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“Yeah. No shit. You want to talk about it over lunch?”
“I don't know how chatty I'm feeling, or how hungry. But if you want to come here we can have a desk picnic. I’m trying to actually work.”
“I'm down with a desk picnic, if you’re part of the meal.”
My face flushes. Okay, if he can get me aroused after the morning I’ve had, he’s a keeper. “You might be the devil.”
“I am definitelyyourdevil.”
I bite my lip through a smile and fiddle with the stapler on my desk before giving Ben the easy directions here. Ten minutes after ending our call, Sonja calls and says that Greer has left the building. That was fast.
Well, I’ve got two hours to spare before Ben’ll arrive, so I kill time by checking in with some of our designers I haven’t talked to in ages. I realize how little involved I am in the day-to-day and I vow to change that. Nilssen Designs will be mine someday. And while there’s still plenty of time before Daddy even thinks of retiring, I need to be more aggressive with my desire to learn how to run this company.
When my phone rings at 11:09 and I see that it’s a certain someone I’m fuming over, I feel sick. Like I don’t even want to answer. But at the same time I’m dying to grill him.
“Hello?”
“Darling. Good morning.”
“Morning.”
He pulls in a long breath. “Oh, my sweetheart. I understand Greer talked with you.”
“She did.”
“And?”
“Andwhat?”
“Oh dear,” he sighs. “You sound upset.”
I flick a paperclip off my desk and it flies across the room, hitting a picture of me and Daddy hanging on the wall. “You sound surprised that I sound upset.”
“I’m not. But I was hoping for a miracle. For what it’s worth, I didn’t want her to tell you yet. I wanted us to do it together.”
Ugghh. “You’re dating my sister. Living with her. Sharing a damnbedwith her.”
“Yes, Tove. I’m aware.” He sounds miffed.
What gives him the right?
“Are you? Aware that if Mom hadn’t given her up, she’d basically be your stepdaughter?”
“She’s not my stepdaughter. She’s not my flesh and blood either. But I do understand your reservations.”
I set my teeth. “I don’t have reservations, I find it disgusting. But aside from that, you lied to me on Tuesday when I brought this entire situation to your attention.”
“I didn’t lie, kitten.”
“You flat out told me you didn’t know I had a sibling. What would you call that?”
“The truth. I just found out about this myself.”
Stunned, I lean back in my chair. “You did?”
“Yes. It’s just as much a shock to me as it is to you. But I’m learning to embrace it because … I do love Greer and I hope you will too. But look, I’ve got more pressing things to contend with right now. Will you do me a favor, sweetheart?”
How can he have something more pressing than this? Has someone dropped me off in the twilight zone? Because that’s how this day feels.
