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My dad scratches his chin. “You have a point, but…once Kira is finished on the Leon Prep project, I need her back in the social application pool.”
I can’t believe he’s undermining me like this.
Well, actually, I can. And that’s what makes it sting.
“Can I get back to my plan, please?”
I somehow makeit through the rest of the presentation without losing my grip on reality. But the second I can get out of that conference room, I bolt, rushing right into the bathroom. I’ve had half an erection since I mentioned Kira’s name.
“Fucking shit,” I mutter, releasing myself into my hand. My head dips back as I stroke myself with a vicious speed. I come in less than a minute right into the toilet bowl.
What a fucking embarrassment.
I lean my head up against the cool metal of the bathroom stall and sigh heavily. I’m trying too hard to be the man I’ve always been told I’d become. To be CEO Orlie Wynters. Not sonof the CEO. I’ve given up everything to become this. And that’s still not enough.
Furthermore, my mind is still stuck on a woman in a cabin in the mountains. A woman who rejected me and made it clear that because of my role, my title, she couldn’t be mine.
What does that title even mean if no one will give it to me?
I’m never going to be enough for anyone, am I?
13
KIRA
Three weeks in the mountains,Orlie-free, turned out to be exactly what I needed to get the Leon Prep project all in order. Now, back in California, my first order of business is family. Always is.
And today’s project is Amy’s book launch.
Her latest book in her Petunia the Porcupine series is one about Petunia’s father getting remarried which I believe is an homage to our father’s obvious growing attraction toward Victoria Neville, international supermodel who also happens to be his best friend’s little sister. He’s of course too bashful and dopey to see that she’s infatuated with him as well. If they ever ended up together, it would certainly be an opposites-attract love story.
My sisters and I are all rooting for it to happen.
“Eeeep! I’m so glad you’re here!” Amy exclaims when I meet her at the signing table.
“Of course. Just tell me what you need.”
Fiona, Amy’s right-hand woman when it comes to all things books, pats the seat next to Amy. “You’re on book-passing duty.”
I look at the pile of hardcovered children’s books beside the table. It climbs to an absurd height. Based on the line waiting for Amy’s signatures, though, I’m not sure it will be enough.
“Okay…welp. Here goes nothing.” I take a seat and hand Amy the first book.
Amy grins at the first mother and child in front of the table. “What’s your name, friend?”
“Taylor,” the little girl smiles.
“Ooh, what a pretty name. I’m Amy.” Amy opens the book and scribbles the name and her signature with a big heart. “Thanks for coming to see me today, Taylor. I hope you like my new book.”
Taylor takes the book from Amy with a big grin and the mother thanks us both.
“Jeez, you know how to work a crowd,” I murmur in her ear.
“Please, I’m just getting started.”
I’m not sure how Amy manages to remain so cheerful and peppy as each book crosses the table in front of her. It’s clear this is what my sister was born to do. Write children’s books and talk to children. Every now and then, she wriggles her left hand and looks down at the engagement ring, now accompanied by a wedding band. At one point, she looks over at me. “So weird doing this with these on.”
I resist rolling my eyes. I know she’s not rubbing it in. She’s my sister and I’m happy for her, more than I can even describe. However, after everything with Orlie, I’m even more embittered by the idea of love than I was before.
