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“It’s probably for the best if you don’t,” I tell her. But one of the things she said catches in my memory. “You said Rayne has ‘done a lot for me.’ What has she done?”
Natalia’s eyes flare wider for a second. “Nothing. Well, I meant—She was respectful of what happened between the two of you. The last night at the house… she could have taken that shit to the newspapers if she wanted. You’re a big enough name that there could have been a story.”
She’s right. A death on my property could have been front page news for a day or two. Even with the NDAs all of my staff have to sign, rumors have a way of bubbling up. But where Ilya’s death was concerned, there was never even a whisper. No one knew a thing.
Which made those first months after he died that much harder.
How do you grieve someone the world doesn’t even know existed?
I wanted to help you,Rayne said, the ocean lapping at her jeans.I could have helped.
I acted like she had nothing to offer me but meaningless sex—hell, I even told her as much, being the cruel, self-loathing bastard that I am—but that isn’t true. Having someone who knew him, someone who cared… it could have eased some of the weight. Maybe it could have even—
I shake my head slightly, clearing the thought, and sip my coffee. It burns my tongue, but I don’t flinch. The pain is centering. It reminds me of what I’m doing here.
“You didn’t talk, either,” I remind Natalia. “But it’s not like you did it from the good of your heart. You just didn’t want to be sued into oblivion.”
She cocks her fists on her hips. “How much attention were you paying to the news here? How many times did you check in on what your former employees were doing?”
I don’t need to answer. We both know I didn’t check in at all.
“I could have talked to someone anonymously,” Natalia suggests. “I would have, too. You left my friend high and dry, and I was out of a job a few weeks early. I could have used the cash.”
“But you didn’t because of… your superior morals?”
She shakes her head. “I didn’t because ofRayne’ssuperior morals. She made me swear I wouldn’t say a word to anyone. When I asked her why, she said you didn’t deserve it.”
Didn’t deserve what: Ilya’s death? The bad publicity? The betrayal?
“Then it looks like your sacrifice was for nothing,” I say flatly. “Rayne was wrong. I deserve everything coming my way.”
“Don’t I fucking know it. I mean, I believed her for a bit. If Rayne likes you, it means you might actually be worth a shit. But after what you pulled at the bar the other night, I think Rayne is way better off without you. I’m actually trying to get her set up with a surf instructor. He’s blonde and tan. Shirtless more often than not. Most importantly, he’s not a raging asshole 24/7.”
I can see right through Natalia. She’s trying to rile me up. Even as she tells me Rayne deserves better than me, she’s trying to reel me in.
I just wish it wasn’t working so well.
But sure enough, like clockwork, jealousy flames in my chest, hot and bright. The man Rayne was with at the bar appears in my mind. I already took care of him, but there will always be more men interested in Rayne. How could they not be?
Natalia continues like she can read my thoughts. “If the surfer doesn’t work out, there are always more fish in the sea. And you know as well as I do that Rayne can have her pick. She’s a catch. So it’s only a matter of time before she moves on and forgets you even existed.”
“Remember who signs your checks,” I grit out.
She shrugs. “You asked to hear what I have to say. But fine, whatever. All I’m saying is, someone needed to tell you what a mistake you are making. Rayne is the best woman you could ever hope to have.”
“No one needed to tell me a damn thing,” I growl. “I asked to hear what you had to say because I was curious, not because I need your advice. If I ever choose to seek Rayne out again, it will be my decision. It won’t have anything to do with you.”
Before Natalia can fire back what I’m sure will be a cutting insult she’ll live to regret, German walks into the kitchen waving his phone in the air. “Here it is. Just like you asked, I found out—”
“German,” I bark, cutting him off.
The last thing I need is Natalia finding out what I asked German to do and giving Rayne a heads up. I’d like to keep this advantage to myself.
He looks up at me and finally notices Natalia. “Oh. Sorry. Mixed company.”
“She was just leaving.”
Natalia takes the dismissal in stride, narrowing her eyes only slightly before she turns on her heel and stomps out of the kitchen.
