Page 172 of The Silver Fox Brother

"I was at her place last night. We talked. She needs time but she's coming back to me."

The words hit me harder than his fist did.

Last night? He was at her place last night?

I don't know whether to believe him. But the certainty in his voice makes my chest tighten.

"If she's coming back to you," I say slowly, "then why does it matter who I hire for my projects?"

Rowan's hands clench into fists again.

"Because you're doing this to hurt me. You hired her because you knew it would piss me off."

"I hired her because she's talented."

"You hired her because she's mine!"

"She's not yours," I say, my voice hardening.

"She's not a possession, Rowan. She's a person who makes her own decisions."

Rowan laughs bitterly. "Right. Just like the company was a decision you made. Just like everything you do is about proving you're better than me."

"I'm not trying to prove anything."

"You left Sterling Commercial because you couldn't handle working under Conrad," Rowan says.

"You had to go off and build your own empire. Show everyone that you could do it better than Dad ever could."

"I left because I wanted to build something of my own. That had nothing to do with you."

"Everything you do has to do with me!" Rowan shouts.

"You've spent our entire lives competing with me. And now you're using Winter to do it."

I step closer, my own anger rising now.

"I'm not using anyone. This is a business arrangement. Nothing more."

I say the words, but the lie is palpable. Itissomething more—much more. Rowan stares at me for a long moment, his chest heaving with anger.

Then he says quietly, "Stay away from her."

"That's not your decision to make."

"I'm tired of you taking things from me," Rowan says, his voice low and dangerous.

"First the company, then Dad's respect, now the woman I love. I'm done letting you win."

"This isn't a competition."

"It's always been a competition," Rowan says.

"And I'm not losing her to you."

He turns and walks toward the door. I should let him leave. Should let this end here.

But I don't.