Page 49

I recall Yaya calling me a pervert on the mountain and insisting she’d never sell her body for money. “She’s not that kind of woman.”
“What kind of woman is she?”
I rub my bottom lip with my forefinger, my stare thoughtful. “The kind of woman who knows her worth, her value. Who doesn’t apologize for who she is. Someone who puts others before themselves. Kind. Beautiful.”
My sister stares at me in horror.
“What?”
“Oh my gosh.”
“Whaaat?”
“You like her more than she likes you.”
I frown.
“You’re so… obvious.”
“I like obvious.”
“Obvious is desperate.”
“Desperate? I prefer the term ‘focused’.”
“Is that why you sent the limo?”
“You know I sent a limo?”
Lucy opens her mouth and snaps it shut.
“Were you spying on me, Big Sis?”
“Double-checking,” Lucy sputters.
“I’m hurt.” I’m not.
I knew Lucy would be watching my every move to see if I really had a girlfriend. My sister might act ditzy, but she’s got the same Sullivan blood running through her veins as I do. We’re highly suspicious people who research heavily before investing in anything.
It’s why I sent the limo to Yaya’s apartment and made the effort to meet Yaya on a mountain top.
Lucy has her people in the company.
I wanted her to see it all from their perspective and be convinced.
“Did you move to this city for her?” Lucy questions.
“I’d call it fate that I moved to her city. But she’s a model so she’s rarely in town. It’s unlikely we would have crossed paths.”
She bobs her head, digesting my words.
“As you can see,” I lean against the counter and cross one ankle in front of the other, “I have a reason to stay put. I have a girlfriend I want to spend all my time with. A relationship that I don’t want to lose. I’m not jet setting for months at a time anymore. I’m reliable enough to watch Talia until you’re better.”
“I’m better.”
“Until they let you out of jail then.”
“We’ll see about that. I have my own ways of confirming what I want to know.” After spitting those ominous words, Lucy strides back to Yaya.