Page 23 of The Temporary Bride

I nod, turning my gaze back to the screen. “No end in sight.”

He takes the leather seat opposite the desk. He’s quiet for a long moment, which isn’t unusual for him, since he’s more the introspective type than I am. I can feel his stare boring into me as I work.

“What’s up, Reid?” I ask finally, my eyes still glued to the screen.

“I actually came here to ask you the same thing,” he retorts. “So you tell me.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You’re the CTO,” I point out. “None of the shit I’m doing here is relevant to you, so I’m not about to make it your problem.”

“I’m not here to ask about Dad’s files. I just wanted to find out how you’re doing.”

“How I’m doing?”

“Yeah. Emotionally, mentally… whatever.”

I do my best to stifle the snort of laughter, then shake my head. “It is what it is, man.”

“Okay, seriously,” Reid says. “I can see the gears grinding in your head. I’m surprised smoke isn’t coming out of your ears by now.”

I chuckle humorlessly. Of course Reid can tell that my brain is churning up a storm. It’s always been this way between us. I can keep a secret from almost anyone, but it’s harder to fool my twin.

“Fine,” I sigh, turning away from my computer to face him. “I’m just stressed. There’s a lot on my plate, if you can believe it.”

“No shit.”

“I’ve got big shoes to fill.”

“And a wedding to plan,” Reid says quietly.

I stiffen in my chair. “Yeah. And that.”

“We haven’t really gotten the chance to talk about that,” Reid says. “You know her from school, don’t you?”

Warily, I nod. “We went to business school together. She was there at the same time as me and Spence.”

“So how’s all this landing on you?”

I’m not sure what to tell him—what’s safe to tell him. I can’t admit to the rush of protectiveness I felt a few nights ago when I spoke to Spencer on the phone. I can’t tell him that I thought of her in the shower.

So instead, I shrug and say, “You know what Dad said to me, the last time we talked?”

“What?”

“He told me to trust his vision.” I think back to that conversation. God, it feels like it was only last week.

“For the company, or…”

I shrug. “I have to wonder if this is anywhere near what Dad’s vision actually was.”

“What do you mean?”

“Would they have forced me into this arranged marriage even if Dad hadn’t passed away?”

Reid’s face falls, and he leans back in his chair. “Oh.”

“Or do you think it was just a contingency for his death—to keep the company strong?”

Reid shakes his head slowly. “I don’t know, man.”