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She doesn’t quite seem to know how to respond to this, and Brett seems amused.
“You’re making her uncomfortable, Zack,” he says.
My eyes rove down her gorgeous frame, and then I turn to him.
“A word?”
Nodding, he hands his glass over to her and excuses himself.
Before I can even say a word, he jumps to his defense.
“We’re just talking, Zack. Relax.”
“Talking?” I let out a short, humorless laugh. “Brett, if you wanted a casual conversation, you wouldn’t have brought her in here. You do know what you’re risking, right?”
His jaw tightens, a defensive glint in his eyes. “I know exactly what I’m doing. And Jenny and I?—”
“Jenny and you?” I cut him off. “There can’t be a ‘Jenny and you.’ I need you to tell me that you understand this. And this is no longer just about the marriage between you and Elizabeth. The entire deal is at stake now. Remember, you agreed to do this… to contribute. Do you want to renege on that now?”
Brett’s face hardens, and I can see a flash of irritation in his eyes. “It’s not that simple, Zack. I never said I’d?—”
“It is that simple,” I interrupt, my tone cold, my patience wearing thin. “You’ve been given a position in this family, responsibilities that come with it. This isn’t the time for distractions.” My gaze flickers toward the conservatory door, and then back to him. “You know exactly what you’re risking here.”
He runs a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated, but I don’t let up. Brett needs to hear this, and he needs to understand it fully.
“If you’re not ready for this, say so now,” I continue. “But don’t put the family in jeopardy because you can’t control a passing interest.”
He sighs, looking away, then nods reluctantly. “Fine. I get it, Zack. I’ll control myself.”
Satisfied, I hold his gaze a moment longer, watching him process my words, before stepping back. “Good. I’m heading out.”
However, he stops me, grabbing my arm and shutting his eyes. I can tell he’s conflicted deep within and doesn’t quite know what to do.
“I understand,” I tell him. “You’ve been called away to my office. There are urgent matters we need to discuss and an urgent phone call waiting for you.”
He releases a heavy breath at this and sighs. “Yeah, thanks, I’ll wait for you there.”
As Brett heads back to Jenny to deliver his excuse, I lean against the doorframe, watching her through the conservatory’s glass. She's radiant in the dim light, her red dress hugging her figure, her presence a striking contrast against the soft glow of the evening. The transformation in her is startling, almost magnetic, and for a brief, unsettling moment, I can understand why Brett is so easily swayed. But that moment passes quickly; my focus is on the consequences.
Brett emerges, his expression faintly conflicted as he closes the door behind him. He takes a deep breath, eyes a bit unfocused, before he turns toward me.
As we step away from the conservatory and make our way toward my office, Brett’s silence breaks. “I know you’re against this,” he starts, his voice quieter than usual. “But I can’t shake this feeling. Maybe I’ve been blind to it all these years. She’s different now, Zack. Maybe... maybe I’m just seeing her for the first time.”
I don’t react outwardly, though my mind races, noting his tone…earnest, like he genuinely believes he’s found something real with Jenny. I keep my face neutral, giving him room to continue.
He hesitates before speaking again. “Look, I know I’m engaged to Elizabeth. I know what’s expected. But I can’t help but wonder if Jenny came back at this exact moment for a reason. Maybe this is some kind of sign. Maybe Elizabeth was never really...”
“Stop,” I say, my voice firm but quiet. I don’t let him finish, don’t give him the satisfaction of letting this become a discussion about “fate” or “signs.” He needs to know his pattern, that I see right through it.
“You didn’t even recognize her at the airport, Brett,” I remind him, allowing a slight edge of irritation to color my words. “She walked right past you, and you only noticed her because she looked like some gorgeous stranger. Now, just because she’s in a red dress instead of her old tomboy clothes, you’re ready to throw away everything we’ve built…all for a whim?”
He opens his mouth, a flicker of defiance in his eyes, but I press on before he can interrupt. “This isn’t about some romantic revelation, Brett. You have responsibilities…to the family, to the merger, to Elizabeth. You wanted to be a part of this, to finally step up and contribute. You think breaking an engagement now, jeopardizing the entire deal, is the way to do that?”
He lets out a breath, frustration clear on his face, but there’s an underlying uncertainty as well. “I don’t want to jeopardize anything. But I can’t look past Jenny now. Not this time. I... I just want a chance, Zack. A chance to see where it might go with her.”
I sigh, a weighty, sympathetic sound, masking the calculation behind it. “I understand, Brett. Really, I do. But you have to tread carefully. Let’s talk this through.”
As we head back to my office, I notice he’s got a single champagne glass tucked into his back pocket…a careless habit he’s picked up over the years. I shake my head, a hint of amusement breaking through. “Why do you still do that?” I ask, gesturing to the glass.