And then there was the situation with Halle. I was trying to maintain my distance, but she was fucking everywhere. At the office. In the helicopter. On Knox’s yacht.
Then why’d you ask her to come to your penthouse to help with art?
“Areyouparticipating?” I asked Nate in an attempt to stall. Though I suspected I already knew the answer.
Nate draped his arm around his wife, looking inordinately pleased with himself as his wedding band glinted in the sunlight. “I’m not a bachelor.”
I wanted to punch the smug grin off his face.God, I’m tired.
It was probably a good thing Nate wasn’t participating. Because if he had been on the auction block, I could only imagine how high the bidding would’ve gone. But he was married now and, therefore, exempt from this ridiculous fundraiser.Lucky bastard.
He pressed a kiss to Emerson’s temple, and she smiled up at him in response. They were so sickeningly in love. I was happy for them, truly. But it felt as if everyone was moving on with their lives. Getting married. Having children. While I was the odd man out, pining after a woman I could never have.
“Holden Hansley is participating.” Kendall beamed, and Astrid started coughing.
“You okay?” Emerson asked her.
“Yeah!” Astrid chirped. “Yep!” Astrid held up a hand, and her face was beet red. “Sorry. Went down the wrong pipe.”
“Dad recruited a few of the players from the Hawks,” Emerson explained, as if I didn’t know who Holden Hansley was.
Everyoneknew who Holden Hansley was. He’d recently been traded to the Hollywood Hawks, and he was a fucking legend on the ice. I couldn’t wait to see him lead our team to a long-overdue Stanley Cup win.
“And several of the Leatherbacks volunteered,” Knox said, referring to players from the pro soccer team he owned.
“Or got voluntold.” I coughed the words into my hand, letting out an “oomph” when Knox elbowed me.
I wanted to help the family foundation, of course I did. I was passionate about its mission to provide low-cost or freetemporary housing to those in need. Donating money was great, and I could admit that a bachelorx auction would likely generate a shit-ton of money. But did I really need to participate?
I didn’t mind being in the public eye. But no fucking way did I want to stand on a stage and have someone value my worth. Or worse still…find me lacking.
I examined my family. For years, they’d given me shit for my playboy reputation, and now they were asking me to what? Lean into it?
“Graham would never agree to something like this,” I said to no one in particular. And not only because it would sully the Huxley brand. My older brother was too serious and brooding. He absolutely detested small talk. Just thinking of him squirming onstage and during the auction and then suffering through the date had me smiling.
But Graham wasn’t here. I was still trying to wrap my head around that fact. Not just that he was married, but that he’d left. The country. His position at the company.Me.
I kept waiting for him to change his mind. But the longer he was gone, the more my new reality sank in. He wasn’t coming back.
“Maybe not,” Knox said, his warm gaze meeting my own. “But you’re not Graham.”
“No, but I am the CEO, and I have to be more careful about how I’m perceived.”
And even if I wasn’t my brother, I was still trying to fill his shoes. An impossible task.
I missed my brother more than I ever dared to admit. Now that I’d taken over his role, I held an even greater appreciation for him and all that he’d done for the company.
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to be CEO. I just had never envisioned myself in this role. And the suddenness withwhich it had all happened was still a lot to wrap my head around.
“Pierce?”
“Sounds like an excellent idea if you ask me.” He gave me a knowing look. Another warning from our conversation the other day. His message was clear: forget about the employee and go out with someone else.
Conversation turned to other matters, and I drifted over to the railing. I stared out at the water, enjoying the feel of fresh air on my skin. Kendall joined me, placing her hand on my arm. Her diamond ring sparkled in the fading sunlight, and I glanced up to find her wearing a sheepish expression.
“I’m sorry if it felt like I put you on the spot by mentioning the auction in front of everyone.”
“It’s fine.” I twisted my hands on the railing, appreciating her concern.
