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Bzzzzzz. Bzzzzzz. Bzzzzzz.
Cole eased his phone from his inner pocket again. It was Gabe. It was just after nine thirty on the East Coast. His family had no way of knowing they were reaching out to him at odd hours where he was.
He answered the call. “Yeah?” he said.
“Hey, stranger.”
He chuckled before he took another deep sip of his drink. “How can I help you, big brother?” he drawled to the man who was older than him by two years.
They’d grown up close and had remained so in their adult years.
“Asking just what spurned this journey you’re on would be a waste of time, I guess?” Gabe asked.
Cole’s grip on his glass tightened. Usually, he and Gabe were honest with each other. In fact, Gabe was the only family member who knew of his relationship with Jillian. He knew his brother would keep whatever secrets he’d shared with him, but he was hesitant to share just how much Jillian’s and their mother’s actions had angered and disturbed him.
“If you sneaked off to San Francisco, believe me, I understand,” Gabe assured him.
Cole frowned as he sat on one of the lounge chairs. “San Francisco?” he asked.
“To be with Jillian.”
Cole’s gut clenched.
So that’s where she is.
He had made it his business to avoid knowing Jillian’s whereabouts. Out of New York was more than enough. “We’re done,” he said, his voice sounding cold even to his ears.
“You want to talk about it?”
She used ending things with me as a stepping stone for her career.
He could still feel her heel in his back.
“Nah,” Cole said with a shake of his head even though his brother couldn’t see him.
“You sure?”
“Yes,” he admitted with a begrudging smile.
The line went quiet.
“Gabe?” Cole wondered if the call had ended.
“One sec,” Gabe said, sounding distracted.
Cole knew his brother well, and Gabe was a thinker. That’s what made him the best choice to take over as CEO of Cress, INC.—if he hadn’t already turned down the position. “Leave it alone, Gabe,” he warned, knowing he was putting the pieces to the puzzle together.
“You’re not speaking to Mom, who pushed for Jillian’s new executive chef position...”
Cole jumped to his feet. “Gabe,” he snapped.
“Okay, okay.” He acquiesced. “Listen, I called because I need you to attend the Chef Gala.”
Every year Cress, INC. held a glitzy dinner party for all the chefs from across the country. Gabe served as the president of the restaurant division, and this event was essential to his brother. But it would put Cole directly in the room with the two women he was avoiding—Jillian and his mother.
“No,” Cole said firmly.
“Listen, Monica and I are announcing our engagement. Ineedyou there,” Gabe stressed.
