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“Wait.” I dig around in my purse and pull out my keychain. “Here.” I hand her my spare key. “Use my place as much as you like while I’m gone. Get your sleep.”
Chloe’s eyes light up. “Really? I’ll pay you rent.”
“Don’t you dare even try. You’ll be helping me out. You can water the plants.”
“Are you sure?” Chloe pulls me into a hug.
“Yeah, we’re all winners this way,” I say, hugging her back. Although I’d pick having to endure other people’s snoring over having a month in close proximity with Logan Rich.
Still, count the positives. Italy… Sightseeing.
I follow her back into the office, feeling lighter. Eve said we leave in two days. And she’s given me tomorrow off to pack. The thought of seeing the Vatican has me giddy with anticipation. I’m going to download some guidebooks. And I’ll be able to finish my audiobook while I’m there, or on the plane over, because, well… I need to know how it all works out with the billionaire daddy.
This trip will be fun. I can visit places I’ve been dreaming of and take lots of photos to show Drew when I get home. And I can avoid Logan as much as possible. When we aren’t in meetings, he’ll probably be on those dating apps he uses all the time anyway. And all my expenses are paid for by the magazine. I’ll have my own hotel room. I’ll probably be with Logan a few hours a day max. All I’ll need to do is record the meetings and take notes to write up in the feature later.
Simple.
“Dad!” I screw my face up in exasperation as he presses the credit card into my palm. I’ve come to their house to say goodbye before I leave.
“Look, I’m not having my princess in a foreign country without some backups in place.” He kisses my forehead and the skin around his eyes crinkles as he pulls back.
I look at his proud face, then think better of upsetting him by protesting again. He’s just being a protective parent. I grab him into a hug, sinking my nose into his shirt collar below his salt and pepper hair, and inhale his musky cologne. It’s the one I bought him for his birthday when I was eleven. Drew and Mum have both bought him other ones since, but they all sit unopened in the bathroom cabinet. Instead, he asks me to buy him a new bottle of the same one every year for his birthday. It’s become our thing.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
I kiss his cheek and then deposit the card into my purse. It won’t have a limit, despite him being on a modest police sergeants’ salary. He’s always tried to give me anything I want, even if I’m reluctant to accept it and he likely can’t afford it. Pony riding lessons and piano lessons as a kid. Neither of which I was any good at. Then there were driving lessons. I took three attempts to pass my test. But I guess his confidence in me finally paid off when he put me through university and my degree, and I got my job at the magazine.
I’m saving to pay him back, despite him insisting he won’t accept it. But it makes me feel better. I’m getting there slowly, one month at a time. It’s a world away from the billions Logan makes. He told me he’ll pick me up from my house to go to the airport.Told.He didn’t ask if I had my own transport arranged before informing me that he’d collect me. This will be a long-ass month if he thinks he will be in charge.
“Hey.” I grin as Mum comes into the kitchen, followed by Drew.
I run over and into Drew’s outstretched arms, squeezing him hard. “All right, sis. Packed enough?”
He laughs at my giant stuffed suitcase.
“Half of it is work stuff.”
“Sure.”
Even knowing Logan will be here any second can’t affect my delight at seeing my brother. I’ll never understand why someone as great as Drew is friends with someone who used his father’s money to weasel his way out of punishment. Says a lot about a person’s character. I’m not naïve enough to think my dad doesn’t spoil me. But I appreciate it, and I’m working to pay him back.
I can’t say the same for Logan. He might be smart and talented. But he’s still had everything handed to him and had privileges that weren’t extended to people like Drew. Privileges that took my brother away from me for six months.
“This one is the next big features editor, just you watch,” Dad says, walking over to clasp my shoulder.
“Yeah.” Drew smiles at me proudly as the doorbell rings and Mum goes to answer it.
“And seeing Logan in action’s going to be exciting,” Dad continues. “That boy has done great things, the way he runs that business with Len. And Tanner, how is he?” Dad looks at Drew, acknowledging him for the first time since he walked in.
Drew clears his throat. “Tan’s good. He’s—”
“Always been a hard worker. Built that company from nothing. Outstanding, it really is,” Dad muses.
He strides off into the hallway after Mum as I open my mouth to correct him. Tanner might have built his company from nothing. But Drew was there by his side. They’re more like business partners than boss and employee. He’s great with people. The entire staff respect him.
Just not Dad.
“Leave it.” Drew’s eyes pinch at the corners before he slings an arm around my shoulders and steers me into the hallway and toward the front door. “I expect Dad already gave you enough emergency cash to fund a small country.”
