone call about your ‘parents’ fiftieth anniversary?”

“I happened to be in Dubai at the time wanting to throttle JB if he made one more change to the timeline of a software launch. I was going to pay the very nice housekeepers at the villa we stayed in to get on camera.”

Carys snorts before regaining control. “Talk to me about StellaNova—specifically Arek Ronan.”

I bristle beneath her penetrating aqua gaze. “What do you want to know?”

“What are your feelings for your husband?” Before I can lay waste to her verbally, she holds up her hands. “I have to ask.”

I surge out of the seat and stare out the window—a window I know damn well from being briefed by Angie faces Arek’s office. “Complicated.”

“That’s honest.”

“What’s the point of being here if I’m not going to be honest?”

“Have you thought about being honest with your husband?”

My brows shoot up. “He has accused me of breaking my wedding vows, of sleeping with Joshua Basset without a ‘by your leave.’ Yet, I’m the one who has endured photo after photo of him with Liza Hina? If I could shove him out his office window without repercussion, I’d do so.”

“Then why now?” I hear the unasked,Why reconcile with your husband?

My voice is heated. “Because my father decided to play God from beyond the grave and if he were just playing with me, I’d tell him to go to hell. His lawyers could dig up his decaying body and bury all one hundred and fifty million dollars with his corpse.”

Carys frowns. “That’s not a third. He’s paying off your husband.”

“Noticed that? Remember, dear papa was a misogynist. His ‘grand plan’”—I air quote—“is for Arek and I to live together for the next year. It’s a punishment for me daring to make a mistake—as if falling in love with the wrong man wasn’t punishment enough.”

“What happens if you don’t?”

“Then Joshua will get all of the money earmarked for me, but all of the shares of MSW he left intended for JB will revert to public offerings.” I let my words sink in.

“Good god!”

I lean forward and press my hands against her desk. “Knowing that this impacts a half a million jobs, knowing who Brendan and JB are to me, do you think I wouldn’t do anything to stop my father’s masochistic plan—even living with my soon-to-be-ex-husband?”

“I’m surprised they let you, to be honest.”

I heave a sigh. “I tried their route last night. Arek refuses to budge.”

I spin around and face the windows again. I point out the office to Carys. “His office is right there. Did you know that?”

“Yes. It’s why I had the windows soundproofed recently.”

“I knew I liked you.”

“Thanks. Same goes which is why I’m going to share something with you.” Carys proceeds to tell me what it was like for her to have feelings for her husband David while they were still working for Wildcard—which has a strict no fraternization clause. “Seeing someone you care for be with other people changes who you are fundamentally. And we weren’t married, weren’t even dating.”

I blow out a gust of air. “You’re saying I’m setting myself up for a world of pain.”