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“My ability to judge someone’s character is the reason we do so well as a company. When a potential investment walks through that door, it’s me you count on to decide whether the principals are on the up and up. Have I steered us wrong yet?”
“No,” Fletcher admitted with a grunt. “But there’s always a first time.”
“I’m not wrong. Emma hasn’t changed that much. Trust me on this.”
Emma herself might disagree, but in this limited set of circumstances, his judgment was more reliable than hers.
Hell, the phrase ‘I know you better than you know yourself’ might apply here. Or was that his wishful thinking?
Well, for better or worse, he was resolved to find out.
Fletcher’s groan was loud enough for people outside his office to hear. In retrospect, it was a good thing Garrett’s assistant had decided to extend their vacation.
“I cannot stress this enough: you are making a huge fucking mistake.The Emma Mendez of today is not the same one we went to high school with, which is something she has gone to great lengths to make clear. You have no idea what she’s capable of.”
He slapped his hand on his blotter.“All right, that’s enough. I know what I’m doing.”
Fletcher got to his feet. “I wish that were true. The least I can do is not help you fuck up your life. From now on, you’re on your own. I’m not going to help you.”
Garrett scowled, leaning back in his chair. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“It means anything that involves Emma Mendez, count me out. Ifshe’s working downstairs, my secretary can fetch my coffee. If she’s at your apartment, don’t expect me to go over there. If you take her out, don’t invite me, and don’t bring her anywhere I am. That includes dinner with Magdalena tomorrow.”
His expression darkened at Garrett’s blank expression. “Youforgot?”
“No, I didn’t,” he lied. He was a busy man who was dealing with a major personal situation. He could hardly be expected to remember every little detail.
Fletcher made a grumbling sound. “You already canceled once. Do it again and Mags is going to take it personally.”
Fletcher and Magdalena had been dating a couple of months, enough for him and Rainer to have dined with the couple over half a dozen times. He’d only canceled last week because a work meeting got pushed back.
“I didn’t forget and I’m not trying to get out of dinner, but I have…” He trailed off in expectation of the coming explosion.
Fletcher slapped a hand over his eyes. “Go ahead and say it.”
“Emma just moved in,” he said. “She has chronic health issues. I’m not comfortable leaving her alone.”
His partner swore under his breath. “Unbelievable.”
“She gets terrible migraines.”
There was a long moment of silence as Fletcher stared at him in silent judgment.
Garrett took a deep breath, aware the next truth wouldn’t help his case either. “Also, I have a kitten now. I don’t think you’re supposed to leave those alone for long periods either.”
The laughter took him by surprise. Ignoring Fletcher, he began to pull out the contract he was supposed to review.
When Fletcher was done chortling to himself, he made his way to the door, yanking his jacket into place with a bit too much drama.
“I can’t believe you’re making me say this, but I guess I have to. For all intents and purposes, Emma Mendez is a stranger now. Not only do you not owe her anything you haven’t alreadygiven—namely an apology for the garage—but she doesn’t want your help. Not at all. She doesn’t want anything to do with you. She never did.”
Those words were still ringing in his ears when Fletcher slammed the door behind him, leaving Garrett alone to stew in his thoughts.
Chapter Nineteen
EMMA
“You are seriously the luckiest bitch alive.”