Page 68 of Forty, Flirty & Framed

KARINA

I've experienced some truly mortifying moments in my life.

There was the seventh-grade talent show where my skirt split during my dance routine.

The job interview where I accidentally called the CEO "Mom."

The time I walked through Pike Place with toilet paper trailing from my shoe like a bridal train.

But nothing—absolutely nothing—compares to the arctic freeze of seeing Richard Abernathy's smug face across Duncan MacTavish's crowded ballroom on a balmy July evening, knowing my current boss (his brother) is standing next to me, still warm from our almost-but-definitely-not-happening romance.

"Did you know?"I manage to whisper, gripping Callum's arm like it's the only thing keeping me from plummeting into an abyss.

"No," he replies, his voice dangerously low."But I'm about to find out what the hell he's doing here."

Dark-haired and green-eyed, Richard spots us now, raising his champagne as his willowy blonde companion—presumably the infamous Anka of knitting app fame—coos at his elbow.

My stomach lurches.

Not with lingering affection, but with the nauseating realization that I spent three years with a man who could embezzle company funds, attempt to steal my identity, and then stroll back into Seattle society like he'd merely been on vacation.

"We should mingle," I tell Callum, tugging gently at his arm."Maintain our cover.Get information.Not cause a scene that will end up trending on SkySnap faster than your thighs can crush a whisky barrel."

He gives me a look that could freeze helium."You're never letting that go, are you?"

"Not in this lifetime or the next," I confirm, grateful for any distraction from Richard's approach."Come on.Let's?—"

"Too late," Callum mutters, his posture stiffening into granite.

I turn to find Duncan MacTavish guiding Richard and Anka directly toward us, his weathered face alight with mischievous glee.

"I thought this might be an opportune moment for a family reunion," Duncan announces."Especially now that Richard has expressed interest in consulting for MacTavish Global's marketing division."

Richard smiles, all teeth and no warmth."Big brother!And Karina—looking radiant as always.How are you, darling?"

"Busy.”On instinct, I press closer to Callum."Your brother's quite demanding.”Tension radiates from Callum like a furnace, and I clear my throat.“As a boss.”

"Missed me, then?"Richard grins, shameless."The office must be dreadfully serious with this one in charge.All work and no play."

"Yet somehow productivity has doubled.”My smile is cold.“Funny how that works."

Richard's eyes narrow slightly before he turns his attention to Callum."You're looking well for someone trending as a sexual fantasy on four continents.Tell me, was that a calculated PR move, or just dumb luck?"

Duncan coughs.“Uh, I think I’ll head for the bar right about now…Anka, dear, why don't you show me that sweater pattern you were describing?Marvelous tension technique, you said?"

He steers the blonde away, and the three of us—two Abernathy men and one Peters woman—face off on the floor.

Callum blinks.“So, what are you up to this days, Rich?Beside the obvious?”

Richard shifts on his feet.“Well, like Duncan said, I’ve been talking to him about the marketing division at MacTavish Global.And I’ve…been dabbling in a bit of marketing consulting out in Europe, I’ll have you know.”

"Marketing consulting.”Callum’s accent turns to molasses."Interesting career pivot for an embezzler."

Richard shrugs."Allegedly.And it's amazing what contacts one makes in Iceland.Did you know Duncan's maternal grandmother was Icelandic?We bonded over traditional Lopapeysa patterns."

"You bonded over sweaters," Callum states flatly.

"Among other things."Richard turns his attention back to me."I was just telling Duncan how surprisingly resourceful you are, Karina.Rising so quickly at Abernathy Corp."