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“We believe in a personal touch here at Silver Start,” George says importantly. “I thought it best that I fly down here and look you all in the eye. I’m an old-fashioned man that way.”

“You’re clearly old-fashioned in many ways,” Gabriel says. His usual charming tone is firmly in place, but I know him well enough to know that he’s secretly insulting the man.

“Thank you, thank you.” George chuckles, missing the subtle dig. “Can’t help the way I’m made!”

I can’t help loving these three men, I want to say. How is that any different?

George looks over at me with obvious appraisal. “I must say, you are a lovely woman. I can understand why Ford was so drawn to you.”

“Thank you, sir. I’ve been told I clean up nice,” I joke lightly. “And I’m so sorry that Liam caused such problems for everyone.”

“My brother is… not very successful in life,” Ford explains diplomatically. “And he cheated on Maeve back when they were together. It’s actually how we got together. I had no idea that Liam had cheated on her, but I knew that things had ended and she was in a difficult place, so I offered her a job.”

“I didn’t want to speak badly about his brother to him,” I say, because that’s true. I didn’t.

“Even though he had wronged you?” George asks with old-fashioned concern.

What an antiquated way to put that. “I didn’t think at the time that Ford would believe me. I didn’t know him very well personally. And I didn’t see the point in causing friction in the family. There was no point to it. I don’t ever want to be petty. But then Ford and I got together and… I couldn’t keep it from him. I needed him to know the truth.”

“We kept our relationship private since she was still working for us,” Ford adds. “I’m also a very private person in general. I don’t think it’s anyone’s business what goes on in my personal life. But when we got engaged, we knew that it would get out eventually, and my family deserves to know. Liam took it very badly.”

“He kept trying to get me to date him again,” I say, and I can’t keep the genuine horror and upset from my voice. “It’s been… very upsetting.”

Ford puts his hand over mine and squeezes gently. I can see Hayden and Gabriel shooting me sympathetic looks across the table.

“I should’ve punched him even harder,” Ford mutters under his breath.

I smile at him gratefully. “I’m fine, really.”

“I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with such unpleasantness,” George says with what seems like genuine sympathy.

“Well, we can’t always choose our family,” I point out diplomatically.

“Very true,” one of the other Silver Start executives mutters darkly, and I wince in sympathy at whatever family drama he’s thinking about.

“I’m so glad that we could clear this all up,” George says jovially. “So, just to confirm—you are with Ford?”

“Yes.” Not really, but I say it firmly.

“And only with him?”

“I feel… it’s a bit insulting to ask her this,” Hayden says, clearly restraining himself from saying more. “We’re happy to bring in as many character witnesses as you need to prove what kind of person Liam is. I don’t think anything he told you should have to be defended or disproved.”

“I would still like to hear her say it,” George says stubbornly.

I sigh internally. I’m used to dealing with men like this from my work as an executive assistant—men who simply want things the way they want them, and don’t care for things like logic or common sense.

“How do you know I’m not lying to you right now?” I tease him lightly. “Seems to me this is a big game of he said, she said. But if you want to hear it, I’m happy to tell you. I’m only with Ford, and nothing that Liam said is true.”

George smiles with satisfaction. “I’m glad this is all settled then.”

I nod tightly.

The food arrives and for a moment I’m occupied with it, but then George keeps talking. “You must understand that we have to be very conscious who we get into bed with—if you’ll pardon the phrase. Silver Start has been known from its inception as a bastion of principle and morality, in our environmental work, and all the way down to our personal standards.”

Wow. I can’t believe how pretentious this guy is.

I want to look at Ford and the others and ask them why they’re working so hard to partner with someone like this. There have to be other companies they can work with instead—people who won’t be so insufferably sanctimonious.