Page 99 of Meant to Be

I pushed out a breath. “I really don’t need this shit right now, Mark. What are you calling about?”

“I’m calling to inform you that Mr. Townsend, your brother, would like to speak with you before his first meeting at nine-thirty.”

“And he couldn’t call me to tell me this?”

“Mr. Townsend is not in the office yet. He’s running a little late. He requested that I call you to be here as soon as he arrives.”

I pulled the phone from my ear, checking the name on my screen to make sure I was still talking to the right person. “Aaron’s coming in the office late? Interesting. Tell him I’ll be there when I get there.” I hung up the phone and looked to Kay, who was now awake, staring at me. Those big, brown eyes and pouty lips were too inviting for me not to taste, so I did.

Leaning in, I ran a trail of kisses over the outline of her jaw until met her lips, morning breath be damned.

I moved closer, but she put her hands to my chest. “You have to go.”

“Aaron can wait.”

She shook her head. “We’ll talk later.”

I pulled back, staring at her. “I know what you’re doing and I don’t forget anything.” Kay was finally going to come clean about what’d happened to her in Portland. I’d told her she’d either tell me everything or I’d look into the file I’d been given by Brutus. I’d at least give her the chance to tell me before I found out on my own.

She worried her bottom lip before saying, “I figured.”

I pressed a kiss to her lips. “You and me, we’re in this thing together. There is no backing out of this for you. Understood?”

She nodded.

“Good. I’ll be back soon.”

****

“Mark,” I greeted as I breezed through the double doors of Townsend’s top offices.

Mark lifted his head and gave me a curt nod. “Mr. Townsend.”

I blew out a breath. “Will you cut the shit, Mark?”

He blinked, tilting his head coolly. “Mr. Townsend, I don’t understand what you mean.”

“You know damn well what I’m referring to. All this Mr. Townsend bullshit. Only Aaron requires that amount of formality.”

He lifted and dropped his shoulders. “I wasn’t sure the protocol. I didn’t want anyone to think I obtained this job through anything but my own merit.”

“Oh for fuck’s sake,” I growled, rolling my eyes to the ceiling. I heard the gasp of one of Aaron’s lower level assistants. I glanced over at her, giving her a curt smile, and she immediately put her eyes on her computer screen. “Is the boardroom open?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Boardroom. Now!” I pivoted on my heels and headed toward the boardroom that was on the other side of the hallway. I glanced over my shoulder to ensure Mark was following. He was but with a frown on his face.

I held the door open, shutting it once he moved past me. “All right, let’s get this shit settled. First of all, I don’t want to be in the middle of shit between your brother and you. I know all too well how messy family entanglements can be. Connor is still pissed because I let you fight that night.”

“Because he—”

I held up my hand. “Not my business. You work that out with him. I’ve got three of my own headstrong and stubborn ass brothers to deal with. And on top of that, a headstrong woman.”

“Headstrong women can be a lot of fun.”

My eyebrows rose and head shot back as I stared down at Mark.

He shrugged. “Or so I heard.”