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“Morning,” I respond, striding over to the glass-fronted fridge to grab the chilled water I came in here for.
“Good Friday so far?” Asher asks, the casual smirk that’s normally a permanent fixture on his face appearing.
Cool air chills my face as I grab a glass bottle from the neat line of waters before shutting the fridge door. “No major complaints.”
“I’m hearing good things about Thompson & Thompson.”
I nod before twisting the cap off my water and taking a long sip. Bubbles burn my throat as Asher attempts more small talk. I’m guessing he’s trying to distract me from Isabel.
“Ready for the Henderson pitch this afternoon?” he asks me.
“I won’t be there. I’m leaving for Las Vegas in a couple of hours.”
Asher’s eyebrows crawl up his forehead until they’re nearly to his hairline. “You’regoing toVegas?”
Irritation sparks in response to his incredulous tone, so I address Isabel in response. “That’s what Ijustsaid, no?”
She nods and clears her throat, smoothing the unwrinkled fabric of her dress. Wisely opting to say nothing.
If she and Asher are actually involved, I’m surprised. Asher is competent in his role, but everyone knows he works here because of Crew. In contrast, Isabel is ruthless and motivated. Every project we’ve worked on together, she’s impressed me. I wouldn’t have guessed she’d be willing to possibly sacrifice her professional reputation for a fling with a colleague. And I wouldn’t have guessed Asher was willing to overlook the obvious crush she had on Crew when she first started working here. I always figured he avoided women interested in Crew, the same way I do.
“Enjoy your…break.” I cap my water and head for the door.
Employees scatter out of my way as I stride back down the carpeted hallway toward my office. I have a dozen tasks to take care of before leaving a long list I’m sure has grown in the past few minutes.
My hasty steps falter when a familiar voice calls out my name.
I look over at Scarlett, and so does everyone else in the immediate vicinity. My sister-in-law saunters toward me purposefully, ignoring the many stares she’s attracting.
There’s no trace of the casual attire she was wearing last night. Scarlett looks every inch the successful billionaire she is, dressed in a tailored wool coat. Her dark hair is pulled up in a high ponytail that swings with each confident stride, the red-bottomed heels she’s wearing not slowing her down.
I pause in place, my grip on the glass bottle tightening as I experience a flicker of uncertainty.
I’m never quite sure how to act around Scarlett. She has an intimidating presence, but it’s more than that. I spent years thinking I would marry her. She represents part of the future I expected to be living right now.
“Morning, Scarlett.” I lean forward and kiss her cheek, hyperaware of how this hallway is lined by glass offices.
“Good morning, Oliver.”
In public, Scarlett and I are unfailingly polite around each other. In private, we don’t have much of a relationship at all. Most of our interactions are performative.
“Crew’s office is the other way.”
Her humorless expression shifts, revealing a glimmer of amusement. “I know. I was headed toward yours.”
“Oh?” I incline my head, masking my uneasiness. That’s another thing about Scarlett. Her poker face is as good as—better than—mine. I rarely have any idea what she’s thinking, and now is no exception.
“I wanted to thank you,” Scarlett says. “For last night.”
“Oh.” I break eye contact and tug on my tie. The knot suddenly feels too tight and restrictive. Uneasiness has turned uncomfortable as we move into totally foreign territory. I’m from apretend it never happenedfamily, and my guess is the Ellsworths were like that too. “All I did was get him drunker.”
Scarlett’s signature red lips quirk upward. “You did more than that. You were there for Crew. That means a lot to him. And…to me.”
The last two words are tacked on after a pause.
Another one follows them.
I have to clear my throat twice before speaking, and my response still comes out gruff. “Anytime.”
