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“I didn’t ask your secretary to help mine.”
Crew shrugs, glancing out the windows behind my desk, which offer an impressive view of the city’s skyline. “I’ve been distracted this morning. Not much else for Celeste to do.”
“I wasn’t sure what I’d need to prioritize, so I figured I’d bring it all,” I admit.
“Knowing you, you’ll finish it all.”
It’s meant to be a compliment, but it also pricks. Despite knowing about my biggest mistake, Crew has complete confidence in my ability to accomplish everything. He knows Kensington Consolidated is my whole life. I have few friends. No girlfriend. No pets. No hobbies. Not even a plant to take care of.
I have no idea how to take time off from work. To benotthinking about the million and one tasks piling up whenever I’m doing anything else. I sleep, I work out, and I work. Everything else is handled for me. Groceries are delivered. A cleaning crew comes through my penthouse once a week. Alicia handles managing all my travel and appointments.
My life is both privileged and pathetic.
“Someone needs to review it.”
“Someonewillreview it. It doesn’t have to be you.” Crew shakes his head, smiling a little. “You’re doing the jobs of three people right now, Oliver.”
I prod the inside of my cheek as I lock my computer and grab my briefcase off the desk. “You’re putting in the same number of hours.”
Crew shakes his head. “Not even close.” His voice softens. “Look, I know you want to prove that you’re—”
I interrupt. “I really need to get going.”
“Yeah, of course. I just wanted to say…thanks. For last night. Sorry I was kind of a mess.”
I don’t tell him it was kind of…nice. That if he’d stayed longer, I wouldn’t have hated it.
“Things are okay with Scarlett?”
A brief flash of surprise crosses Crew’s face in response to the question. It makes me feel like total shit. Because, yeah, I don’t usually ask. I listen to what he tells me about his family, but I don’t usually participate or ask any questions.
“Yeah. We’re good. We just both needed to freak out a little.”
“Good.”
Crew’s smile turns boyish. He rocks back on his heels, hands back in his pockets. “I’m hoping it’s a boy,” he confesses. “I’m not sure I’ll make it through Lili’s teenage years as she is. She’s a mini-Scarlett.”
I smile. “Just don’t name him Arthur Jr.” Our father doesn’t deserve the same honor our mother did.
Crew’s eyebrows rise in surprise. “I wouldn’t, Oliver.”
I’m surprised by the steel in his tone.
I know he hates how the deterioration of my relationship with our father has come at the benefit of his own. Our father used to vacillate between favorites, constantly making us fight for his favor, but now Crew is firmly planted in the number one position.
But it’s my own fucking fault. Because of one moment when I saidyes, simply because I knew anyone I’d ever met would have bet I’d sayno. Crew’s sympathy—his solidarity—doesn’t feel deserved.
I walk toward my luggage. I’m cutting it even closer on departure. “I need to get going.”
“Yeah, sure. Fly safe.”
“Thanks.”
“And try to have alittlebit of fun.”
I force a smile in response. Aside from seeing Garrett, I’m already dreading everything about this trip. “I’ll try.”
Alicia is seated at her desk when I emerge from my office. Her graying hair is tucked away in a neat bun, but she smooths the strands as I approach anyway. “Have a safe trip, Mr. Kensington,” she tells me. “I’ve already checked you into your flight and the ticket is in your email. Patrick is waiting downstairs and there’s a car arranged for you at the Las Vegas airport as well. It will take you straight to your hotel.”
