Page 35

THIRTY-FIVE

Kinsley

“Goddammit,” Brantley growls as he hits his fist on the table, and I jump. “He can wait.”

But it appears it’s too late as a very well dressed man pushes his way into the conference room, walking past a very bewildered James. He’s handsome, radiating power, but he’s the type who knows it. Who the hell is this guy? The sense of entitlement is rolling off him in waves.

He’s more self-assured than Ember, and that’s saying something.

Brantley stands abruptly, his chair toppling over behind him, and Maverick is right behind him, shooting to his feet. Maverick isn’t happy, that’s clear, but Brantley looks positively murderous.

And now I have to know who this guy is and how they all know each other. There’s only one thing that’s crystal clear, and it's that Brantley and Maverick do not like this guy. Like if he were to spontaneously combust, they would be more than happy to watch him burn.

“Hello, old friends.” His tone is casual, his fingers toying with the buttons on his suit, but the look in his eyes is anything but. He’s surveying the room with an intense gaze, one that I really don’t like when it lands on me. “I thought I’d come by and let you know the good news myself. Well, maybe not so much for you.”

“What the fuck are you doing here? This is a private meeting, Thomas.” Brantley’s voice is hard, his entire body rigid.

“My apologies.” Except, he doesn’t look the least bit apologetic. Not with that smug smile on his face. “I just wanted you to know that I’ve filed a defamation lawsuit against Ms. Lynn and wanted to give you a copy along with a cease and desist. We’ll be looking to move up the trial and will be petitioning for all marital assets and full custody of the children. Thanks for making this case a slam dunk for me, sweetheart.”

I’ve never wanted to punch someone more.

What a condescending little prick. I take it all back—he’s not handsome at all. He’s a little cretin.

Ember is pale as she stares up at him, and I almost feel bad. Almost. I think it’s finally starting to sink in. She fucked up, and as much as I really dislike this guy, she did it to herself. Maverick warned her, multiple times, and now he looks like he’s going to have an aneurysm. That’s better than Brantley. He looks capable of murder.

“My office,” Brantley grits out. He steps over his toppled chair and stalks out of the conference room.

Thomas chuckles and gives Maverick a small smile. “I see my old friend still holds a grudge.” And then his gaze shifts to me. “You must be Miss Rhodes. Anyone who can survive these three for more than a week is truly special. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you soon.”

I sure as hell hope not.

“Miss Rhodes is none of your concern. You’re done here.” Maverick’s voice is hard as he sits down, his eyes tentatively meeting mine, and his voice lowers. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, but I have questions,” I whisper back, but of course he doesn’t say another word. He’s locked up tighter than Fort Knox on a Tuesday, and usually he’s the chatty one. That’s fine, though. He can keep his secrets—for now—but after the little almost kiss in the elevator, he owes me, and I intend to collect.

Right after I get interrogated by Daisy who is watching us with interest. Damn. Why did her record label have to hire her of all people? I mean, she’s great, but we all know she’s also going to have questions.

“Mr. Wallace.” Ember’s tone is light, her eyes filling with unshed tears. “Can we talk for a minute? Alone?”

“Sure.” Maverick’s nod is tight as he gestures for the rest of us to leave. I get up and make a run for it.

Or, at least, I try to, but Daisy catches me right outside the conference room, her hand wrapping around my arm. Dang it.

“Oh, don’t you think you’re running back to your office right now, missy.” She waves a finger in front of me, and judging by the look on her face, she’s not messing around.

I smile—it’s wide, fake, and hopefully she doesn’t see right through me. “Just needed to stretch my legs a little.”

She scoffs and fine, maybe not my best excuse. “You’re a terrible liar. Can’t bullshit a bullshitter, Kins. You want to tell me what’s going on between you and Mr. Lawyer in there?”

“What makes you think there’s something going on?” I laugh. It’s awkward as hell. She’s right, I am bad at this.

“Do you think I’m blind? Please. Mr. Grumpy Lawyer had eyes for you too. And don’t think I’ve forgotten that you’ve been radio silent since your hotel hookup on Saturday.” That finger of hers goes right in my face as heat blooms across my cheeks, and she gasps. “These guys were in the same hotel. You saw them that night. OHMYGODYOUHADSEXWITHONEOFTHEM.”

My eyes widen, and my entire body turns red. “Shhhhh. You can’t say that shit out loud. There are people here.”

Technically, no one is around us. Ember’s PR person is on the phone in the front lobby, but still, someone could be here any minute.

Not that she cares. She’s still staring at me while I’m trying to look literally anywhere but at her. Doesn’t work, though. Her face is borderline comical, like a gently used sex doll, one that keeps luring me back in with her slacked jaw and ice cold gaze.

“You lucky hussy.” Her whisper is harsh and much louder than I’d like. “Both of them?”

My mouth falls open for about two point five seconds, and then my brain catches up. How the hell does she know that? I sure as hell didn’t say anything, especially since I’m in the office. You know, where the two guys I slept with work. I don’t think my face was that transparent either. Which means she has some super special skills. “What are you? Some kind of sex wizard?”

“Ohmygod. You did.”

“Technically, not the two of them. Maverick and the other Ellis.”

“His brother?”

“His twin.”

Daisy squeals so loud I’m sure they heard her on the first floor.

I grab her arm and drag her a little further into the corner. I don’t need James to overhear, or worse— Maverick and Ember to rush out of the conference room. “Hush. You are so loud.”

She pulls me in for a quick hug, wiping a few fake tears from below her eyes. “I’m so proud of you right now. It’s like my baby bird has finally left the nest, her little sex-crazed, double penetration nest.”

“That doesn’t even make sense.” I cross my arms and pretend to pout. “It doesn’t matter; it was only one time.”

Daisy raises a brow, her gaze flicking over to the conference room door which is now open. Maverick is saying his goodbyes to Ember, his gaze trained on me, raking up and down my body.

She huffs a quick laugh and pats my shoulder. “Keep telling yourself that, Kins. That man looks like he wants to eat you alive, and I bet all the money in my bank account, his partners feel the same way.”

I blow a raspberry in her direction because I’m a grown woman.

“Fine, stay in denial, but I’ll be nominating an office why choose for our next book.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“I would.”