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“What do you want?” I snap, already on edge.

I don’t have time for his shit right now. My focus is on what I came here to do, and I need to finish it fast, without anyone seeing me.

“The meeting starts in ten. Where the fuck are you?” His irritation simmers.

Shit. I forgot about leading the damn investor meeting today. The frustration builds in my chest as I clench my fist at my side.

“It slipped my mind.”

“A lot is slipping your mind lately.” He exhales sharply like he’s losing patience with me. “What the hell is going on? If it’s that girl, you need to figure it out, or I’ll have the board vote you out.”

My jaw tightens; I’ve heard enough. “Fuck off.”

“I’m telling you, don’t screw this up again.” His words hang in the air, thick with warning.

“Anything else?” I’m barely holding on to my temper.

“Yeah. I need you to go see that councilman, Elias, and have a word with him.”

Fucking great. That’s all I need right now.

“Why me?”

I can’t back out now. After blowing the meeting, I can’t afford to say no.

“Because I said so.” Tynan’s words hold a note of finality. “I’ll send you the details.”

God damn it.

He may not be the official head of the family, but it’s just a technicality. My father made it difficult for him, of course—forcing him to find a wife before he can have the title. But Tynan wants nothing to do with marriage.

The phone buzzes with a text, and I glance down at it, my lips twitching into a grim smile. The councilman’s at a restaurant not far from here. It’s almost like fate.

“I’ll get it done.” Heat rises in my veins as I slip the phone back into my pocket.

He doesn’t understand the chaos inside my head since I saw her at that club. The way I can’t stop thinking about her, can’t stop wondering if she’s with someone else. The mere thought of it tears at me. The jealousy burns hot, and I let it consume me.

Fixing my sunglasses, I march up the driveway of the house I’m buying, my attention zeroing in on the woman standing by the entrance.

“Mr. Quinn!” She flips her short blonde hair with a wide grin. “You made it.”

I barely acknowledge her greeting, tone flat. “Mm-hmm. Let’s get this over with. I have places to be.”

She falters, but quickly recovers, leading me inside.

“Well, let me show you around first,” she insists, though I couldn’t care less about any of this. “This beauty has ten bedrooms, twelve bathrooms, a greenhouse, and a tennis court.”

She’s trying to sound cheerful, but I’m not listening. None of this matters. None of it.

She takes me outside, gesturing to the manicured lawn. “The pool is absolutely gorgeous. And with only six homes in this gated community, it’s very quiet and secure, so you’ll never have?—”

“I’ll take it.”

She stops in her tracks, blinking in surprise. “But, sir, don’t you want to look around some more to be sure?”

“No. I already told you on the phone. I’ll take it. Thirty million, right?”

She nods, still stunned.