Page 171 of The Silver Fox Brother

"Yes."

I hear Marcus hesitate on the other end, then say,

"Sorry, excuse me, Mr. Sterling—"

The line goes dead.I set down the phone and stand, moving around to the front of my desk—bracing myself for whatever is coming.

The door to my office slams open.

Rowan storms in, his face red, his jaw tight with barely controlled rage.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he shouts.

I don't have time to respond before his fist connects with my face. The punch catches me on the jaw, snapping my head to the side. Pain explodes across my face and I taste blood.

I recover quickly, my hand going to my jaw as I straighten up. I don't hit back immediately. I just stare at him. Rowan is breathing hard, his fists still clenched at hissides.

"Feel better?" I ask, my voice calm despite the throbbing in my face.

"You hired Winter?" Rowan demands.

"What kind of sick game are you playing?"

My stomach drops.

He knows.

But then I process his words.

HiredWinter. Notsleepingwith Winter. NotfuckingWinter behind his back.

Just..hired.

"It's business," I say evenly. "She's the best designer for the project."

"Bullshit!" Rowan steps closer, his finger jabbing toward my chest.

"You're trying to get back at me. Hiring my girlfriend to work on your project."

"She's not your girlfriend—"

“—She is!" Rowan's voice rises.

"We're together. We've been together for two years."

I cross my arms, keeping my expression neutral.

"Youweretogether. Past tense. Your relationship with her is over."

Rowan shakes his head. "No it's not. She still loves me. We just had a disagreement, but we're getting back together."

For a moment, I think he's about to reveal that he knows about Naples. That Winter told him. That this whole confrontation is about me crossing a line I shouldn't have crossed.

But he doesn't.

"Did she tell you that?" I ask carefully.

Rowan's jaw tightens.