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I quirk an eyebrow. “And those are?”
She looks at me as if I’m missing the obvious. “He feels you got his buddy fired”.
“Who in the hell was his buddy?”
Nat rolls her eyes. “Greg Sumpter. Didn’t you know that?”
Chapter Fifteen
A Thousand Words
Royce
Isitatmydesk on the 60thfloor of the Grayson Building, watching the video and scrolling through the pictures.
I repeat this process at least once a day as I replay the last conversation I had with Sin, the night Gramps collapsed.
My fingers shake as I hit the button to pull her up on speed dial. I’d replaced Gramps’s number with hers as the first one on the list. I’ll have to change that. In fact, I plan to remove her completely… after a while.
I’m cordial as I greet her. Perhaps it is a misunderstanding on my part. My eyes could be lying to me, making me see something that isn’t real.
“Sorry I didn’t call you, Sin. Did Thomas tell you that Gramps was in the hospital but he is better now?”
“Yes, he did.” She pauses for a beat and then says, “And Royce, there is no need to apologize for not calling. I understand completely.”
I scrub a hand down my face. “A promise is a promise, Sin.”
Like how she promised to stick with me. She lied.
“What happened? Thomas wasn’t able to tell me much. Only that your grandfather was resting and would go home later today.”
Anger at her deception runs through me like a stampeding herd. I ball my fists, digging my nails into my palms to keep from lashing out. I don’t want to let on how much she’s hurt me.
“I’m at his penthouse now, getting him some clothes. At the party, Gramps had eaten...something... well, a lot of things that didn’t agree with him. Caused him to have a severe case of acid reflux.”
I know Gramps didn’t end up in the hospital because of me, but what if he would have? I sigh, wishing Sin had stayed true so she could help me work through the guilt I feel. She won’t because she’s already moved on. Yet even knowing this, I can’t help but let her in. I love her. I want to believe in her.
“I thought it was his heart, Sin. We had an argument right before, and I thought... fuck, I’ve never been so scared.”
My eyes shift once more to what is on my laptop screen and my anger comes back full force. I can barely keep my tone civil as I say,“I’m staying in New York to make sure he’s okay. Since Thomas is down there, he will take over my duties at STS while I’m gone.”
Yes, Thomas will take care of a lot of things. You included.
“Sure, Royce. I understand.”
“Thanks, Sin.”Tiffany finds me in Gramps’s home office to ask where the coffee is. I muffle the phone and tell her I’ll help her in a moment. She leaves, a sad smile on her face. She knows I’m talking to Sin. She’s seen the video, too.
I have to go before I turn into a weak bitch and beg Sin not to leave me.
“Stay strong, okay? I love—“
I end the call while she’s still talking.
I start the video once more. The one I received while still in the hospital, worrying over Gramps.
On her first day back at work, early enough to make coffee in the break room for her colleagues, Sin and Thomas emerge from a conference room. How she came to know my cousin so quickly begs investigation. Especially as she’s touching him on the arm.
“From what Royce told me, your grandfather is strong. He will be okay.”
