AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But then he said something about Ryan and it rubbed me the wrong way. I didn’t like the way he talked about him. It pissed me off. He was still my brother, after all.
Something in the back of my mind blamed Matthew for the fallout I had had with my brother.
If only Matthew hadn’t gone public with the entire thing, then we wouldn’t have been in this excruciating situation. Our family business wouldn’t have been jeopardized, and then maybe Daddy wouldn’t have pressured me to take over. Maybe that was why I was pissed.
Matthew didn’t consider anyone else when he made that decision. Humiliating Ryan meant humiliating me and my family. And the issue had caused a massive strain on my family. It wouldn’t hurt if Matthew felt at least a little bit guilty about it, but he seemed proud that he had held my brother up for public shaming.
But then again, embezzlement was a big deal. I mean, it was a felony and it had caused their business to crumple to ruins, after all.
My anger at my boss was short-lived because he found me after the meeting, cornered me by the entrance, and said with authority to meet him in his office. And he strode away before I could say anything. I wasn’t angry anymore. Now I was just confused.
So here I was, standing outside of his office door at eight p.m. I had allowed myself to play the grand piano for an hour. It was my way of revolting—of keeping him waiting. And, of course, I needed some of the managers and the staff to leave first before I met with him.
I debated whether or not to quit my job.
“You don’t owe him anything,” I whispered to myself as I paced outside his door. “If you leave he’s not going to do anything about it. You can absolutely—”
“I can hear you pacing out there, Reagan!” His voice was muffled and distant on the other side of the door. And I knew that there was no point in leaving or quitting now. The earlier that I talked to him, the earlier we could finish this argument.
Nervous, I twisted the knob and pushed his door open after I double-checked the hallway. Prying eyes would question why I spent so much time in my boss’ office. And the last thing I needed was word getting out that we were doing something out of the ordinary in here. Even if we literally were.
“What do you want?” I asked with a deep sigh when I was standing in front of his desk. I wasn’t in my uniform anymore and was back in the same clothes I had worn this morning.
“Is that the way to talk to your boss?” Matthew challenged. Perhaps he could sense the tension brewing in me because there was no amusement in his tone and his eyes. Great. At least he was taking me seriously. He knew I was pissed just like me.
“I’m sorry.” I forced out the apology, along with a fake smile like I was his doting, obedient employee. “Are you in need of my assistance tonight, sir?”
He narrowed his eyes at me, then he shook his head as if to tell me that he didn’t have the time to deal with this contest. Did he even know why I was pissed at him? Or was he just trying to boss me around me because he was a man and all that?
“That’s better,” he nodded. “You know about this gala, yes?”
“Of course,” I said, pursing my lips and giving him a look saying I wasn’t interested. In reality, though, I was looking forward to the event even if my name wasn’t on the list to wait or usher the guests. “I was paying attention to what Clair was saying.”
His eyes grew dark at my words, and he shook his head again. “The committee wanted like music. So I wanted you to play again for the gala.”
“Okay,” I shrugged. I would love to play, and there was no point in prolonging this.
“That’s it?” he questioned. “That’s all you have to say?”
“Do you want me to say no?”
“No.”
“Do you expect me to jump in joy? Did you want a hug? A kiss? A referral fee?” Matthew didn’t need a referral fee. The man was loaded. But I was furious at his arrogance and wanted to make him aware of it. And from the looks of it, it was working because he looked taken aback right now.
“You’ll be playing with a violinist. So you wouldn’t be the star of the show.” Like I gave a shit. As long as I was playing, I was fine.
“Fine by me.” He clicked his tongue, disappointed that his plan to piss me off even further didn’t work. I could see the screws in his mind turning as he brewed a plan to get under my skin.
“Have you eaten dinner?”
“I have,” I answered. “Alejandra was kind enough to whip something up for me.”
“Good, then I take it you’re ready to go home?”
“I am, actually. I would be home by now if it weren’t for this. You know you could have just texted me, right?”
“Now where would the fun be in that?”
