He leans forward, aiming a finger gun at me. “So, what you’re telling me, you upstanding citizen, is that you keep getting these land grants because politicians want todo the right thing. Is that it?”
“I know that’s a strange concept to you,” I say, keeping my voice even. “But some people don’t want to torture innocent folks just because they are poor. Maybe they believe they deserve to live in a place without mold and where the toilets work.”
Aaron raises his hands, the picture of innocence. “I didn’t know you were such a bleeding heart.”
“Let’s keep this professional, Pike,” Ethan grunts from beside me.
“I just think we can work something out,” Aaron says, refusing to look at me. “A way for you to do good, a way for us to make some money. We need to talk about sharing our resources.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “Perhaps you ought to tell McDonald’s to give the Big Mac patent to Burger King. Share our resources… we all know that means you want to pillage my company, take what you can, then bleed this city dry.”
“You’re spread thin,” Aaron snaps. “The West Coast, commercials, these Good Samaritan projects. Do you seriously think you can keep this up forever? Eventually, something will have to give.”
He wants me to tell him all about our Public Liaison Initiative. That’s the name we give to our efforts to schmooze politicians to help get our permits. It’sslightlyunder the table, but we only use PLI when it comes to low-income housing. The greater good. I refuse to feel guilty about that.
A knock comes at the door before I can reply. Through the glass window, I can see a pair of glimmering earrings I recognize. I keep my face passive, but my gut twists and my body heats up. She looks gorgeous today, as usual, with pleated pants and a pressed shirt. Her hair bun makes me want to pull it free and run my fingers through her mussed perfection.
“Coffee, everyone?” She asks, eyes on the floor. Has someone said something to her? I hate seeing her so nervous and withdrawn.
“Finally,” Aaron says, laughing harshly. “I thought I was going to die of dehydration.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” Izzy murmurs.
“You don’t need to apologize to him,” I snap.
“Oh, she doesn’t?” Aaron looks at Izzy in a way that makes me sick, shamelessly letting his gaze roam up and down her, a sneer fixed on his face.
I can’t show weakness. Or let him see that I care. But if he thinks I’m going to sit here and let him ogle her, he’s got another thing coming.
“No,” I grunt. “She doesn’t. You’ve got no right to talk down to my employees. If that’s your game, Pike, then I’ll throw you out myself.”
Under the table, my fists are clenched. I’m ready for a proper fight. But on the outside—I hope—I’m as calm as a cucumber.
“You’re right,” Aaron says. “I would never dare to insult your employees. But considering that Isabella and I are family, I think we can make an exception. Isn’t that right, Izzy?”
Family?Family? What is he talking about?
Aaron tilts his head at me, that sinister smirk on his face. “You didn’t know, Vale?”
“I don’t prejudice my employees based on who their family is,” I tell him evenly.
“Clever way to avoid the question.” Aaron laughs uglily. It makes me want to knock his teeth in. “My sweet niece here makes a good cup of coffee. I’ll give her that. I would’ve let her work for me if it wasn’t for the fact she’s absolutely god-awful at everything else.”
My chair falls to the floor when I bolt to my feet. Aaron’s smirk widens, like this is the reaction he was waiting for. As far as heknows, he’s baiting me by insulting my employee, by getting one over on me. He doesn’t know about the rest of it: how badly I want to kiss her, hold her.Ownher.
“Related or not, you’ve gone too fucking far. I took this meeting in good faith. But you’ve got no right to talk down to my employees. I don’t care if she’s your niece.”
Don’t you care that she withheld that information?My father mocks.She lied to you, son. What else is she hiding?
Aaron shrugs, stroking his beard. He’s almost twenty years older than me. When he looks at me, it’s as if he can’t believe I’d ever dream of standing up to him.
“Don’t just shrug,” I snarl. “Get the fuck out of my office. And when you leave, keep your mouth shut. No snide little comments or trying to play the tough guy. You’re a scumbag, Pike, that’s all.”
“Jeez,” Aaron says, shaking his head slowly. “A man makes a little comment and you go all holier-than-thou. You’ve never chewed out an employee? How about family, hmm?”
I say nothing. There’s no way he knows about my father, Sebastian Goodfellow, and Liam, and that whole mess. No, damn way. He’s just trying to make me even angrier than he already has.
He sighs and stands. “I suppose we'd better head out.” His team stands up a beat later. Aaron bows in Izzy’s direction, but he keeps his eyes fixed on me. “My sweet niece, please accept my sincerest apologies. I’d hate for my mother to learn I’d behaved so disrespectfully. I’m sure she’d be positivelysickwith shock if she learned about this.”
