Page 86 of Bared Betrayal

“Gabriel,” she starts, her tone now calm and collected, “let’s go into the living room, sit down, and have a cup of tea. Maybe it will help calm your nerves, and we can talk about your son and what we need to do to ensure his future.”

“Tea?” I scoff. “Are you serious? I have no desire to drink tea with you or eat fucking petit fours while we discuss my son.”

“Gabriel—”

“You better listen to me, Elenor.” I bring my face inches from hers. “If I find out you are trying to fuck with Kallie or Sebastian in any way—in any fucking way—I will pull the money I have been funneling into your art gallery so fast, your head will be spinning out of your ass.”

Her face pales, and I swear the lines on her forehead form grooves into her goddamn skull. “Funneling into my art gallery?”

“Did you really think your gallery just magically thrived during recessions and pandemics? I have been sending people to buy artwork and make donations to that gallery for the last ten years. Hundreds of thousands of dollars every year to ensure my son is provided for.”

“You bastard,” she hisses, and I swear her shocked expression sends tiny fucking butterflies down my spine to tickle my balls.

The front door opens, and both Elenor and I look as Sebastian walks in. “Hey, Grandma. We need to talk about something.” He stops when he sees me. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

I’ve been in such a maddened haze since opening that envelope I’ve forgotten to check my phone for updates on his whereabouts.

Elenor clears her throat and plasters on her sincerest fake smile. “Your father is here to talk about the wedding. He has offered quite a large sum to help pay for the venue and the honeymoon.” The ease with which this woman can lie is astounding.

Sebastian glares at me. “We don’t need your money.”

I straighten my suit jacket. “It doesn’t matter if you need it or not. My money is always readily available to you. It always has been.”

“You know what,” Sebastian starts, “I don’t have the strength for you right now.” He looks back at his grandmother. “We, ah…we need to talk.”

I slip my hands into my pants pockets. “You’ve been out of town for however long, and your first stop is your grandma’s?”

Sebastian licks his lips, his hatred for me practically leaking from his ears. “Stay the fuck out of my business, old man.”

I step up to him. “Just out of curiosity, have you spoken to Kallie?”

His stare is shooting bullets into my skull. “I’ve been swamped on set, not that it’s any of your business.”

I narrow my eyes at him, staring at my son, and can’t help but feel like I don’t like what I’m seeing. I don’t trust the dynamic he seems to share with Kallie. It’s just not…right.

It’s also none of your business.

“Well, if you’ll excuse me,” I say, stomping toward the door before turning back to Sebastian. “In case you were wondering, someone broke into your home while Kallie was sleeping.”

“What?”

“She called me, so I put her up in one of the executive suites in my building. She’s fine, by the way,” I add sarcastically.

“What? Why would you do that? She should have called me.”

I shrug. “She probably didn’t want to bother you, shooting on set and all.”

“You should go to her, Sebastian,” Elenor urges with sudden worry and concern. My bullshit radar is going apeshit. There is something wrong with this entire scene, but I just can’t put my finger on it.

* * *

KALLIE

Baby girl,

I’ll be back soon. If you even think about stepping a single toe out of that door, I’ll know, and you won’t be able to sit down for a week.

Gabriel