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Billionaire Brothers Live it Up
Colby Windsor Makes a New Friend—And it’s So Cute
There was a picture of Colby talking to the older woman who’d been swimming laps in the pool. She was smiling from beneath her swim cap; he was laughing.
“I don’t have a headline. I’m the only one who doesn’t have a headline.” Daphne frowned.
“But you look awesome in that picture,” I offered. “And anyway, I’m pretty sure headlines are overrated.”
“How would you know, huh? The press is already using just your first name. You’re on a first-name basis with the public!” Daphne put her phone away. “Anyway, see you tonight? I heard we’re going to a lobster bake at the Nguyen’s.”
“We are?” The last thing I wanted was to go out in public—or worse, a private party filled with Bryce’s wealthy friends, possibly including the Jones family.
“We’re doing whatever Olivia Jensen says, remember?” Daphne waved at me as she headed back across the vast lawn. “Anyway, I’m happy to go out. Gene won’t leave the house, and I don’t want to be stuck with him.”
It was the one time she’d mentioned him, and although she didn’t sound happy, she didn’t sound mad. Maybe Daphne had made her peace with her unhappy marriage. Maybe all the money she was making made it worth it, I mused.
Maybe I should take a page from her playbook.
But that reminded me—I was supposed to go and see Olivia Jensen. I needed to be clear that I didn’t want any more pictures of Noah going online. I also needed to tell her that I’d talked to Bryce and that he’d approved the Felicia-Jones angle. Hadn’t she said she’d be working at the guesthouse? I headed in that direction, dreading telling her I’d go along with her plan. Because that meant I would have to go along with her plan…
It was quiet except for the crickets as I walked down the path to the guesthouse. I liked it out there, away from the main houses, away from the staff. It was peaceful. The guesthouse itself was a mini gray-stone mansion with ivy climbing its facade, a beautiful home in its own right. I knocked on the door and was surprised to see both Gene and Bryce inside, talking to Olivia. A staff member opened the door. “Mrs. Windsor.”
“Hi there. I was here to see Olivia.”
Hearing my voice, Bryce craned his neck in my direction. “I was just coming to findyou.”
“Oh. Is everything okay?”
“He’s good. Just some business to catch you up on!” Olivia smiled at me, then quickly maneuvered a particularlyunsmilingGene Windsor out the door. “I’ll circle back with you later, okay, Chloe? Gene and I need to meet with legal ASAP. And I’m sure you saw the picture of Noah—I promise you, it’s a one-and-done. We won’t feature him again.”
Gene looked as though he had something to say about all that, but Olivia dragged him away before he could comment.
I appreciated what she said and that she’d gotten Gene out of there, but I wondered what else was going on. I turned to Bryce. “What was that about?”
He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Our legal team talked to the SEC this morning. They plan to start issuing subpoenas. My father might be deposed as early as next week.”
“I’m sorry. Are you worried?”
“I am.” Bryce stalked through the room to the windows. He stared out, watching his father and Olivia cross the grounds to his house. “You know I’m not exactly my father’s biggest fan.”
I sighed and sank down onto the couch. “That doesn’t mean you want him to suffer.”
“No, it doesn’t.” Bryce turned to me, a funny expression on his face. “I’m surprised, though. I thought I’d be more relieved when his ego finally caught up to him. I didn’t expect to feel sorry for him.”
“He’s still your father.” I thought about my own dad. I didn’t feel any warmth toward him, but I still wouldn’t wish him any harm.
“Have you heard anything from yours?” Bryce asked.
“No.” That was technically the truth. I didn’t want to tell him about the messages from Lydia. Bryce had enough going on withhisfamily—he didn’t need to hear about mine. “And I’m not going to lie, I don’t miss him.”
“That’s fair.” Bryce came and sank down onto the couch.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” He looked at his hands. “I’m feeling conflicted about everything that’s going on. But Ialsofeel like things have already been set in motion and that there’s nothing more I can do now. I just have to move forward. Whatever’s going to happen is going to happen.”
I nodded. “It’ll all work out in the end.” I hoped.
