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She gestures at the sofa, and I take a seat.
“What’s going on?” I ask softly.
“He left me,” she repeats.
“When?”
“Two weeks ago.”
“Ah, shit. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. He didn’t tell us at work.”
She leans back, cradling the baby, and sighs. “What made you come around here, then?”
“We had a… argument, I guess you’d call it, at work a couple of days ago. He’s called in sick the last two days. He won’t reply to my calls, so I thought I’d better see him in person.”
“You argued?” She frowns. “What about?”
“The sale of the software we’ve been working on. I wanted to sell to one company, and he wanted another.”
Her brow clears. She gives a short, humorless laugh. “I’m guessing Craig wanted Sunrise Ltd?”
I frown. “Yes. How did you know?”
“That’s why he’s angry, Kip. He left me for Renée Garnier.”
Oh Jesus. I feel a little faint as I remember how I called her a bitch to his face.
“He probably promised her he’d be able to persuade you into selling to her,” she says. “He always thinks he can talk anyone into anything.”
“He was pushing for Sunrise,” I say softly, remembering that he mentioned them at the meeting where he blew up. “Marama agreed with him. Damon was on the fence. But Saxon and I were convinced Genica was the right company, and in the end Damon agreed, so it was three against one.”
“Well there’s your problem. Craig was always very conscious of the fact that it was him against the three of you.” She smiles as I frown at her. “I know you would never have shut him out consciously. He was jealous, Kip.”
“Of my family?”
“Of the fact that you and Saxon would always have a connection that he could never have, no matter how long you were friends. As close as you and Craig were, you would never choose him over your twin brother.”
“That’s not true. I’ve sided with Craig many times in the boardroom against Saxon.”
“I’m not talking about the boardroom. He loves you, Kip. He’s always put you on a pedestal ever since you first met. But he knows he’ll never mean as much to you as Saxon or even Damon, and I think that stings. The three of you are very tight. And that relationship you have with Saxon is very special, closer still. It can be tough for people around you. It was one reason Lesley left.”
My eyes widen. “What?”
“She told me once that she knew she’d never mean as much to you as Saxon.”
I give a short, incredulous laugh. “You’re kidding me.”
She shrugs.
I sit back, stunned. Lesley never mentioned anything about it to me. Is it possible that she could have felt that way?
It’s true that I’d talk to Saxon about the company, obviously. But about personal things? We’re close, but we’re still guys. There’s a lot we don’t say to each other. And there has always been a level of competitiveness between us that has meant we often deal with problems ourselves rather than admit we’re struggling.
“I spoke to her yesterday,” I admit. “She told me I make her nervous—that I make her feel as if I’m going to tell her off.”
“Well, yeah, you can be quite stern.”
“Seriously?”
